Former Beach Pro Hudson Bates Named Assistant at Virginia

The Virginia women’s volleyball team announced the hiring of Hudson Bates, formerly the men’s volleyball head coach at Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia, as an assistant coach Wednesday.

Bates helped launch the Marymount program I 2013 and has acted as head coach the last four years. The Saint won the Continental Volleyball Conference Tournament three of his four seasons and earned a No. 9 national ranking in 2017.

“Hudson Bates is a great addition to our staff,” Wahoo head coach Aaron Smith said. “His vast experience and success as a player and a coach will benefit the program in a variety of ways. Hudson has a special way of connecting with and teaching players that have a passion to learn. He will make a lasting impact on our student-athletes throughout their time here at Virginia.”

Excited to have Hudson Bates join the #UVAVB staff as assistant coach!https://t.co/2TZD2WImxX pic.twitter.com/sOEaYDU7eY

— Virginia Volleyball (@UVAVolleyball) April 19, 2017

Under his tutelage, three Marymount players garnered all-conference acclaim in 2017, including Player of the Year TJ Wiechecki, as the team went 19-10 and won the conference title. In 2016, the program had its first AVCA All-American and posted a 19-11 record and third place finish in CVC play. In 2015, Marymount advanced to the conference tournament for the first time as Wiechecki garnered league Rookie of the Year accolades.

Prior to his time at Marymount, Bates was a volunteer assistant coach at George Mason from 2008-09.

In September 2016, Bates announced he was retiring from the AVP Tour after competing since 2007 to focus more on coaching. Bates had two fifth-place finishes to his credit while a part of the professional beach circuit.

“I can’t say that I’m totally done, but I’m focusing more on the coaching side of things,” Bates said. “I’ve been focusing on both, but now I want to end one chapter and completely focus on what will be my life for the next 30-plus years.”

Following a standout career at George Mason (2005-08) which included more than 1,000 kills, three EIVA All-Conference honors and 2005 Newcomer of the Year accolades, Bates was invited to train and compete with the USA men’s national team. He was a member of the 2010 USA National Beach team and competed professionally in Puerto Rico and Qatar from 2008 to 2012.