Entering his 22nd season at the helm for Cal State East Bay women's volleyball in 2017, Jim Spagle has accumulated 448 victories, the most in Pioneer history. In 21 years, Spagle has guided CSUEB to 11 NCAA Division III West Regional appearances and 14 seasons with at least 20 wins, while collecting AVCA Division II West Region, Association of Division III Independents (AD3I) and California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Coach of the Year honors along the way.
In 2016, Spagle led East Bay to its first ever berth in the CCAA postseason tournament. That team finished the regular season with 13-13 record, the program's best mark since 2011. Four of Spagle's players earned All-CCAA recognition, which was also a team record.
Under Spagle’s watch in CSUEB's second season in Division II and the CCAA, the Pioneers doubled their win total and finished in a tie for second place in the conference. The team posted a 15-7 mark in league play in 2010 and was the only squad to topple CCAA and West Regional champion Cal State San Bernardino – then ranked No. 4 in the nation – during conference play. For his efforts, Spagle collected CCAA Coach of the Year honors and saw three of his players earn All-CCAA recognition for the first time.
As the newcomers in the CCAA in 2009, Spagle led the Pioneers to a tie for seventh place in the 12-team league and to a win over a ranked opponent in its first year in Division II.
In 2008, the Pioneers finished with an overall record of 29-5, going undefeated at home and making their 11th straight NCAA Division III West Regional appearance. Senior outsider hitter Jackie Randolph was named the AD3I Female Athlete of the Year after leading the Pioneers offensively and earning first-team All-America honors and the AD3I Women's Volleyball Player of the Year Award.
During the 2007 campaign, Spagle won his 300th match at East Bay and guided the Pioneers to a 29-5 record, earning AD3I Coach of the Year honors for his work. Cal State East Bay hosted the 2007 NCAA Division III West Regional, reaching the tournament's second round.
Between 2003 and 2006, Spagle led the Pioneers to four straight NCAA Tournament appearances and a record of 115-28, winning 80 percent of their matches during that span. The 2005 team won 18 of its last 21 matches, setting program records for assists, kills and digs, while the 2004 squad went 31-3, giving Spagle and the Pioneers three straight 30-win seasons and a new program record 24-match win streak. Spagle collected his 200th victory at East Bay in 2003, guiding his team to a No. 9 ranking in the final AVCA Division III poll and its sixth straight NCAA Tournament appearance, along with an undefeated home record (10-0).
After guiding the 2002 edition of the Pioneers to their first ever NCAA Division III West Regional title, a 32-2 record and a No. 1 ranking in the AVCA poll, Spagle was named 2002 Division III Volleyball Coaches Association West Region Coach of the Year. Cal State East Bay spent three weeks atop the AVCA rankings that season and never fell below No. 3 during the regular season while setting a new program mark for winning percentage (.941) and besting previous records for wins and longest win streak.
The Pioneers finished the 2001 season with a 21-4 record, hosting the NCAA Division III West Regional for the first time in school history. During the 2000 campaign Spagle guided the Pioneers to a 25-7 record. After leading the 1999 Pioneers to a 24-10 record and the NCAA III West Regional final, Spagle guided the 2000 squad to a 25-7 record and the team's second straight NCAA Tournament appearance.
A banner rookie campaign in 1996 saw Spagle guide the Pioneers to their first 20-win season in program history and a second-place finish in the Northern California Athletic Association (NCAC), another program best. His sophomore effort was even more impressive, as CSUEB finished the season with 24 wins and an NCAC record of 10-2, the team's best league performance in 23 years. In just his third season, Spagle led the Pioneers to a berth in the NCAA Division III West Regionals and a 31-7 record, the team's best showing ever in a 30-match season.
An Oregon native, Spagle came to Cal State East Bay with impressive coaching credentials. As head women's volleyball coach at Chabot College from 1992-95, Spagle led the Gladiators to an overall record of 131-22, and four consecutive appearances in the State Finals. His Chabot teams were the California State Finalists in 1992, 1993 and 1994 and the previous two years captured the Coast Conference Title. During the 1994 campaign, Spagle was named "Coach of the Year" by the California Coaches Association while his team finished with a record of 39-4.
Spagle enjoyed equal success as the head girl's volleyball coach at James Logan High School guiding the Colts to five Mission Valley Athletic League Championships and three appearances in the California State Division I Quarterfinals.
