COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Feb. 1, 2024) – USA Volleyball sends its deepest condolences to the family and friends of Tom Tait, 86, who died Jan. 11 in Huntingdon, Pa.
Tait was an American professor, author and volleyball coach, who received his PhD from Penn State in 1969. He was serving as an assistant track and field coach at the university when he was asked to be the head coach of the Penn State women’s and men’s club volleyball teams in 1974.
Women’s volleyball became a varsity sport in 1977 and men’s volleyball in 1978. Tait focused on the men’s team and won eight conference titles and reached the NCAA semifinals six times.
According to a story in the Penn State Daily Collegian, Tait paid for the whole team to travel to Reno, Nev., to compete in the USA Volleyball adult nationals, largely out of his own pocket, just so his players could get a glimpse of a higher level of play.
Later, Tait helped both the 1984 and ’88 Men’s U.S. Olympic Teams.
In 1993, Tait received the USA Volleyball George J. Fisher Leader in Volleyball Award.
Tait was presented with the USA Volleyball Bertha H. Lucas All-Time Great Coach – Pioneer Award in 2007.