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Provo • BYU men's volleyball coach Chris McGown announced his resignation on Tuesday, saying he wants to spend more time with his family and seek other business opportunities.
Given McGown's success in his four years at the helm, the announcement stunned the program's followers who believed the former BYU volleyball player and son of longtime coach Karl McGown would keep the job well into the future.
Chris McGown compiled an 88-31 record as head coach from 2012-15 and won two Mountain Pacific Sports Federation titles. The Cougars went 17-10 in the recently completed 2015 season in what was supposed to be a rebuilding season after the graduation of All-American Taylor Sander.
"The principal driving force behind my decision to step away was my two daughters," McGown said in a school news release. "I want to make sure the two of them are getting the best I have and I struggled to give them that with the demands of being the head coach."
Athletic director Tom Holmoe said the search for a new head coach will begin immediately. One likely candidate is assistant coach Rob Neilson, who served as an interim head coach in 2011 and guided the team to a 20-8 record and No. 5 national ranking.
"Chris has been an excellent coach and has had a positive impact in the lives of many student-athletes," Holmoe said. "We would like to thank the McGown family for the national respect they've brought to the men's volleyball program."
McGown leaves BYU with the second-best winning percentage (.739) and third-most victories (88) in school history. He directed the Cougars to league titles in 2013 and 2014.
"I've felt so much support from our staff, from our administration, and of course, our amazing fans," he said. "Most of all, I'll miss the association with our athletes — they are young men of talent, commitment and character. It's been an honor to go to work with them every day."
McGown worked as an administrator and coach at Gold Medal Squared volleyball camps before becoming BYU's head coach in 2012 and is still involved with that company.
He played for his father at BYU from 1990-94.
Twitter: @drewjay