LOS ANGELES – Cal State L.A. women's volleyball head coach Bill Lawler, who led the Golden Eagles to 274 wins and 10 NCAA Division II playoffs during a brilliant 13-year career, has announced his resignation to accept the head job at Golden West College.
Lawler, who was the program's most successful coach, guided the Golden Eagles to a regional championship in 2005 and a national semi-final appearance. He also directed Cal State L.A. to a school-record 30 wins in 2000 while leading the Golden Eagles to a 22-0 California Collegiate Athletic Association record. Cal State L.A. won conference titles in 1999, 2000 and 2005 and reached the NCAA playoffs nine times in the past 10 years and 10 times in his 13-year career.
He leaves Cal State L.A. with an overall record of 274-112 and an overall winning percentage of .710.
“I have so many great memories and experiences coaching at Cal State L.A. for the past 13 years. I am proud of what the players have been able to accomplish during my tenure,” Lawler said. “I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to work for such a supportive President, Dr. James Rosser, and an outstanding athletic director,
Dr. Dan Bridges. Cal State L.A. has been a great experience for me and I will miss the players the most. At this point in my life, the opportunity to coach and teach at Golden West College was one that I could not pass up. I will miss Cal State L.A., but I am looking forward to new experiences at Golden West College.”
Lawler led the Golden Eagles to their fifth straight playoff appearance in 2008 and to the regional semi-finals for the fourth straight time. Cal State L.A. rallied to knock off UC San Diego in five sets in a first-round playoff match before falling to Cal Poly Pomona in five sets in the regional semis. Cal State L.A. finished the year ranked 18th in the nation.
During his tenure, Cal State L.A. players earned 51 All-CCAA awards, 16 All-West Region awards, seven All-America awards and three CCAA Player of the Year honors. He was the Pacific Region Coach of the Year in 2005 after leading the Golden Eagles to a regional championship and a 28-3 record. He was also CCAA Coach of the Year twice.
“We deeply appreciate everything Bill has accomplished here at Cal State L.A.,” Bridges said. “He has developed an excellent program in which players have achieved considerable academic and athletic success. We wish him the best in his new position.”
Cal State L.A. has been a national power in women's volleyball and is a perennial contender in the CCAA. The Golden Eagles have been ranked in an AVCA end-of-the-season national poll 14 times, which is more than any other CCAA school. The Golden Eagles have also been nationally-ranked by the AVCA a total of 161 weeks, which is also more than any other CCAA school.
