Long Beach State University Athletics
Nick MacRae Named Big West Coach Of The Year In Breakout First Season
4/28/2026 10:04:00 AM | Men's Volleyball
MacRae leads Long Beach State to conference championship, consistent top-three national ranking, and a roster filled with all-conference and national honors
LONG BEACH, Calif. -- Long Beach State head coach Nick MacRae has been named Big West Coach of the Year, capping a remarkable debut season at the helm of the program.
In his first year leading the Beach, MacRae guided Long Beach State to a 24-4 overall record and an 8-2 mark in conference play, culminating in a Big West Championship. The Beach established itself as one of the nation's elite programs throughout the season, never falling below No. 3 in the AVCA Coaches Poll.
MacRae's impact was evident across every phase of the game. Long Beach State finished the season hitting .347 while holding opponents to just .217, while also leading the nation in aces per set at 2.23. The Beach also dominated at the net defensively, averaging 2.73 blocks per set, further reinforcing its position as one of the most complete teams in the country.
Individually, MacRae developed one of the most decorated rosters in the nation. Skyler Varga emerged as an AVCA Player of the Year semifinalist after averaging 3.15 kills per set and 4.04 points per set. Varga was joined by Jackson Cryst and Kellen Larson on the All-Big West First Team, highlighting the program's balance across positions.
The Beach also showcased elite young talent. Jackson Cryst, Jake Pazanti, and Wojciech Gajek were all named to the All-Big West Freshman Team, signaling the program's strong foundation moving forward. Gajek further solidified his standout postseason performance by earning Most Valuable Player honors at the Big West Men's Volleyball Championship.
From top to bottom, MacRae's leadership produced immediate results, blending veteran production with emerging talent while maintaining national championship-level consistency.
In his first year leading the Beach, MacRae guided Long Beach State to a 24-4 overall record and an 8-2 mark in conference play, culminating in a Big West Championship. The Beach established itself as one of the nation's elite programs throughout the season, never falling below No. 3 in the AVCA Coaches Poll.
MacRae's impact was evident across every phase of the game. Long Beach State finished the season hitting .347 while holding opponents to just .217, while also leading the nation in aces per set at 2.23. The Beach also dominated at the net defensively, averaging 2.73 blocks per set, further reinforcing its position as one of the most complete teams in the country.
Individually, MacRae developed one of the most decorated rosters in the nation. Skyler Varga emerged as an AVCA Player of the Year semifinalist after averaging 3.15 kills per set and 4.04 points per set. Varga was joined by Jackson Cryst and Kellen Larson on the All-Big West First Team, highlighting the program's balance across positions.
The Beach also showcased elite young talent. Jackson Cryst, Jake Pazanti, and Wojciech Gajek were all named to the All-Big West Freshman Team, signaling the program's strong foundation moving forward. Gajek further solidified his standout postseason performance by earning Most Valuable Player honors at the Big West Men's Volleyball Championship.
From top to bottom, MacRae's leadership produced immediate results, blending veteran production with emerging talent while maintaining national championship-level consistency.
Players Mentioned
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