Florida Gators

Dave Boos, a renowned volleyball coach with over 21 years of experience at the highest level, enters his 15th season at Florida in 2024, and his 14th as associate head coach for the Gator volleyball program.
 
Boos, a defensive mastermind who is involved in all aspects of the Florida program, has been instrumental in the Gators’ success since his arrival on campus.

Coaching Resume:
At Florida:
During the 2023 campaign, Boos helped coach Florida to their 33rd consecutive NCAA Tournament, the third-longest active streak in the nation. The Gators set a new program record on Sept. 17, with 10,323 fans in the stands of the Stephen C. O’Connell Center. It is not only an O’Dome record, but also is the highest-attended match hosted by an SEC school all-time. It is also the highest attendance for an on-campus volleyball match in the state of Florida. On the defensive end, Florida finished the 2023 season ranked in the Top-20 in the nation in blocks per set (19th | 2.68) total blocks (20th | 303.0). The Gators were second in the SEC in blocks per set, making it the 11th out of the last 13 seasons that the Gators have been among the Top-3 in the conference in blocks per set. Two Gators were ranked in the top-10 in blocks per set; Nnedi Okammor (2nd | 1.29) and Gabbi Essix (5th | 1.23). Additionally, he tutored All-American Kennedy Martin, who earned a spot on Second Team. The freshman was also named to AVCA All-Region and All-SEC.
 
During the 2022 campaign, Boos helped lead the Gators to their 29th Regional Semifinal after grabbing a 3-seed in the NCAA Tournament. It was Florida’s 32nd consecutive NCAA Tournament, the third-longest active streak in the nation. Florida finished 25-6 overall and 15-3 in the league en route to the team’s 25th SEC Championship. That mark is the third-best total in the entire conference among all sports since volleyball’s inception into the SEC in 1979. Behind Boos’ defensive tactics, the Gators finished the 2022 season ranked in the Top-20 in the nation in blocks per set (10th | 2.73), opponent hitting percentage (10th | .158) and total blocks (19th | 309.0). Florida led the SEC in blocks per set and opponent hitting percentage, making it the 10th out of the last 12 seasons that the Gators have been among the Top-3 in the conference in blocks per set. Boos tutored two AVCA All-Americans, with both Marina Markova and Alexis Stucky earning a spot on the Third Team. He also tutored four AVCA All-Region selections, along with three All-SEC honorees.
 
During the 2021 campaign, Boos helped lead the Gators to their 28th Regional Semifinal after grabbing the No. 16 seed in the NCAA Tournament. It was Florida’s 31st consecutive NCAA Tournament, the third-longest active streak in the nation. Behind the defensive scheme of Boos, the Gators finished the season ranked second in the conference and 19th in the nation in blocks per set (2.63). Florida was also second in the conference in opponent hitting percentage (.180) and total team blocks (279.0). Boos tutored three All-Americans, including Second Team honoree Marlie Monserez, along with six SEC selections.

During the unprecedented COVID year where volleyball was the first high-risk indoor sport to start its fall season, the Gators finished the 2020-21 campaign with a stellar 21-4 record – the 30th consecutive season the team has won at least 21 matches. The SEC settled on a conference-only regular season, split into both a fall and spring. The format consisted of back-to-back matches against the same opponent and Florida finished the regular season 19-3 in the league, good for second overall. Behind the defensive scheme of Boos, the Gators ranked first in the conference in blocks per set (2.75), total blocks (242.0), as well as service aces (134) during the 2020-21 campaign. The squad sat second in the conference in opponent hitting percentage, limiting opponents to a .163 clip on the year. Nationally, Florida finished the season ranked 12th in blocks per set and 13th in  hitting percentage. Lauren Dooley sat first in the league in blocks per set (1.40) and earned back-to-back-to-back SEC Defensive Player of the Week awards – becoming just the second person to achieve that feat (Rhamat Alhassan). Lauren Forte led the league in hitting percentage (.463) and was 12th in the conference in blocks per set (0.90), while Elli McKissock sat atop the league in digs per set, recording 3.93 during her freshman season in the libero jersey. In total, five Gators – T’ara Ceasar (2nd), Lauren Forte (3rd), Holly Carlton (HM), Thayer Hall (HM) and Marlie Monserez (HM) – earned AVCA All-America honors, while Carlton, Ceasar, Forte and Hall were all named to the All-SEC Team. McKissock rounded out the conference awards, finding a spot on the All-Freshman Team.  
 
In the 2019 season, Florida advanced to the program’s 26th Regional Semifinal, going 27-5 overall. With a league record of 16-2, Florida clinched its 24th SEC Championship – the third-best total in the entire conference among all sports since volleyball’s inception into the SEC in 1979. Behind Boo’s defensive tactics, Florida ranked first in the conference in blocks per set with 2.49. The squad sat second in the conference in opponent hitting percentage, limiting teams to a .183 clip. Lauren Dooley sat fifth in the league in blocks per set (1.04) and ninth in total blocks (105). She recorded 12.0 blocks against Arkansas – the third-highest total in program history. Rachael Kramer sat first in the conference in hitting percentage (.410) and 14th in the conference in blocks per set (0.92). Allie Gregory finished the season fourth in the league in digs per set (4.11) and finished her career fourth in program history with 1,385, earning her AVCA All-Region Honorable Mention accolades. In total, two Gators – Thayer Hall and Rachael Kramer – earned AVCA All-America honors, while Hall, Kramer and Paige Hammons were named to the All-SEC Team.   
 
