Maria Dennis is in her third year as a Program Associate for the Cal Poly Pomona volleyball team in 2018.
Dennis came to CPP from Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut where she served as the Mounties’ head coach from 1997 through 2015. Prior to stepping into the head coaching role, she served as an assistant coach on their staff for two seasons.
In 2011 she was named the South Coast Conference Coach of the Year as her squad amassed a 20-5 record. In 10 of the past 11 seasons with Dennis at the helm, the Mt. SAC team has reached regional playoffs. During her time with the Mounties, more than 80 of her players garnered All-South Coast Conference First or Second Team accolades.
She also coached club volleyball with the Top Gun and Maverick’s programs and assisted the clubs with conditioning and plyometric sessions. All told, Dennis has 38 years of experience with the sport of volleyball.
For the past 20 years, she has played competitive volleyball at the national level, competing in the USA National Championships Masters Division. She competed against and defeated many international teams including Canada, Brazil, Venezuela, and Germany. Â
Dennis played for a professional team in Russia from 1979 through 1986. During her time on the team, she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the Trade-Economic University in St. Petersburg, Russia. In 1993, she immigrated to the United States. In 1994, she played for the Mt. SAC team and helped the team to a 14-5 season and an appearance in the second-round of the SCC playoffs. She earned accolades as a member of both All-Conference and All-State First Team.
She and her husband Harold reside in Diamond Bar.
