Cumberland University

Chris Padilla begins his fourth season as the Cumberland Men's Volleyball Head Coach after serving as the team's assistant coach his first two years. 

Padilla has worked with the team since the program's second season in 2020. Padilla helped coach the 2022 club to the best record in school-history posting their first 20+ win season. He helped coach 10 All-Mid-South Conference members including a Mid-South Conference Defensive Player of the Year. This past season, the Phoenix boasted 3 River States Conference honorees, including Attacker of the Year, Joao Infante.

In his first season as head coach, Padilla led the Phoenix to a second place finish in the Mid-South Conference and a Runner-Up finish in the Mid-South Conference tournament. The team finished the season with a 14-11 record. As head coach, he has had six players earn All-Mid-South Conference honors and one named the Mid-South Conference Defensive Player of the Year.

In his second season, the team finished 10-17. Seven players made the All-Conference list led by Caleb Ginnings and Jacob Whyte on First Team. 

In his third season, the team posted a 15-13 overall record while earning several individual honors. Under his leadership, one player was named River States Conference Player of the Year, while four earned All-Conference honors. The season also featured an NAIA Second Team All-American and an AVCA Second Team All-American.

He has over 20 years of coaching experience working collegiately, at the high school level and club level in both men's and women's volleyball. Padilla, who grew up in Nashville and graduated from Overton High School, has worked with several high schools in the area including Hillsboro, USN, Webb School, Mt. Juliet Christian Academy, and Providence Christian. 

He also has experience working at the club level with SPIKE, the TN Lightning, Williams County Select, RCJRS, MidTNVBC, and Alliance Volleyball Club.

Padilla earned his degree from Middle Tennessee State University in Exercise Science in 2007. 

Padilla is the second head coach in the men's volleyball's program history.