Karl France has completed nine years of his second stint as an assistant coach with the New York University men’s volleyball program. He also assisted on Head Coach Jose Pina’s staff from 2002-07 before returning prior to the start of the 2012 season.
The 2020 season was one of the finest in program history, though it was shortened by the coronavirus pandemic. The Violets won their first 12 matches (a team record) and rose to #1 in the nation in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Poll. NYU finished the season 13-3 overall, 4-2 in the United Volleyball Conference (UVC) and ranked #2 nationally.
France’s contributions to the team’s success did not go unnoticed as he received AVCA National Assistant Coach of the Year honors.
Honors were also plentiful for the players as seniors Neil Ferraro (First Team) and Evan Lindley (Second Team), earned AVCA All-America honors. The duo, along with fellow seniors Matin Bikdeli and Alex Li, received All-UVC honors, as well.
The success of 2020 was not limited to the volleyball court as eight team members earned UVC All-Academic honors and the Violets were cited as an AVCA and UVC All-Academic Team. Lindley was also selected as a CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America) Academic All-American At-Large.
In 2019, the Violets posted a 13-11 overall record. After producing a 7-2 UVC regular- season record, NYU advanced to the semifinals of the UVC Tournament by defeating MIT in the opening round before falling to host Stevens. Ferraro earned AVCA Second Team All-America accolades and First Team recognition from the UVC and ECAC (Eastern College Athletic Conference). Lindley (First Team) and Alex Li (Honorable Mention) also received UVC honors, while Li was also a Second Team All-ECAC selection.
In 2018, France helped lead the Violets to a 16-9 overall record and to the semifinals of the UVC Championship Tournament after posting a 5-4 regular-season mark. NYU finished the campaign ranked #11 in the nation by AVCA.
Individually, Ferraro was selected First Team All-UVC, AVCA First Team All-American and All-ECAC Honorable Mention. Li was named to the UVC All-Tournament Team, Second Team All-UVC, AVCA First Team All-American, and All-ECAC First Team.
In 2017, France helped coach NYU to an 18-10 record including a 7-1 UVC mark. The Violets won eight matches versus AVCA top-20 teams and were ranked as high as #3 in the nation. The squad won its first-ever UVC Championship, defeating AVCA #3 Stevens and #4 SUNY-New Paltz on consecutive days in the semifinal and championship matches. The UVC title gave the Violets an automatic berth to their first-ever NCAA Division III Championship where they faced #12 Juniata College on the road and fell in a tight five-set match (19-25, 31-33, 25-23, 25-22, 15-10).
France’s contributions in 2017 were rewarded with the AVCA Division III Men’s National Assistant Coach of the Year Award.
The 2017 Violets were not only successful as a team, but also as individuals. Li was named AVCA Newcomer of the Year, AVCA First Team All-America, ECAC North Rookie of the Year, First Team All-ECAC North, and First Team All-UVC. Ferraro (Second Team) and Derrick Chiu (Honorable Mention) also received All-UVC honors.
In 2016, France helped lead the team to a 14-14 record, including a 5-2 mark at home. The squad also went 6-2 in UVC play, qualified for the UVC Tournament as the #3 seed, and finished the season ranked #13 in the nation by the AVCA.
Individually, Nick Benson earned Second Team All-UVC honors, Chase Klein was tabbed Honorable Mention and Chiu was selected AVCA National Player of the Week on March 29.
In 2015, the Violets posted a 17-11 overall record and finished the campaign ranked #9 in the AVCA poll. NYU advanced to the UVC semifinals, where they lost to the eventual champions, Stevens Institute of Technology.
Individually, Benson was named Second Team All-UVC while Klein was selected Honorable Mention.
In 2014, the Violets posted an 18-11 overall record and reached the UVC Tournament Final. NYU finished the season ranked #13 in the AVCA Poll.
Also in 2014, Nick Capriccio and Connor Mortland each collected UVC postseason honors. Capriccio was named Second Team All-UVC, while Mortland earned First Team accolades as well as being named to the AVCA All-America Second Team for the third time in his career.
In 2013, France helped lead the Violets to a 14-13 record including a 7-4 mark in the UVC. NYU finished the campaign ranked #13 in the AVCA Poll, while Mortland (Second Team) and Capriccio (Honorable Mention) each received UVC honors.
The Violets did not miss a beat during France’s return to the program in 2012. In NYU’s first season in the UVC, he helped lead the team to a 20-9 overall record and a perfect 11-0 conference mark. Though NYU fell short of reaching the inaugural NCAA Division III Championship, the squad finished the season ranked #8 in Division III by the AVCA .
France returned to NYU after serving as the Head Coach and Coordinator of Volleyball Operations of the men’s and women’s volleyball teams at Division I Rutgers-Newark University for four years.
In 2011, France led the Rutgers-Newark men to their first winning season since 2004. The Scarlet Raiders posted a 17-12 overall record and reached the semifinals of the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA) Championship.
The women’s team also had its best season in years under France in 2010, going 10-18, and recording its most victories in a season since 2006.
Prior to his stint at Rutgers-Newark, France served as an assistant coach with the NYU men’s volleyball program for five years. In 2007, he helped the Violets finish the season ranked #6 in the CSTV/ AVCA Division III Coaches Poll and post a 6-4 record in the EIVA Hay Division.
In 2006, France helped lead NYU to the #2 ranking in the final CSTV/ AVCA Poll and a second-place finish at the EIVA Championship. The squad also reached the EIVA playoffs in 2005 with France on staff.
Prior to beginning his first stint at NYU, France served as the Head Volleyball Coach of both the men’s and women’s teams at the College of Mount Saint Vincent in Riverdale, NY, from 1998-2002. During his years there, the men’s team posted an overall record of 76-46 and he earned Northeastern Collegiate Volleyball Association Coach of the Year honors in 2000. France also guided the women’s team to a 52-27 record and to three Hudson Valley Women’s Athletic Conference titles.
In addition to his collegiate experience, France was selected to serve as the Head Coach of the New York City Empire State Games Men’s Open (2005) and Scholastic Women’s (2002-04) teams. He has also worked for USA Volleyball in their High Performance Program as an assistant coach (2007, 2008, 2014, 2015). Prior to his collegiate experience, France coached volleyball, basketball, softball, and swimming at the Marymount School in Manhattan.
A 1991 graduate of Bowling Green State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications, France played on the Falcons’ club volleyball team for three years
France resides in Jersey City, NJ, and is a native of Brooklyn, NY.
