Columbia University Athletics

Bringing 13 years of NCAA collegiate coaching experience, including 10 years as head coach that saw him collect a conference title as a head coach and after three years in the Atlantic Coast Conference where he coached the 2021 ACC Defensive Player of the Year, Patric Santiago was named Columbia Volleyball’s new Head Volleyball Coach by Campbell Family Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Physical Education Peter Pilling on Wednesday, March 30, 2022.

Santiago came to Morningside after three years as the Associate Head Coach at Duke University.  Santiago joined the Duke volleyball coaching staff in March 2019, and served as the associate head coach, aiding in all aspects of student-athlete development, practice planning, scouting, game analysis and recruiting.

While at Duke, Santiago coached four student-athletes to All-ACC honors, three AVCA East Coast All-Region honorees and helped navigate Mackenzie Cole’s ACC Defensive Player of the Year 2021 season, becoming only the third Duke Blue Devil to earn the honor in program history.
 
He was also key to helping Duke earned the No. 16 ranked 2022 Recruiting Class and during his time at Duke, the Blue Devil’s RPI rose from 137 to 62 following the 2021 season.  His students were also strong in the classroom, where he oversaw nine ACC All-Academic honorees and three consecutive AVCA Team Academic Awards.
 
Santiago made the move to Duke from Iona College, where he served as the head coach of the volleyball program for three years from 2016-19.  Santiago led the Gaels to a historic 2018 season, finishing the campaign with a program record 20 wins and its second Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championship in program history.  The Gaels capped the season with the school’s first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 2004.
 
Prior to Iona, Santiago served as the head coach at his alma mater, SUNY Farmingdale for seven seasons (2009-16). He helped lead the Rams to a 39-25 Skyline Conference record, earning six consecutive postseason appearances.
 
Along with his experiences coaching, Santiago also has spent administrative time with the NCAA, serving as the NCAA committee representative for the Penn State Regional during the 2017 NCAA Tournament.  He has also run several camps and spent six years from 2010-16 as a professional beach volleyball player.
 
Santiago graduated from Farmingdale State with a bachelor’s degree in business management. A student-athlete, he competed for the Rams as a four-sport athlete, excelling in soccer, golf, indoor and outdoor track. He is the only student-athlete to ever compete in four sports in school history and was the captain of all four sports during his career.
 
THE PATRIC SANTIAGO FILE
 
Date announced as Columbia Head Coach: Wednesday, March 30, 2022
 
Education
Bachelor of Arts, Management of Technology, Farmingdale State College, 2006
 
Coaching Career
Head Volleyball Coach, Columbia University, 2022-Present
Associate Head Volleyball Coach, Duke University, 2019-21
Head Women’s Volleyball Coach, Iona College, 2016-19
Head Volleyball Coach, Farmingdale State College, 2009-16
 
Coaching Accomplishments
Coached the 2021 ACC Defensive Player of the Year … Saw four student-athletes earn All-ACC Honors … Named the 2018 MAAC Coach of the Year … Won the 2018 MAAC Conference Championship at Iona … Coached Iona to the most conference wins in program history … Helped put together two nationally ranked recruiting classes at Duke.
 
Playing Career
Played four years at Farmingdale State College (2002-06) … Named the 2006 EACA Division III Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year … 2006 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American … Played four sports at Farmingdale … Spent six years as a professional beach volleyball player … 2015 AVP Main Draw athlete.