Washington Director of Athletics Pat Chun announced on Apr. 13 that Steve McFadden has been named the official head coach of the university’s women’s beach volleyball program, removing his interim title.
The decision comes after a season in which McFadden led the team to several notable victories and national recognition. The appointment is seen as an effort to build on recent successes and maintain positive momentum for the program.
“We are excited to name Steve McFadden as the head coach of our beach volleyball program,” Chun said. “Since the beginning of the school year, he has provided the leadership and direction our team needed. We are excited for him to build on the positive momentum of this season.”
During his time as interim head coach, McFadden secured his first win with a sweep over Vanguard at the Pepperdine Challenge and guided Washington to key wins against ranked opponents such as LSU and North Florida. He expressed gratitude for being given this opportunity, saying, “I am so excited for the opportunity to continue leading this program! I want to thank Kiley and Pat for their support, and their belief in my leadership and vision for the program. I feel so fortunate to be at an institution and an athletic department whose values align with my own, and I truly believe that we have all the pieces in place to keep on bringing this program to new heights.” He also credited assistant coaches Abbie Hughes and Chris Littleman along with current players for their contributions.
The Huskies’ upcoming home matches will take place at Alki Beach against several ranked teams including Florida Atlantic and Boise State on April 17-18. Under McFadden’s guidance, Washington has regularly appeared in national rankings throughout his tenure, reaching as high as No. 18 this season. He previously served as assistant coach during Washington’s first NCAA Tournament appearance in 2024 when they became the northernmost team ever qualified.
Before joining Washington, McFadden was an assistant coach at Florida International University where he helped maintain top-20 national rankings over three seasons. His coaching career also includes experience at Laguna Beach High School where he led teams to state runner-up finishes.
Looking ahead, McFadden aims to guide Washington through a challenging schedule while pursuing continued success nationally.
