.png&width=32&height=32&type=webp)
Women's Volleyball
Reft, Alfee
Alfee Reft
- Title:
- Head Coach
- Alma Mater:
- Hawai'i, '06
- Year at UCLA:
- 3rd in 2025
- Email:
- uclawvb@athletics.ucla.edu
Alfee Reft Bio (PDF)
Alfred “Alfee” Reft enters his third year as UCLA women’s volleyball head coach in 2025. Reft was named the fourth head coach in program history on Dec. 19, 2022.
In his first season at UCLA in 2023, Reft led the Bruins to an 18-12 overall record and 10-10 mark in Pac-12 matches. UCLA finished sixth in the conference standings and was among one of the first eight teams to not be selected for the 2023 NCAA Tournament. The Bruins’ season was highlighted by three victories over top-25 opponents, including two on the road in the final three weeks of the season versus No. 9 Washington State and No. 24 USC. UCLA finished with a 7-3 record in its final 10 conference contests. Middle blocker Anna Dodson was Reft's first All-American in his tenure as head coach, being named Honorable Mention. Dodson and opposite hitter Iman Ndiaye were each named to the AVCA Pacific South All-Region Team while Dodson also earned All-Pac-12 Team acclaim.
Reft led the Bruins into their inaugural season in the Big Ten, finishing 14-15 overall and 8-12 in conference action. UCLA earned a pair of victories over ranked opponents, including a thrilling five-set road victory over No. 14 Georgia Tech in the season opener. Reft's squad also completed the season sweep over Washington, extending the Bruins' win streak to four against the Huskies. He guided outside hitter Cheridyn Leverette's breakout junior campaign that resulted in AVCA All-American honors. Leverette also received First Team All-Big Ten recognition and joined her teammate, Anna Dodson, on the AVCA All-Region squad. During the winter of 2025, Dodson went on to sign a professional contract with Cuneo Granda Volley based in Cuneo, Italy. The team competes in Serie A1, the highest level of Italian women's volleyball.
Reft concluded his time as a seasonal assistant coach for the U.S. Women’s National Team with a Silver Medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Team USA defeated Serbia, France, Poland and Brazil before falling to world No. 1 Italy in the Gold Medal match. Reft coached under legendary Bruin and head coach Karch Kiraly. Due to his national team obligations, Reft missed seven matches in 2023 while helping Team USA at the FIVB Road to Paris Olympic Qualifier in Lódz, Poland punch its ticket to the Paris Olympic Games.
Prior to arriving to Westwood, Reft spent three seasons as the associate head coach at San Diego where he led the Toreros to their first National Semifinal appearance in 2022. Three Toreros earned AVCA All-America honors in 2022. Setter Gabby Blossom, who Reft recruited to San Diego, was just the second player in program history to earn First Team All-American honors and the first since 1999. Outside hitters Grace Frohling and Katie Lukes were named to the AVCA Second and Third All-America teams, respectively. Seven of his student-athletes were named to the All-WCC First Team a total of 11 times. In 2022, San Diego dominated the WCC volleyball awards with Lukes honored as Player of the Year, Annie Benbow as Libero of the Year and Blossom as Setter of the Year. Alongside head coach Jennifer Petrie at San Diego, Reft helped steer the Toreros to the NCAA Tournament in each of his three seasons from 2020-22, as well as a West Coast Conference Championship in 2022. His seven NCAA Tournament wins are tied for the most in a three-year stretch in San Diego history.
Reft brings Big Ten Conference experience to UCLA after serving as an assistant at the University of Illinois from 2018-19 and at the University of Minnesota from 2010-12. He accumulated a 68-32 conference record across both stints and reached the Final Four with the Fighting Illini in the 2018 NCAA Tournament. During his tenure with the Fighting Illini, Reft made back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances and advanced to the National Semifinal as the No. 3 overall seed in 2018. Reft got his collegiate coaching start at Minnesota where he helped lead the Golden Gophers to a Sweet 16 appearance in 2010. Reft amassed a conference record of 40-20 and finished second in the Big Ten standings twice during his time on the Golden Gopher staff.
Reft touts 12 years of national team experience as both a coach and player. He served as a volunteer for the USA Women's and Men's National Teams from 2016-18 and was a member of the U.S. Men's National Team from 2006-10 and 2012-15. Reft was on the roster for the FIVB World Championship and the FIVB World League in 2010. He was also part of the Silver Medal team at the NORCECA Continental Championships in 2009 and a member of the FIVB World League roster that year.
As a professional, Reft competed for seven years with clubs in Budva, Montenegro (2007-08), Lisbon, Portugal (2008-10) and Montpellier, France (2012-13). In 2008, Reft helped his club win the European Cup Bronze Medal.
