Nick Cheronis

Regarded as one of the top assistant coaches in the nation, the 2008 campaign will mark associate head coach Nick Cheronis’ 17th season at the University of Florida.

It's certainly no coincidence that in each and every season since his arrival, the Gators have consistently fielded a team that not only dominates the Southeastern Conference, but contends for a national title on a yearly basis.

Cheronis’ primary responsibilities include serving as the Gators’ defensive coordinator and scouting all opponents. Statistics show that Cheronis certainly knows his opponents well, as the Gators sport an incredible record of 516-52 and a winning percentage of .908 since his arrival in Gainesville in 1992.

In 2006, Cheronis coordinated the team’s switch to a swing-blocking scheme that resulted in Florida finishing 10^th in the nation in blocks per game (3.39). Despite UF’s prowess at the net, the Gators also managed to break the school record in digs per game in the same campaign at 18.79. Florida dominated the SEC statistically that year, as the Gators led the conference in blocks per game, digs per game and opponent hitting percentage (.148).

UF again limited opponents to an SEC-best .148 efficiency rating in 2007, while also posting a blocks per game average of 3.05 that was among the 25 best marks in the nation.

Cheronis also coordinates the team's strength and conditioning program, which has resulted in Florida being regarded as one of the nation’s most athletic teams.

“It’s a privilege for me to be a part of such a successful program,” Cheronis says. “The most exciting part is the commitment to excellence in every phase of the program. Every area of volleyball, from facilities to support staff, is supported to ensure we have the best chance to be successful.

“That makes the University of Florida a great place to coach.”

During his time at Florida, Cheronis has helped the team to seven NCAA Final Four appearances, 15 trips to NCAA regional competition and 16-consecutive SEC regular-season titles.

His commitment to the sport of volleyball extends far beyond the Gators’ program, however. Cheronis played an integral role in developing the Gainesville Juniors Volleyball Club, which he established in 1994, and coaches at Florida’s annual summer camps.

Cheronis has written articles that have appeared in “Coaching Volleyball” magazine, and he penned an article titled “Best of Coaching Volleyball” that appeared in the book “The Basics of the Game.” Cheronis is active in holding coaching clinics around the South and has lectured for the Florida Athletic Coaches Association and the Alabama High School Coaches Association.

Cheronis also lends a wealth of international coaching expertise to Florida’s volleyball program. In July of 2007, he was the head coach of Team Florida's juniors squad that competed in the World Global Challenge in Pula, Croatia. In June of 2006, he served as head coach of the USA Selects team that battled several of the top teams in Argentina, including five matches against the National Team. He also guided the Youth High Performance team for the Florida Region that competed in the USAV High Performance Championships. Previously, in the summer of 2005, he was the head coach of the USA Junior High Performance Florida Region team.

Cheronis coached the USA 20-and-under Junior National team in the summer of 1998 at a tournament in Italy. A year earlier, he was appointed the head coach for the USA Youth National Team. The squad, which was comprised of high school players from all over the country, trained for two weeks at the USA Olympic Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., to prepare for international competition. Cheronis’ involvement with that team was highlighted by an eight-match exhibition with the Brazilian Junior National Team held in Brazil. In 1994, Cheronis was the assistant coach for the USA Youth National Team that finished fifth at the NORCECA Junior Championships in Mexico.

Before joining the Gators’ program in 1992, Cheronis served as an assistant coach at Southwest Missouri State University (now Missouri State) for three years under Linda Dollar. His coaching duties included serving strategies, practice strategies, scouting and academic monitoring. The team went 63-31 during his tenure, highlighted by a trip to the NCAA Championship in 1990. Cheronis helped MSU earn one Gateway Conference regular-season championship and one Gateway Conference tournament title. He also was involved in several other phases of the volleyball operation at MSU, including home match management and marketing and promotions. Cheronis earned a master’s degree in public administration while coaching, and also served as the school’s assistant ticket manager.

Cheronis' other coaching stops include serving as a graduate assistant coach at Northern Michigan University (1988), an assistant at Eastern Illinois University (1987), the assistant head coach at Parkland Junior College (1985-1987) and the assistant/interim head coach for Valparaiso University (1982-1985).

A native of Noblesville, Ind., Cheronis played 10 years of USVBA open volleyball after graduating from Ball State University in 1980. While working toward a bachelor’s of science degree in business administration, Cheronis was a three-year member of the school’s volleyball team.

Cheronis married the former Lori Creamer on Jan. 14, 2001. The couple resides in Gainesville with their son, Billy (13) and daughter, Riley (3).

Cheronis At A Glance

Hometown: Noblesville, Ind.

College Degree:
                * B.S. Business Administration, Ball State University, 1980

Coaching Experience:
                * Assistant/Interim Head Coach, Valparaiso University, 1982-85
                * Assistant Head Coach, Parkland Jr. College, 1985-87
                * Assistant Coach, Eastern Illinois, 1987
                * Graduate Assistant Coach, Northern Michigan, 1988
                * Assistant Coach, Missouri State, 1989-91
* Assistant Coach, University of Florida, 1992-95
* Associate Head Coach, University of Florida, 1996-Present

Family:
Wife: Lori
Children: Billy (13), Riley (3)

#	Name	Class	Pos	Hometown
2	Rhian Davis	Jr.	L/DS	Austin, Texas
3	Christina Diaz	Fr.	S	Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
6	Stefanie Douglas	Jr.	MB	Belton, Texas
8	Rachel Engel	Sr.	L/DS	Littleton, Colo.
9	Angie McGinnis	So.	S	Fraser, Mich.
10	Kari Klinkenborg	So.	OH/MB.	Highlands Ranch, Colo.
12	Marcie Hampton	So.	OH	Gainesville, Fla.
13	Amber McCray	So.	Opp.	Longview, Texas
15	Kristina Johnson	Fr.	MB	Indianapolis, Ind.
33	Jane Collymore	Sr.	OH	Englewood, Colo.
34	Kisya Killingsworth	So.	MB	Deltona, Fla.
35	Kelsey Bowers	Fr.	MB	Gainesville, Fla.

Coaching Staff
Image	Name	Title	Email	Phone Number
	Mary Wise	Head Coach	volleyballmail@gators.ufl.edu	5510
	Nick Cheronis	Associate Head Coach
	Arlisa Hagan	Assistant Coach

Upcoming Events

Upcoming Event: Volleyball versus Auburn on Oct. 3, 2025 at 7 PM

Upcoming Event: Volleyball at LSU on Oct. 5, 2025 at 2 PM

Upcoming Event: Volleyball versus #21 Missouri on Oct. 10, 2025 at 7 PM

Upcoming Event: Volleyball versus Vanderbilt on Oct. 12, 2025 at 1 PM

Upcoming Event: Volleyball at #20 Tennessee on Oct. 15, 2025 at 7 PM

2005 Volleyball Roster

Rhian Davis

Christina Diaz

Stefanie Douglas

Rachel Engel

Angie McGinnis

Kari Klinkenborg

Marcie Hampton

Amber McCray

Kristina Johnson

Jane Collymore

Kisya Killingsworth

Kelsey Bowers

Mary Wise

Nick Cheronis

Arlisa Hagan

Rhian Davis

Christina Diaz

Stefanie Douglas

Rachel Engel

Angie McGinnis

Kari Klinkenborg

Marcie Hampton

Amber McCray

Kristina Johnson

Jane Collymore

Kisya Killingsworth

Kelsey Bowers

Mary Wise

Nick Cheronis

Arlisa Hagan

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