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The 2009 season marks Sam Atoa's 11th year as the head coach at Utah Valley. During his tenure, the Wolverines have posted a 229-115 record overall, including a 91-74 mark in six NCAA Division I seasons. Atoa led his team to its most successful NCAA season in 2007 as the Wolverines set a school record with 21 wins while winning there second Division I Independent Championship. For the success, Atoa was named the Independent Coach of the Year for the second time as UVU swept all four major year-end Independent awards. Utah Valley breezed through the 2007 Independent Championship under Atoa, sweeping each of its three opponents en route to its second title in three seasons. Last year, the Wolverines went 14-12 and won their second straight Independent Championship. This year, the Wolverines will compete in the Great West Conference. The 2007 campaign marked the third consecutive season that an Atoa-coached player was named the Independent Setter of the Year. Kristi Lindley received that honor after current assistant Lacee Koelliker won the award in both 2005 and 2006. Atoa's spikers finished 17-11 in 2006, following up a school record 18-11 season and a Division I Independent Championship in 2005. During that Independent Championship season, UVU won 10 of its last 11 matches and Atoa was named the Division I Independent Coach of the Year. In their second season as a Division I program in 2004 the Wolverines finished with an 11-16 record that included wins over Memphis, Central Florida, Montana, Portland State, and Boise State. As well as two wins each over fellow Div. I Independent teams: Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Texas Pan American. In the first year of Division I competition in 2003, Atoa led the Wolverine volleyball program to a 10-14 record, including wins over Div. I opponents Boise State and Pac-10 power Washington State. Atoa took over the reins of the UV volleyball program in 1999 after six years as an assistant to former head coach Lori Richards. In his first season at the helm of the UV volleyball program Atoa led the Wolverines to a 32-12 record. UV just missed a trip to the national tournament with a tight, five-set loss in the district championship. Then, in just his second season at the helm, Atoa led UV to the national tournament and a third-place finish in the nation. The third-place finish equaled UV's best showing ever at nationals. Atoa was named Tachikara/AVCA Junior College National Coach of the Year and Region 18 Coach of the Year. In 2002, Atoa led the Wolverines to a sixth-place finish at nationals. Atoa played volleyball for Brigham Young University from 1984 to 1988, and helped led the Cougars to three consecutive National Collegiate Club Championships. In 1989, Atoa started his coaching career at BYU assisting Coach Carl McGown when the program was officially sanctioned as an NCAA sport. In 1990, Atoa accepted a supervisor position in the Intramural program at Utah Valley and travelled back and forth between both schools for a year to fulfill his obligations. In 1991 Atoa accepted the position to be the women's volleyball coach at Utah Valley. In 1993 he accepted the position to be the Intramural Director and remained in that position until 2001 while still coaching. Atoa was born and raised in Pesega, Samoa, and has a rich cultural and athletic background. He is highly honored and respected in his country, having received the Papaalii or "Son of the King" title from the late Head of State of Samoa, His Highness Malietoa Tanumafili II. Atoa went to high school at the Church College of Western Samoa and graduated with high honors. After graduating from high school, Atoa went to BYU-Hawaii and played volleyball for two years. He earned his way through school by entertaining and dancing at the Polynesian Cultural Center. In 1982 he served an LDS Church Mission in the California San Jose Mission. Following his mission, he moved to Provo and attended BYU where and earned a spot on the club team that went on to attain national prominence. Atoa and his wife, Lori, reside in Orem and are the parents of six children: Sam, Bradley, Devri, Andrew, Darci and Saini. |
 
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