A standout libero for the University of Hawai'i from 2004-06, Reft was named an AVCA First Team All-American as well as Asics/Volleyball Magazine Defensive Player of the Year in 2005 after totaling 272 digs. He also earned AVCA Second Team All-American honors in 2006 following his senior season. Reft transferred to Hawai'i in 2004 from UC Santa Barbara and became the starting libero for the Warriors. That year, he set the school-record for digs in the rally-scoring era for Hawai'i with 238. He broke his own record the next year.
Reft, 40, graduated from Hawai'i with a bachelor's degree in English. He is married to Matthew Ryan Pest. He is a native of Oxnard, Calif.
Read/Watch More on Alfee Reft
- "Reft revitalizes UCLA women's volleyball despite rocky season" by Amelie Ionescu, Daily Bruin (Nov. 29, 2023)
- "What a ride the past year has been for first-year UCLA coach Alfee Reft" by Lee Feinswog, VolleyballMag.com (Nov. 17, 2023)
- "Q&A: New UCLA women's volleyball coach Alfee Reft promises 'one hell of a ride'" by Amelie Ionescu, Daily Bruin (Jan. 22, 2023)
- "Five Questions: Alfee Reft" by UCLA Athletics (Bruin Blue Magazine)
- "Alfred Reft is UCLA's new head volleyball coach, and his gay life is coming full circle" by Alex Reimer, Out Sports (Jan. 23, 2023)
- "Getting to Know UCLA Women's Volleyball Head Coach Alfee Reft" by UCLA Athletics (YouTube)
Alfee Reft's Year-by-Year Record as Head Coach
Alfee Reft's Year-by-Year Record as an Assistant
Alfred “Alfee” Reft enters his third year as UCLA women’s volleyball head coach in 2025. Reft was named the fourth head coach in program history on Dec. 19, 2022.
In his first season at UCLA in 2023, Reft led the Bruins to an 18-12 overall record and 10-10 mark in Pac-12 matches. UCLA finished sixth in the conference standings and was among one of the first eight teams to not be selected for the 2023 NCAA Tournament. The Bruins’ season was highlighted by three victories over top-25 opponents, including two on the road in the final three weeks of the season versus No. 9 Washington State and No. 24 USC. UCLA finished with a 7-3 record in its final 10 conference contests. Middle blocker Anna Dodson was Reft's first All-American in his tenure as head coach, being named Honorable Mention. Dodson and opposite hitter Iman Ndiaye were each named to the AVCA Pacific South All-Region Team while Dodson also earned All-Pac-12 Team acclaim.
Reft led the Bruins into their inaugural season in the Big Ten, finishing 14-15 overall and 8-12 in conference action. UCLA earned a pair of victories over ranked opponents, including a thrilling five-set road victory over No. 14 Georgia Tech in the season opener. Reft's squad also completed the season sweep over Washington, extending the Bruins' win streak to four against the Huskies. He guided outside hitter Cheridyn Leverette's breakout junior campaign that resulted in AVCA All-American honors. Leverette also received First Team All-Big Ten recognition and joined her teammate, Anna Dodson, on the AVCA All-Region squad. During the winter of 2025, Dodson went on to sign a professional contract with Cuneo Granda Volley based in Cuneo, Italy. The team competes in Serie A1, the highest level of Italian women's volleyball.
Reft concluded his time as a seasonal assistant coach for the U.S. Women’s National Team with a Silver Medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Team USA defeated Serbia, France, Poland and Brazil before falling to world No. 1 Italy in the Gold Medal match. Reft coached under legendary Bruin and head coach Karch Kiraly. Due to his national team obligations, Reft missed seven matches in 2023 while helping Team USA at the FIVB Road to Paris Olympic Qualifier in Lódz, Poland punch its ticket to the Paris Olympic Games.
Prior to arriving to Westwood, Reft spent three seasons as the associate head coach at San Diego where he led the Toreros to their first National Semifinal appearance in 2022. Three Toreros earned AVCA All-America honors in 2022. Setter Gabby Blossom, who Reft recruited to San Diego, was just the second player in program history to earn First Team All-American honors and the first since 1999. Outside hitters Grace Frohling and Katie Lukes were named to the AVCA Second and Third All-America teams, respectively. Seven of his student-athletes were named to the All-WCC First Team a total of 11 times. In 2022, San Diego dominated the WCC volleyball awards with Lukes honored as Player of the Year, Annie Benbow as Libero of the Year and Blossom as Setter of the Year. Alongside head coach Jennifer Petrie at San Diego, Reft helped steer the Toreros to the NCAA Tournament in each of his three seasons from 2020-22, as well as a West Coast Conference Championship in 2022. His seven NCAA Tournament wins are tied for the most in a three-year stretch in San Diego history.
