Palm Beach Atlantic University Athletics

Coach Bob White begins his 13th season as the head women’s volleyball coach at Palm Beach Atlantic University in 2017. He previously served in several leadership positions within the athletic department since he came to the University in 2002, including Director of Athletics and Assistant Athletic Director.

White led the Sailfish to another successful season in 2016, as they again hosted and won the NCAA South Region Tournament and made it to the National Semifinal match after defeating USC-Aiken in their first match at the national tournament.  The Sailfish finished with a 32-4 overall record, which included a 18-0 home record.  White's team began the season 0-3, and proceeded to rattle off 32 consecutive victories, which set a program record.

White led the Sailfish to unprecedented heights in 2015, as PBA captured their first NCAA South Region title with a 3-1 win over Florida Southern in Rubin Arena. The Sailfish won their first match at the national tournament, 3-0, over New York Institute of Technology before advancing to the National Championship match with a 3-0 victory over Wayne State (Neb.). In the final the Sailfish's dream season came to an end at the hands of Wheeling Jesuit.

In 2015, White was named the AVCA Division II Coach of the Year as the Sailfish finished the season at 31-5 and with the highest ranking in program history at No. 2. Faith Rohn was the first AVCA First Team All-America selection as well as the first CoSIDA Academic All-America selection in program history.

PBA continued its ascent into the upper-echelon of NCAA Division II volleyball in 2014, once again making the NCAA South Regional final, putting together a 30-win campaign, and finishing the year ranked a program-best No. 15 by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA). Along the way, Coach White earned his 300th victory while on the sidelines for Palm Beach Atlantic in a win over Florida Tech on October 15th. Once again, the Sailfish were honored on a national stage with junior Faith Rohn being named to the AVCA All-American second-team and senior Becca Acevedo earning All-American honorable mention honors for the third straight year.

Following up a historic 2012 season was no easy task, but the Sailfish returned to the NCAA South Region tournament and finished with 29 wins and a final AVCA national ranking of No. 24. PBA once again saw the rise of individual performances, with senior Christina Alessi being named to the AVCA All-American third-team and juniors Becca Acevedo and Melissa Buckingham each earning All-American honorable-mention.

The Sailfish volleyball team reached the NCAA Regional Tournament for the first time in 2012 as part of one of the most successful seasons in program history. The 2012 season proved to be a season of many historic accomplishments including the program earning an American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) national ranking on their way to finishing 35-4.

White posted win No. 300 in his collegiate coaching career during the season with a 3-0 sweep of Southeastern University on Sept. 27, 2012, after earning his 200th victory as PBA’s head coach in 2011. 

After narrowly missing out on a NCAA Regional Tournament appearance in 2011, the Sailfish proved worthy during the 2012 season to make a run to the South Region championship as the No. 3-seed in the tournament. The Sailfish fell to eventual NCAA National Championship runner-up, University of Tampa, in the South Region Championship match by a 3-1 score after defeating both Rollins College and Christian Brothers University earlier in the tournament. 

In 2011, White and his team celebrated a number of individual and team milestones, including the program’s first-ever NCAA Regional ranking. The team also registered their second straight NCCAA National Tournament Final Four finish. They eclipsed the 30-win mark for the first time since 2006 by posting a 30-5 overall record. 

White returned as Sailfish head volleyball coach in December 2009 after serving as the full-time director of athletics for three years. After a combined 23 wins in the previous two seasons, he led his team to a solid 26-11 record in 2010. They claimed the NCCAA South Region Championship and made it all the way to the NCCAA Final Four in Kissimmee, Fla. 

White joined PBA in March 2002 as the women’s head volleyball coach and assistant athletic director for facilities and compliance, and was named athletic director in 2004. He came to PBA from Tennessee Temple University where he turned the Crusader’s volleyball program around and finished his final season at 36-6. 

During his time leading the Sailfish he's won seven NCCAA regional championships and a national championship in 2004. He is the all-time PBA volleyball coaching leader in winning percentage, including averaging over 30 wins per season. 

As a Maryland native, he has a bachelor’s degree from Pensacola Christian College and a master’s degree in organizational leadership from PBA.

In May 2008, White was inducted into the NCCAA Hall of Fame for his service and success as a collegiate volleyball coach and administrator. He also is the first coach to be inducted into the PBA Sports Hall of Fame, an honor he received in November 2008. 

White and his wife, Robin, have two children, Robbe and Lauryn, and one grandson, Mac. They live in West Palm Beach, Fla.

WHITE'S CAREER NUMBERS