Chris Hertel is in his eighth season with Radford volleyball after being hired in June 2011 as an assistant coach.
With the help of Hertel, Radford has won three Big South regular season championships, with the latest coming in 2016 and two Big South Tournament Championships.
The 2017 Highlanders posted 25 victories including three over Power Five opponents – all on the road. The one victory that mattered the most came in the Big South Championship title match against top-seeded High Point. Radford defeated the team on its home court and clinched a berth to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in program history.
Hertel and the Highlanders have posted 63 wins over the past three seasons, including two 20 plus wins in 2016 and 2017. In 2017, Radford had its highest RPI since Hertel arrived in the New River Valley, coming in at 60.
Between 2013-14, Hertel and Radford compiled a 49-18 record (73.1 win percentage)––reaching 20 wins in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2000-01. As a result of the Highlanders' success, the program's RPI climbed to as high as 87th in the nation.
During the 2014 season, Hertel assisted Radford to its first win over a Pac-12 program (defeated California) and its first win over a Big Ten program (defeated Maryland). Following a 12-2 mark in Big South play, the Highlanders captured their second straight Big South regular-season title.
A large part of RU's recent success can be attributed to Hertel's work on the recruiting trail, where he was able to help land All-Big South honorees Rachel Wiechecki, Emma Deininger, Jena Braden, Savannah Cantrell, Cheyanne James, Kelby Jackson and Maddie Palmer.
Led by five All-Big South performers, Radford claimed its eighth Big South regular season championship and fifth league tournament title in 2013. The Highlanders boasted a 25-10 record after advancing to the "Big Dance" for the third time in program history, where they faced No. 10 national seed Minnesota in Minneapolis. It was Radford's best record since 2000 when the Highlanders went 28-7.
In addition to playing in 14 five-set matches, RU was tested throughout its magical season. The pressure peaked in the conference tournament where the Highlanders knocked off two-time defending champion Liberty in five sets and No. 2 seed Coastal Carolina in the championship match in straight sets. Despite the lopsided win in the final, the Highlanders had to prevail in the longest set in Big South championship history (36-34 in the first set).
Under Hertel's guidance, Radford led the league in blocking (323.5) and has finished in the top five in every year but one since he arrived in the New River Valley.
In his first season with RU, the squad finished 17-15, including a runner-up finish in the Big South Tournament.
Hertel joined the Highlander staff after spending six seasons as a volunteer assistant coach at New Mexico State, and the past 20 years working in the Diamondback (N.M.) and Empire Club (Calif.) programs.
Hertel worked under the direction of NMSU head coach Michael Jordan since 2005. During his six-year tenure, he was involved in all aspects of the Aggies program, including practice and scouting opponents. Hertel, a 2011 graduate of NMSU, also played an essential part in Jordan’s volleyball camps since 2002.
Along with his collegiate coaching experience, Hertel was an integral part of the club systems in New Mexico and California. An assistant director and coach in both programs, he oversaw training multiple teams, assisted with recruiting and coordinated team travel.
His most recent involvement was with the Diamondback Volleyball Club (2004-2011) out of Las Cruces, N.M. Prior to Diamondback, Hertel got his start at Empire Volleyball Club (1991-2003) in Santa Rosa, Calif., learning the trade from Ed “Bear" Grassl.
