Custom Search Florida A&M University has appointed Gokhan Yilmaz to take the reins as head coach of the school’s women’s volleyball program. Yilmaz succeeds Tony Trifonov who was hired as head volleyball coach at Seward County Community College following a 21-year stint as head coach at FAMU.
 Yilmaz |  Trifonov |
Yilmaz, who served the past two seasons as Associate Head Coach at FAMU, has fashioned a resume replete with volleyball playing, teaching and coaching experiences from both overseas and in the United States.
He'll have some big shoes to fill.
During his time with the Rattlers, Trifonov accumulated a 378-218 overall record, while going a stunning 206-10 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, winning the MEAC title nineteen times. From 2001-2008, the Rattlers won 112 consecutive conference matches, the third longest streak in NCAA history.
A native of Istabul, Turkey, Yilmaz has compiled a 284-137 career record as a collegiate coach, good for an excellent .680 winning percentage, utilizing his skills as a teacher/trainer in volleyball, as well as using his wealth of contacts in the international volleyball community in recruiting.
Yilmaz served one season (2014-15) as head coach at UNC Charlotte, leading the 49ers to 17 wins, the most in eight years, while leading the team to its’ first conference tournament appearance in five years – a team built around nine new recruits he signed for that first season.
Prior to that, he spent seven seasons as Associate Head Coach, Training Coordinator and Main Recruiter for Florida State University (2008-14),
While at FSU, Yilmaz landed the nation’s Number Three recruiting class in 2012, helping the Seminoles to a sizzling 154-41 record, featuring five NCAA Tournament appearances (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013), highlighted by a 2011 Final Four berth, a 2009 Elite Eight spot and a 2013 Sweet Sixteen berth.
Yilmaz’s collegiate resume also includes stints as an Assistant Coach at the University of Arkansas (Spring 2005, 2007-08); Northwood University (2005-07 – 2005 regional semifinalist), Cameron University (2003-05 – two-time conference finalist), and Western New Mexico University (2002-03).