Coach Choate has a valuable combination of extensive Division I coaching experience and a proven record of winning over more than a quarter century. Choate has set new standards for winning at three different schools during his coaching career, which is comprised of nearly 700 matches as head coach.
The Thunderbirds welcomed Coach Choate with open arms. SUU wrapped up the 2015 season with a 15-15 record.
Choate came to SUU after compiling the most successful season in the history of the Snow College program, earning 20 wins against 7 losses, while playing 13 matches against teams ranked in the top-20 in the nation. His Snow College Badgers finished the season ranked no. 10 in final national rankings.
Choate arrived at SUU with first-hand knowledge of coaching at the highest level and doing so within the Big Sky Conference. Prior to Snow, Choate led the Northern Arizona University team to their best season winning percentage in school history (.774), while posting a 24-7 record. He recorded a 72-60 record while at the helm at NAU after taking over a program that had suffered through six consecutive losing seasons prior to his arrival.
Choate compiled a record of 244-191 as head women’s volleyball coach at San Jose State over 14 years. He is that program’s all-time leader in victories, including five 20-win seasons. He took three SJSU teams to the NCAA Tournament, advancing to the second round in 2001.
While at SJSU, Choate earned the school its first national ranking in over 10 years; he earned Western Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 1999 by finishing with a record of 25-6; he advanced to the championship match of the WAC tournament twice and finished second in the regular season WAC standings three times; he also won 23 matches and took his team to a second place finish in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship in 1994.
Choate was also the head women’s coach at New Mexico State for three years, from 1990-92. He had two separate one-year stints as an assistant coach for the highly-regarded men’s volleyball program at Pepperdine University, as well as assistant coaching positions at both BYU and Cal Poly.
Craig has built a solid reputation of not only being able to find talented players but being able to coach them to notable success. During his time at Snow he coached one player to All-America status after moving her to a new position. He coached nine All-Big Sky Conference players and three Big Sky Conference Outstanding Freshman Award winners, as well as 37 Academic All-Big Sky selections while at NAU. He coached 19 Academic All-WAC selections while at SJSU.
Choate was an assistant coach at the Olympic Festival in 1994 and 1995. He holds memberships in the AVCA (American Volleyball Coaches Association), the USAV and has a CAP III (Coaching Accreditation Program) coaching certification.
A native of Los Angeles, Choate graduated from BYU in 1978 with a degree in physical education. He also earned a master's degree in physical education in 1982 and a second undergraduate degree in history in 1982, both from BYU.
Choate also has an impressive resume as a player as well. He won silver medals at the 1999, 2002, 2003 and 2004 USA Open Volleyball Championships in Atlanta. He participated in the 1981 USVBA senior men's division open championships and received All-American honors. He played club volleyball while a student at BYU.
