Dan Georgalas was promoted to Associate Head Coach in December of 2017 after spending five seasons as an assistant coach for the Cowgirls.
Georgalas was instrumental to a successful season in 2018, as the Cowgirls made the postseason in back-to-back years for the first time since 1990 and recorded a 20-win season for the fourth time since Georgalas arrived in Laramie. He helped guide Jackie McBride and Reed Copeland to All-MW honors, and oversaw the Cowgirls finishing tops in the MW in blocks per set (2.86) and total blocks (340.5). The Pokes' season hitting percentage of .243 ranked second in the MW and 46th nationally. Wyoming held opponents to a .162 hitting percentage, which ranked second in the MW and 17th nationally.
During the 2017 season, Georgalas helped guide the Cowgirls to postseason for the first time since 1994. The Brown and Gold fell to TCU in the first round of the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC). UW finished third in the MW in blocks (2.57 bps), which was also 30th in the nation. Wyoming’s second-place finish in the MW was its best as a member of the MW. Furthermore, the Cowgirls recorded 508 blocks assists and 295 total blocks at season’s end, which each became eighth best in single season history.
UW ended the 2016 season ranked 20th in the nation with a .163 opponent hitting percentage and tied 28th with 294 total team blocks. The Cowgirls finished second behind Colorado State with a 2.67 blocks per set average.
Reed Copeland finished 25th in the NCAA with 1.36 blocks per set and 28th with 148 total blocks. Copeland and Laura Beach ended the 2016 campaign within the top-ten in blocks in the MW conference for the second-consecutive year.
During the 2015 season, Georgalas was instrumental in guiding the Cowgirl defense that held its opponents to just a .159 hitting efficiency, while UW additionally ranked sixth in the NCAA with 3.01 blocks per set and eighth with 349 total team blocks.
Reed Copeland became the third Cowgirl to be named the MW Freshman of the Year after leading the nation in blocks and blocks per set. Georgalas helped Copeland, Laura Beach and Kayla Henderson all finish the season within the MW’s top-10 in blocks, while as a team, the Cowgirls paced the MW in blocks and ranked second in opponent hitting efficiency.
In 2014, he helped mentor the Cowgirls middle blockers that as a unit ranked eighth in the NCAA averaging 2.89 blocks per set in 2013 and 46th in 2014. He also helped former Cowgirl Erin Kirby rank second nationally in blocks per set in 2013 at 1.77 per frame.
He came to Wyoming from Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches, Texas where he spent the two seasons as an Assistant Coach with the women's volleyball program. While there, he was involved in the on-court training with the middle blockers, outside hitters and passers, plus played a large role in the recruiting process for the Ladyjacks. SFA finished with a 22-12 overall record in 2012 and had three players garner All-southland Conference awards.
Prior to that, he was involved in several aspects of the volleyball program at the University of Kansas. He served as a volunteer assistant coach, which involved assisting with on-court training and coordinating team travel. He also was a camp director for the KU summer camps. During that time, Georgalas was the director of the Jayhawk Juniors Volleyball Club, which offered clinics for Lawrence-area youth, and coached for the Lawrence Juniors Volleyball Club.
A native of Chicago, Ill., Georgalas began playing his senior year of high school and earned a starting position at middle hitter halfway through the season. His state-ranked Buffalo Grove High School team finished 30-7 overall and fourth in the state while Georgalas was voted the Most Improved Player.
He went onto to start for the KU men's club volleyball team for two seasons and helped the Jayhawks qualify for the NIRSA National Tournament in the spring 2010.
He graduated from Kansas in December 2010 with a degree in sports management and a minor in business. He earned his master's degree in kinesiology and health, with a concentration in sport psychology in the summer of 2017. Georgalas and his wife, Vivian, were married in May of 2017.