Wayne Stalick Interview: Click Here

Fairfax, Va. – George Mason University's men's volleyball program began its journey in 1975 under the guidance of Wayne Stalick, who was tasked with building the team from the ground up as the Patriots' first head coach.
 
Wayne Stalick joined George Mason in 1972 as a chemistry professor. By 1973, he had taken on an additional role as faculty advisor to the club volleyball program, setting the stage for what would become a transformative chapter in the university's sports history. At the time, George Mason was eager to establish a men's basketball team eligible for National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) championships but was required to field five men's sports teams to meet eligibility requirements. This need led to Stalick being charged with the responsibility of founding and coaching the men's volleyball team.
 
"They offered us the men's JV basketball uniforms, the women's volleyball equipment, three volleyballs, and a $150 budget plus travel expenses," Stalick recalled in a 2009 interview with The Mason Spirit. Despite these modest resources, Stalick was determined to build a successful program. In the early days, he and his wife drove players to away games using a van and a single car. By the time the Patriots reached their first NCAA Nationals, the team was able to travel by bus for longer trips to the Midwest.
 
In 1975, George Mason granted varsity status to the men's volleyball program, allowing the team to compete at the intercollegiate level. That same year, the Patriots launched the inaugural Patriot Invitational, a tournament designed to attract strong competition from the East Coast. The event would later grow to become the premier collegiate volleyball tournament in the Mid-Atlantic region.
 
The Patriots made their first NAIA National Volleyball Tournament appearance in 1976, just their second season. Competing against teams such as Graceland, Rutgers-Newark, Brigham Young-Hawaii, Earlham, California State-Dominguez Hills, and George Williams, George Mason finished in seventh place. Although the team went winless (0-6) at the tournament, the milestone marked an important step in their development.
 
The foundation laid in 1975 set the stage for a program that would achieve national recognition in the years to come. NAIA Tournament appearances, ECVL/EIVA Championships, and NCAA Tournament bids would soon follow, cementing George Mason's place in collegiate volleyball history.