“Motivation is temporary, inspiration is permanent. I am trying to lead an inspired life.” Surfing legend Kelly Slater once said about his surfing career. Yet little did the 11-time world champion know that his statement had served as inspiration from a fellow athlete-turned-coach, Dan Fisher. At 48, the Pittsburgh volleyball head coach stands among the most renowned active coaches in college volleyball.

Heading up duties as the mastermind behind the Pittsburgh Panthers volleyball program, Fisher has taken the team to previously unseen heights. Throughout his eleven seasons as the coach, Dan Fisher has taken Pittsburgh from being competitive in the conference to one of the teams in the NCAA. However, throughout his tenure as a record-setting coach, the California native has remained humble.

Learn about the Pittsburgh volleyball coach’s journey and family

Born in Goleta, California, Dan Fisher grew to love volleyball. For the small town of around 60,000 residents, volleyball was part of their culture. “In a place like Santa Barbara, you grew up in high school and everyone wants to play men’s volleyball and water polo,” Fisher told Pittnews in 2016. At 6’5″ Fisher started as the student of the game, eventually turning pro.

Fisher spent five years playing in Spain, Belgium, and Switzerland, even representing Team USA. However, with the turn of the millennium, the 48-year-old gradually transitioned to coaching. As a man of many hobbies, including “guitar/ukulele, reading, and almost anything outdoors,” the Pittsburgh volleyball coach began studying the ins and outs of sports he had played professionally.

Outside of his coaching duties, Fisher is a family man. The California native now lives in Pittsburgh with Joni Fisher and two children; Eden and Max Fisher. Eden is the elder of the two, and despite his busy schedule, the Pittsburgh volleyball coach ensures he finds time for his family.

Dan Fisher’s contract with Pittsburgh and previous teams

Before taking the reins as Pittsburgh volleyball’s head coach in 2013, the former AVCA Coach of the Year only coached Concordia University Irvine’s volleyball team. During his short two-year tenure, the 48-year-old led them to two consecutive NAIA National Championship finals and one title. The talented coach brought a similar gusto as the head coach of Pittsburgh.

“I think to be a head coach, you have to be pretty clear about what you stand for and what you want your team culture to stand for,” Fisher told Tribe Live in 2016. After joining the Panthers, the volleyball pro turned coach unlocked the team’s true potential. In his first year at the helm, Fisher’s Panthers showed never-before-seen tenacity against Purdue and Duke.

“These were girls who never thought they could make the Tournament… Those are the two (matches) that changed the thought process of the team at the time. (Making the Tournament) wasn’t just a hypothetical,” Fisher said in 2018. Throughout his eleven years as the Pittsburgh volleyball coach, Fisher has signed several contract extensions.

One of those extensions came in 2018, after Dan Fisher had also proven himself as Team USA’s Pam-Am Cup head coach, twice. “His vision, work ethic, and commitment to our student-athletes has led to unprecedented success,” said Pittsburgh Director of Athletics Heather Lyke. In 2021, Fisher signed another extension that will see him lead the Panthers until 2027. However, Dan Fisher has already achieved some historic feats during his time at Pittsburgh.

Major achievements of Dan Fisher

After 11 years with the Pittsburgh Panthers, Dan Fisher’s contribution to the team has been transformative. When the volleyball coach joined, the Panthers had a competitive .500 win percentage. However, Fisher has improved it to over .800 and helped the Pittsburgh volleyball squad achieve several milestones. Here’s a rundown of a few of his biggest career highlights:

• Pan-Am Cup Head Coach: Gold medalist in 2015
• Pan-Am Cup Head Coach: Bronze medalist in 2016
• U21 Pan-Am Cup Head Coach: Gold medalist in 2022 and 2023
• Led the Panthers to five ACC Volleyball Champion victories: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023
• Three-time AVCA East Coast Region Coach of the Year: 2017, 2018, 2022
• Two-time ACC Coach of the Year: 2017, 2018

Record-breaking achievements as the Panther’s volleyball coach:

• The first coach to take the Panthers to the final four in the NCAA Championships: 2021, 2022, 2023
• Most wins over Top 5 ranked teams in one season: 5
• Led Pittsburgh to most NCAA Tournament victories: 19
• Coach with the highest win rate in Panther’s history: .811
• Earned second place as the winningest Pittsburgh volleyball coach: 287

There’s little doubt that Dan Fisher has established himself as the Pittsburgh volleyball program’s greatest coach. However, with his career nowhere near its end, who knows what else the 48-year-old will achieve by 2027?