Coaches
Chris Connelly
Coach
Ocean Point Volleyball Club is proud to welcome Chris Connelly to its coaching staff. A national champion, elite libero, and USA Volleyball athlete, Chris brings championship experience, exceptional defensive skill, and a passion for developing complete volleyball players.
Chris joined UCLA after three seasons at Long Beach State, where he helped lead The Beach to the 2025 NCAA National Championship after appearing in the NCAA title match the previous season. He quickly became one of the nation’s top liberos at UCLA, earning 2026 AVCA Honorable Mention All-America honors after anchoring one of the country’s best defensive units. During the 2026 season, Chris appeared in 31 matches, recording 193 digs, averaging 1.77 digs per set, posting an outstanding .934 serve reception percentage, and tallying 40 assists from the libero position. He was also named MPSF Defensive Player of the Week after leading UCLA to ranked road victories over UC Santa Barbara and UC Irvine.
Before his collegiate career, Chris was one of the nation’s top defensive specialists while competing for 352 Elite Volleyball Club and Gulf Coast High School in Naples, Florida. He earned 2021 USA Volleyball Boys Junior National Championship All-Tournament Team honors, captured a bronze medal at the 2022 USA Volleyball Boys Junior National Championships, and finished as the runner-up at the 2020 USA National Beach Tour Junior Championships.
Chris has proudly represented the United States on the international stage as a member of the USA Volleyball U19 National Team and the USA Volleyball U21 National Team, helping Team USA win the 2022 U21 Pan American Cup Gold Medal. His international experience, elite ball control, and championship mindset make him an outstanding mentor for athletes of every position.
At Ocean Point, Coach Chris is committed to helping players develop elite passing, defensive consistency, court awareness, and the competitive habits necessary to succeed at the highest levels of volleyball. We are excited to have him investing in the next generation of Ocean Point athletes.