Katie Urycki promoted to volleyball associate head coach

By MICHAEL LAROCCA Opinion Editor

After four seasons on the staff as an assistant under head coach Kyle Robinson, Quinnipiac volleyball’s Katie Urycki was promoted to associate head coach Feb. 16.

The team announced Urycki’s promotion via Instagram in the wake of fellow assistant coach Marshay Greenlee leaving the program the week prior.

As a member of the coaching staff in 2022, Urycki helped lead the program to its first-ever conference title, winning the MAAC Championship over Fairfield in four sets before losing to No. 5 Wisconsin in straight sets in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Urycki credits her previous four seasons with preparing her for this role and the opportunity to take the next step of her career.

“When I first started out as an assistant, I didn’t know much about the business,” Urycki said. “I owe everything to Kyle, all the time he’s taken to teach me and mentor me and all the support that he’s given me.

I’ve been able to learn all the different facets and ins and outs of how to run a program.”

Urycki also played hitter for the Bobcats from 2013 to 2016, during which she racked up 678 kills and 478 digs in her career. She took the time to recognize what it means to climb up the ladder at a place like Quinnipiac.

“It’s been really special, because it is my alma mater,” Urycki said. “Especially being here from the beginning. It’s just been a really cool and rewarding circle.”

Robinson also emphasized what Urycki has already done for the program prior to the promotion and how she truly earned this new role.

“It meant the world to me to have someone that I can rely on and trust 100%,” Robinson said. “So this was the right time. I think, just because of the success of last year and the growth of what we’re doing … We wouldn’t have been as successful as we were this past season without Katie’s hard work, her professionalism and her growth as a young coach.”

With Robinson and Urycki now having MAAC Championship experience under their belts, their next job will be to work their way to a second-straight title in 2023.