The 2023 season marks Tommy Gott’s fourth year as head coach of the Chico State volleyball team. The longtime Wildcats assistant took over the program in 2020 following the death of his predecessor, Cody Hein, and Gott has dedicated himself to maintaining the success of the program established by his close friend and mentor.
“I look forward to being someone who carries on a legacy, while also ushering in a new one,” Gott said when his appointment was officially announced in March, 2020.
In his two seasons at the helm, Gott owns a 12-39 record at Chico State, and an overall career mark of 35-97 in five seasons as a Division II head coach.
Gott has also made it a priority for his players to excel in the classroom as well as on the court. Under his tutelage, Gott has seen to it that the Wildcats have run their current string of American Volleyball Coaches Association Team Academic Awards to four.
The Wildcats posted a 3-22 record in 2022, finishing in a tie for 11th place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). Junior setter Brooke Ono turned in an outstanding season, resulting in her third consecutive All-CCAA honor.
After being named interim head coach in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced Gott and the Wildcats to wait 18 months before they could officially compete. When the ’Cats finally returned to the court, they finished the 2021 season with a 9-17 record.
Before assuming the head job, Gott was part of the Chico State coaching staff that guided the Wildcats to a 13-14 record in 2019 and a CCAA Tournament berth.
Gott returned to Chico following a three-year stint as head coach at Western Oregon in Monmouth, Oregon. He led the Wolves to 23 wins in the competitive Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC).
A Chico native, Gott spent seven seasons (2009–15) under Hein as part of the Chico State volleyball coaching staff, helping the Wildcats go 121-82 during that stretch and reach postseason play in 2015.
Prior to his Chico State coaching stints, Gott coached various high school and club teams in Southern California.
Gott played two years as a middle blocker at Golden West College in Huntington Beach, helping the Rustlers finish as the runner-up at the 2009 California Community College Men’s Volleyball Championship.
Gott received his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology at Chico State in May, 2012. He earned his teaching credential in physical education from Chico State in May, 2013, and his master’s degree in intercollegiate athletic leadership from the University of Washington in June, 2014.
Gott, his wife, Carly, and daughter Andi reside in Chico.
MaKenna Dahl is in her second year as a member of the Chico State volleyball coaching staff. As the lead assistant of head coach Tommy Gott’s staff, Dahl made major contributions to the program in 2021, helping the Wildcats maintain its reputation as one of the most competitive teams in the California Collegiate Athletic Association.
Dahl came to Chico following a three-year stint as an assistant coach at Linn-Benton Community College in Albany, Oregon. She played a key role in the Roadrunners reaching postseason play in 2018, 2019, and 2020.
Dahl also served as head volleyball coach for the T.E.A.M. Hiki No Volleyball Club’s U18 team in Beaverton, Oregon.
While attending Oregon State in Corvallis, Dahl was active in the university’s club volleyball program.
An all-around prep athlete, Dahl was a standout opposite side hitter at Eastlake High School in Sammamish, Washington, where she served as the Wolves’ captain during her senior year. Dahl also lettered in basketball and track.
Dahl received her bachelor’s degree in BioHealth Services from Oregon State in 2019, and earned a master’s degree in physical education and sports management from Azusa Pacific University in 2021.