In 2018, the Gators advanced to the program’s 25th Regional Semifinal, going 26-7 overall. UF finished its Southeastern Conference schedule with a 15-3 record. Behind Boos’ defensive tactics, Florida ranked in the top-12 nationally in blocks per set with 2.82. The squad sat 13th in the nation and first in the conference in opponent hitting percentage as well, limiting teams to a .160 clip. Rachael Kramer sat atop the conference and in the Top-25 nationally in both blocks per set (1.38) and total blocks (170). For her efforts, she earned AVCA All-America honors, the second of her career. Taelor Kellum sat fourth in the SEC in blocks per set (1.15) and total blocks (137), while Allie Gregory ranked fourth in the league in total digs (104). Kramer, along with two others – Thayer Hall and Holly Carlton – earned AVCA All-America honors, while Kramer, Kellum, Hall and Paige Hammons were named All-SEC.
 
During the 2017 season, Florida made a spectacular run to its first national final since the 2003 season. The Gators also claimed their 23rd SEC Championship, the third-most SEC titles regardless of sport or gender since 1979. UF finished 15th in the nation in hitting percentage, recording a .278 clip during the 2017 campaign. Behind Boos’ defensive tactics, Florida ranked in the top-10 in blocks per set, recording 2.90, while Rhamat Alhassan led the nation with 1.70 per set. For the third straight year, Alhassan ranked in the top-20 in both hitting percentage (15th - .401) and blocks per set (1st – 1.70) – for this feat, Alhassan was named AVCA First Team All-America, the fourth AVCA honor of her career. Libero Caroline Knop finished the season with a team-best 517 digs and earned AVCA Honorable Mention All-America honors. Three more Gators earned AVCA All-America honors as well - Carli Snyder, Shainah Joseph and Rachael Kramer. All five players were also named All-SEC after helping Florida to a 17-1 conference record. 
 
In 2016, the Gators won a share of their 22nd SEC title behind a nation-best hitting efficiency (.338), but they also ranked tied for 23rd in blocks per set (2.62) and tied for 24th in opponent hitting percentage (.168). Florida also finished the year with a mere 64 receiving errors on 1,768 receive attempts, posting a .946 receiving percentage, including a .983 mark from junior libero Caroline Knop. Boos’ defensive tactics helped make Rhamat Alhassan one of two players in the country ranked in the top 20 nationally in both hitting percentage (9th -- .416) and blocks per set (11th – 1.45)—for a second consecutive year. Alhassan earned AVCA third-team All-America honors, while Knop was an AVCA All-America Honorable Mention. Both were All-SEC selections, and freshman Rachael Kramer earned a spot on the SEC All-Freshman team before going on to make the U.S. Women’s Junior National Team, which competed at the FIVB U20 World Championships in summer 2017.
 
In 2015, the Gators advanced to the program’s 15th Elite Eight behind a nation-best hitting efficiency (.313), while Florida also checked in 20th in the country in total blocks (322.5) and 23rd in blocks per set (2.76). Then-sophomore Rhamat Alhassan, an AVCA First Team All-American, posted the ninth-best clip in the NCAA (.422) and ranked second in the nation in blocks per set (1.62). Alhassan had a school record 14 roofs in Florida’s season opener, the most of any player in the SEC in 2015. Her 189 total blocks were a single-season UF record. Defensively, Florida held its opponents to a .164 efficiency through the season, 22nd best in the NCAA in 2015 and tops in the Southeastern Conference.
 
Boos’ schematics were key in guiding the Gators to their 13th undefeated SEC season and the program’s 21st SEC title in 2014. Florida held its opponents to just a .172 hitting efficiency, tops in the SEC, while the Gators additionally ranked second in the league in blocks (2.37/s) and first in aces per set (1.53). The middle blocker duo of Simone Antwi and Alhassan tag-teamed for two All-America honors, while Alhassan additionally paced the NCAA with her .458 hitting efficiency en route to SEC and AVCA Regional Freshman of the Year honors.
 
The Gators had arguably its best passing trio in the back row in 2014 with three seniors in Maddy Monserez, Holly Pole and Taylor Unroe, who stabilized UF on serve-receive and set up the potent offense for the Orange and Blue.
 
Boos crafted a stellar 2013 campaign for the Gators, highlighted by SEC Libero of the Year honors for Unroe, marking just Florida’s second defensive player of the year honor. Florida paced the SEC by holding its opponents to just a .173 hitting efficiency, while registering 170 service aces (1.57/s), first in the conference. Unroe was tops in the SEC with her 0.38 service aces per set, 41 overall, while ranking in the top 10 in the league with 3.84 digs per set. First Team All-American senior middle blocker Chloe Mann, a candidate for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award, registered 0.85 blocks per set -- top 20 in the conference -- to balance out her potent .506 hitting percentage, but it was sophomore AVCA All-Southeast Region Honorable Mention honoree Simone Antwi who led the Orange and Blue with 0.89 blocks per set. Antwi, who played on the USA Volleyball Collegiate National Team on the European tour over the summer, paced UF with 96.0 total blocks.
 
