You are here: American University News The Count: Spiking Records

Back to top

Athletics

The Count: Spiking Records

In August, legendary volleyball coach Barry Goldberg became only the fourth active Division I coach to notch more than 800 wins.

By |

Barry Goldberg has won 72 percent of his overall games and 89 percent of Patriot League games.

The Count is a new This Week at AU feature. 

As one of the winningest coaches in NCAA volleyball history, Barry Goldberg is etched in the record books.

But soon, that won’t be the only place Eagle fans can see his name. When the new Meltzer Center for Athletic Performance opens, the volleyball competition court will bear Goldberg’s name thanks to a $3 million gift from longtime trustee Jack Cassell, SOC/BA ’77, and his wife, Denise, as part of the Change Can’t Wait campaign.

“When I began this volleyball journey at American University in 1989, I never dreamed I would experience something like this,” Goldberg said. “History will tell a wonderful story of the AU volleyball program thanks to dedicated student-athletes and coaches that believed we could build something special here.”

The forthcoming Barry Goldberg Court was announced on February 18, as the Department of Athletics inducted four Eagles into the Stafford H. “Pop” Cassell Hall of Fame—named for another legendary AU coach, athletic director, and member of the Class of 1936.

“I have known Barry and his wife, Bonnie, since Barry’s first days coaching at AU,” Jack Cassell said. “They embody the high values that we aspire to at American and foster and hold high the ideals that my father cherished at this university.”

Last August, Goldberg, himself a member of the “Pop” Cassell Hall of Fame, became one of only four active Division coaches to notch more than 800 wins with a victory over George Washington University. Here’s a look at some of his other accolades, by the numbers:

  • AU had 5 volleyball coaches in its first 10 seasons. Goldberg has been at the helm for the last 34 years.

  • Goldberg has 812 career wins at AU—372 of which were notched on “Pop” Cassell Court in Bender Arena.

  • Goldberg is a 10-time conference coach of the year.

  • The immediate Goldberg family of 5 includes all Division I athletes: Barry Goldberg (volleyball, University of Pittsburgh), wife Bonnie (volleyball, Eastern Michigan University), daughter Arielle (volleyball, University of the Pacific), and sons Jared (volleyball, Grand Canyon University) and Mitchell (lacrosse, University of Richmond).

  • 372 of Goldberg’s wins came at Bender Arena, where his teams bested 83 percent of their opponents.

  • The first team to take the court for Goldberg beat Clarion University 3–0 on September 9, 1989.

  • In 2007 Goldberg founded one of the country’s premier youth tournaments: the Capitol Hill Volleyball Classic held annually over Presidents’ Day weekend in DC. The event started with 144 teams. This year’s tournament featured more than 950.

  • Goldberg’s Eagles have won 25 or more games in 19 different seasons. They’ve also lost fewer than 10 games in 19 different seasons. In 29 of 34 seasons, Goldberg has won at least 20 games.

  • 18 of Goldberg’s teams have made it to the NCAA tournament, including a trip to the Sweet 16 in 2013 when they went 34–3. They have won 5 NCAA tournament games.

  • On the way to the Sweet 16, AU swept Georgia and No. 14 Duke before losing 3–1 to No. 1 Texas.

  • When the NCAA ranked the , 2 AU victories made the list: the win over Duke and a win over Kentucky in 2015.

  • The Eagles have lost 0 conference games in 7 different seasons.

  • The stretch of Patriot League dominance included a 56–0 record from 2001 to 2004 and 109–3 over the 8 seasons beginning in 2001.

  • The Eagles won 18 conference championships under Goldberg. He won 16 Patriot League championships in 22 seasons.

  • Goldberg has won 72 percent of his overall games and 89 percent of Patriot League games. He won 65 games against DC rivals Georgetown, George Washington, and Howard.

  • 7 different AU players earned All-American honors while playing for Goldberg. 7 players were named Patriot League Player of the Year a total of 14 times. 26 different players were named All-Patriot League first team on 47 occasions.

  • 4 AU volleyball players have been inducted into the “Pop” Cassell Hall of Fame.

  • A record 2,837 fans attended the Eagles’ match against No. 1 Stanford on August 26, 2018.

  • The Eagles won a school-record 23 straight matches in both 1994 and 2010.

Have an idea for the Count? Email editor Jonathan Heeter.