Share
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (March 10, 2026) – USA Volleyball mourns the passing of longtime coach and educator Jim Stone, whose influence has shaped thousands of athletes and coaches across the United States. A teacher of the game and tireless advocate for athlete development, Stone’s impact reached from youth gyms to the international stage.
Stone passed away on March 10 at the age of 73. Services will be held Tuesday, March 17, at Bohlender Funeral Chapel in Fort Collins, Colorado, starting at 10 a.m.
With USA Volleyball, Stone led the U.S. Girls Youth National Team to gold at the 2019 FIVB Volleyball U18 World Championship, the first world championship gold medal ever won by the United States in an age-group volleyball world championship. The historic achievement followed another title the year before, when his Girls Youth National Team captured gold at the 2018 NORCECA U18 Continental Championship.
Across several appointments as head coach of the U.S. Girls Youth National Team, Stone guided multiple medal-winning squads, including silver medal finishes at worlds in 2013 and 2015. His dedication to athlete growth and competitive excellence helped establish a foundation that continues to strengthen the U.S. national team pipeline.
“Volleyball, and certainly USA Volleyball, lost a true treasure with the passing of Jim,” said Doug Beal, former CEO of USA Volleyball and former coach of the U.S. Men’s National Team. “Our sport has been blessed with wonderful teachers, coaches and leaders, and Jim fits in among the best ever, leaving an indelible imprint that made our sport and so many people so much better. He was a talented collegiate player and collegiate coach, and an unsurpassed coach with USAV age-group teams. His most impactful contributions may have come after he retired from coaching to focus on inspiring so many young (and old!) coaches. His writings were challenging, insightful, always well researched, and they led you to want to know more.
“Jim would be embarrassed to know I’m calling him inspiring,” Beal continued. “He was low-key, self-deprecating, modest to a fault. A common theme running through many recent tributes has been people wanting more one-on-one time with him. Many players were fortunate to have him as a coach, many coaches were fortunate to work with him, and many more were influenced, motivated and inspired by his speaking, videos and newsletters.”
Stone also served as an assistant coach for the U.S. Women’s National Team during its gold medal run at the 2025 FIVB World Grand Prix, contributing to one of the program’s landmark international victories. His international résumé further included coaching at the 1999 Summer Universiade and serving as a three-time U.S. Olympic Festival coach.
Beyond the international stage, Stone was a cornerstone of coach education and athlete development throughout the United States. He coached in USA Volleyball’s High-Performance pipeline and also contributed his wisdom to many USAV articles on coaching techniques.
In recognition of his decades of leadership and service to the sport, Stone received the 2012 USA Volleyball All-Time Great Coach Award.
Stone is the all-time leader in coaching wins for the Ohio State Women’s volleyball team, collecting a record of 531-294 over 26 seasons. He led the team to three Big Ten Championships and 15 NCAA Tournament appearances. He also founded Jim Stone Consulting, a coaching and education resource dedicated to helping coaches grow their knowledge and leadership within the sport.
Known for his thoughtful approach to teaching and his commitment to developing both players and coaches, Stone leaves behind a legacy that will continue to shape American volleyball for years to come.