Sarah Maurizi | Student Life Archives

Rich Luenemann finishes a pep talk as a timeout ends on Oct. 30, 2010. Luenemann was named the American Volleyball Coaches Association National Coach of the Year three times.

Luenemann, who joined Wash. U.’s staff in 1999, won three national championships and nine conference titles in his 14 years as the Bears’ head coach, posting a 480-62 record along the way. His .886 winning percentage is the highest in school history.

“Having the opportunity to coach at Washington University has proven to be one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life,” he said in a press release through the Athletic Department. “Washington University affords student-athletes the chance to enjoy the happiest of marriages between academics and athletics in offering outstanding opportunities both in the classroom and on the court. It’s been a privilege working at such a wonderful institution.”

Luenemann arrived at the Danforth Campus after coaching the University of St. Francis, an NAIA program, for 18 years. While there, he won 590 matches; combined with his total at Wash. U., his career mark of 1,070 wins ranked fourth in NCAA history, spanning all divisions, through the 2012 season.

Wash. U.’s previous head coach, Teri Clemens, was a legend in her own right, winning six consecutive national titles in the 1990s and being inducted into the Washington University Sports Hall of Fame immediately upon her retirement. Luenemann continued this run of success: in his tenure, Wash. U. earned a top-two national ranking every year since 2001 and garnered the top regional seed for 10 straight years from 2002-11.

On an individual level, Luenemann was named the American Volleyball Coaches Association National Coach of the Year after each of Wash. U.’s three national titles with him at the helm (2003, 2007 and 2009), and the school earned University Athletic Association Coaching Staff of the Year honors five times.

“He had high expectations for all his players, so it was always just a challenge,” class of 2013 graduate and four-time All-American Marilee Fisher recalled. “Every practice and every game was a challenge, and he definitely pushed us very hard and really pushed us to meet those expectations…so it was an atmosphere of just pushing each other and pushing yourself no matter the circumstances.”

Senior Emily Tulloch, who played for Luenemann for three years, praised his recruiting prowess as Wash. U. annually brought in one of Division III’s top freshman classes. “I think he was a great recruiter—that’s why our team was so good. He got some great girls to come to our program and has really kept the tradition of Wash. U. volleyball alive.”

With Luenemann’s departure, Tulloch added, the Bears will “have to start next year rebuilding the program in a different light. That’s a big task for the upcoming team, but I don’t think they’re going to lose anything as players or as a program.”

Luenemann first took a leave of absence during the 2011 season after his wife, Joan Luenemann, suffered a brain hemorrhage. His stated reason for this year’s leave of absence is “personal reasons,” and in the press release Wednesday, Rich Luenemann said that he would not return to coaching to focus on spending time with his wife.

Interim head coach Luke Young, in his first year with Wash. U.’s coaching staff, has led the team to a 22-5 record and No. 8 national ranking. No decision has been revealed regarding the search for a full-time coach for next season.