Follow
The longest active tenured coach in the MIVA is stepping down.
Rock Perrotte announced Friday that he opted to resign as the head coach of the Purdue Fort Wayne men’s volleyball team.
“It has been an absolute honor and privilege to be a member of the Mastodon athletic and volleyball family for nearly three decades,” Perrotte said in a statement. “I cherish all the amazing memories as a student-athlete, assistant coach, and head coach. I’ll always be a ‘Don for life.”
Perrotte following a four-year playing career with the Mastodons in the 1990s joined the Mastodons’ coaching staff as an assistant coach starting in 2002. In addition, Perrotte was promoted to head coach in 2016 replacing retired Hall of Fame coach Arnie Ball.
The Mastodons in nine seasons with Perrotte at the helm accumulated 113 wins. Purdue Fort Wayne also advanced to the MIVA Tournament finals in 2022 and became the first No. 6 seed in the conference’s history to advance to the championship match.
“I want to thank coach Perrotte for his service to Purdue University Fort Wayne,” athletics director Kelley Hartley Hutton said in a statement. “He has been a fantastic ambassador for our university, athletic department and men’s volleyball program for nearly 30 years and I wish him the best in his future endeavors.”
Purdue Fort Wayne finished last season tied for fifth place in the conference and lost in the MIVA Tournament quarterfinals.
The Mastodons announced it will begin a nationwide search to replace Perrotte and hire its third head coach in program history.