In his third season, Boos continued to impact the Gators’ defensive scheme and service efforts in 2012, as UF tallied 269 blocks as a team with First Team All-American Mann averaging 1.15/set. Florida led the SEC in opponent hitting percentage (.164) and was top five in blocks (2.45/set) and service aces (1.43/set). Unroe was top five in the SEC in digs her junior campaign (4.40/set) and service aces (.32/set) while also registering the best serve receive percentage in the nation (.963).
 
The Gators’ defense was phenomenal in 2011, as Florida registered 2.38 blocks/set (third in the SEC) with both starting middle blockers averaging nearly a block/set. The Gators’ service game was equally stellar, leading the SEC in aces/set (1.56). Senior outside hitter Kristy Jaeckel averaged .42 aces/set to lead the SEC and rank 27th in the nation, and senior setter/right-side hitter Kelly Murphy was fifth in the conference with .32 aces/set.
 
Boos made a dynamic impact during the 2010 campaign, primarily with the team’s defensive scheme and service efforts. Those two areas flourished in Boos’ first season with the Gators as Florida led the Southeastern Conference in both blocks per set (2.84) and service aces per set (1.64). The Gators ranked 10th nationally in rejections per frame and 21st in the country in aces per set. Junior middle blocker Cassandra Anderson led the conference and ranked 28th in the nation in blocks per set at 1.27, while junior right-side/setter Kelly Murphy was the conference leader and 32nd in the country in service aces per set at 0.40.

By the Numbers:

• AVCA All-Americans: 26 players, 49 honors
• AVCA All-Region & All-District: 32 players, 58 honors
• AVCA Regiona Freshman of the Year: Alexis Stucky (2022), Rhamat Alhassan (2014), Ziva Recek (2012)
• AVCA National Freshman of the Year: Ziva Recek (2012)
• Volleyball Magazine All-America: 19 players, 35 honors
• Honda Award Winner: Rhamat Alhassan (2017)
• All-SEC: 33 players, 64 honors
• SEC Player of the Year: Kelly Murphy (2010), Chloe Mann (2012), Alex Holston (2014), Rhamat Alhassan (2017)
• SEC Defensive Player of the Year: Taylor Unroe (Libero of the Year, 2013)
• SEC Defensive Player of the Week: 15 players, 38 honors

At Ball State: 
Boos joined the Gators after spending three seasons as the head coach at Ball State University in Muncie, Ind. He re-built a storied Cardinals program, tripling the team's win total from his first season in his final year of 2009. Exemplifying his prowess as a recruiter, four players from Boos' 2010 recruiting class were named to PrepVolleyball.com's list of Senior Aces.
 
At Minnesota:
Boos spent five seasons as the associate head coach at Minnesota from 2002-06 under former head coach Mike Hebert. He helped the Gophers to a 142-38 overall record, including an 80-20 Big Ten mark. Minnesota reached the NCAA Tournament in each of Boos' five years on the staff, earning trips to the national semifinals in 2003 and 2004, including the school's first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division I National Championship match in 2004. He also assisted a team that captured the program's first ever Big Ten Championship in 2002.

At Indiana:
Prior to joining the Minnesota coaching staff, Boos spent three seasons as an assistant coach at Indiana (1999-2001), where he helped guide the Hoosiers to an NCAA Tournament appearance in 1999. Boos began his collegiate coaching career as a volunteer assistant at Wisconsin-Oshkosh from 1995-98.
 
During his time in the Big Ten, Boos helped guide his student-athletes to 33 Academic All-Big Ten selections, 14 All-Big Ten honors, 12 AVCA All-Region awards, 10 AVCA All-America accolades, four Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors, four NCAA Division III All-America selections, one Big Ten Player of the Year and one NCAA Division III Player of the Year.
 
2006 USA A2 Women's National Team:
Boos reunited with Wise after serving as her assistant coach on the USA A2 Women's National Team in May 2006. On that squad, he acted as defensive coordinator, while assisting in practice planning and opponent scouting. Additionally, his international experience includes serving as a coaching intern on the USA National Training Team in February 2003.
 
Volleyball Career:
Boos was a player for the Wisconsin-Oshkosh men's club team from 1994-1999 and served as the club's head coach from 1996-1999. He led the team to the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association Division II National Championship as the setter and head coach in 1996. A four-time First Team All-Wisconsin Volleyball Conference selection, Boos guided the program to conference championships in 1997, 1998 and 1999. The 1998 squad finished the season ranked in the NIRSA Division I Top 5. Boos compiled a 144-36-4 overall record as the club's coach.

Personal:
Boos graduated cum laude from Wisconsin-Oshkosh with a bachelor's of science degree in 1998. He is married to the former Amy Ward and the couple welcomed their first child, Kaelyn, in 2012 and son, Ethan, in 2014.