Reft brings Big Ten Conference experience to UCLA after serving as an assistant at the University of Illinois from 2018-19 and at the University of Minnesota from 2010-12. He accumulated a 68-32 conference record across both stints and reached the Final Four with the Fighting Illini in the 2018 NCAA Tournament. During his tenure with the Fighting Illini, Reft made back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances and advanced to the National Semifinal as the No. 3 overall seed in 2018. Reft got his collegiate coaching start at Minnesota where he helped lead the Golden Gophers to a Sweet 16 appearance in 2010. Reft amassed a conference record of 40-20 and finished second in the Big Ten standings twice during his time on the Golden Gopher staff.
Reft touts 12 years of national team experience as both a coach and player. He served as a volunteer for the USA Women's and Men's National Teams from 2016-18 and was a member of the U.S. Men's National Team from 2006-10 and 2012-15. Reft was on the roster for the FIVB World Championship and the FIVB World League in 2010. He was also part of the Silver Medal team at the NORCECA Continental Championships in 2009 and a member of the FIVB World League roster that year.
As a professional, Reft competed for seven years with clubs in Budva, Montenegro (2007-08), Lisbon, Portugal (2008-10) and Montpellier, France (2012-13). In 2008, Reft helped his club win the European Cup Bronze Medal.
A standout libero for the University of Hawai'i from 2004-06, Reft was named an AVCA First Team All-American as well as Asics/Volleyball Magazine Defensive Player of the Year in 2005 after totaling 272 digs. He also earned AVCA Second Team All-American honors in 2006 following his senior season. Reft transferred to Hawai'i in 2004 from UC Santa Barbara and became the starting libero for the Warriors. That year, he set the school-record for digs in the rally-scoring era for Hawai'i with 238. He broke his own record the next year.
Reft, 40, graduated from Hawai'i with a bachelor's degree in English. He is married to Matthew Ryan Pest. He is a native of Oxnard, Calif.
Read/Watch More on Alfee Reft
- "Reft revitalizes UCLA women's volleyball despite rocky season" by Amelie Ionescu, Daily Bruin (Nov. 29, 2023)
- "What a ride the past year has been for first-year UCLA coach Alfee Reft" by Lee Feinswog, VolleyballMag.com (Nov. 17, 2023)
- "Q&A: New UCLA women's volleyball coach Alfee Reft promises 'one hell of a ride'" by Amelie Ionescu, Daily Bruin (Jan. 22, 2023)
- "Five Questions: Alfee Reft" by UCLA Athletics (Bruin Blue Magazine)
- "Alfred Reft is UCLA's new head volleyball coach, and his gay life is coming full circle" by Alex Reimer, Out Sports (Jan. 23, 2023)
- "Getting to Know UCLA Women's Volleyball Head Coach Alfee Reft" by UCLA Athletics (YouTube)
Alfee Reft's Year-by-Year Record as Head Coach
| Year | School | Overall Record | Conf. Record (Finish) | Postseason |
| 2023 | UCLA | 18-12 | 10-10 (6th - Pac-12) | N/A |
| 2024 | UCLA | 14-15 | 8-12 (T10th - Big Ten) | N/A |
| 2 Seasons | 32-27 (.542) | 18-22 (.540) | N/A |
Alfee Reft's Year-by-Year Record as an Assistant
| Year | School (Role) | Overall Record | Conf. Record (Finish) | Postseason |
| 2010 | Minnesota (assistant) | 26-9 (.743) | 14-6 (2nd - Big 10) | 2-1 (NCAA Regional Semifinals) |
| 2011 | Minnesota (assistant) | 20-12 (.625) | 11-9 (5th - Big 10) | 2-1 (NCAA Regional Semifinals) |
| 2012 | Minnesota (assistant) | 27-8 (.771) | 15-5 (3rd - Big 10) | 3-1 (NCAA Regional Finals) |
| 2018 | Illinois (assistant) | 32-4 (.889) | 17-3 (2nd - Big 10) | 4-1 (NCAA National Semifinals) |
| 2019 | Illinois (assistant) | 16-14 (.533) | 11-9 (7th - Big 10) | 0-1 (NCAA First Round) |
| Spring 2021 | San Diego (associate HC) | 13-5 (.722) | 12-4 (3rd - WCC) | 1-1 (NCAA Second Round) |
| Fall 2021 | San Diego (associate HC) | 20-8 (.714) | 14-4 (3rd - WCC) | 0-1 (NCAA First Round) |
| 2022 | San Diego (associate HC) | 31-2 (.939) | 18-0 (1st - WCC) | 4-1 (NCAA National Semifinals) |
| 8 Seasons | 185-62 (.749) | 112-40 (.737) | 16-8 (8 NCAA Tournament App.) |
UCLA W. Volleyball Postgame - Oregon (Nov. 29, 2024)
Friday, November 29
UCLA W. Volleyball Postgame - Iowa (Nov. 27, 2024)
Thursday, November 28
UCLA W. Volleyball Postgame - vs. Wisconsin (Nov. 16, 2024)
Saturday, November 16
UCLA W. Volleyball Postgame - vs. Washington (Nov. 13, 2024)
Wednesday, November 13
