BIO for Gokhan Yilmaz
PSVA Director
Gokhan has an impressive volleyball resume with 30+ years of playing and coaching experience at high school, club, and collegiate levels. He has been the head coach at Florida A&M University since 2018, after serving as the associate head coach for two years prior.
During the 2021 and 2022 seasons, Gokhan led his rattlers to two consecutive SWAC championships and was named SWAC Coach of the Year for both seasons. Under Gokhan's guidance, the rattlers have accomplished an impressive conference record of 45-11, initially in the MEAC before competing in the SWAC.
Prior to FAMU, Gokhan worked as the head coach at UNC Charlotte, leading the 49ers to 17 wins, the most in eight years, while leading the team to its first conference tournament appearance in five years – a team built around nine recruits he signed for that first season.
Before that, he spent seven seasons as associate head coach, training coordinator, and main recruiter for nearby Florida State University (2008-14). While at FSU, he landed the nation's No. 3 recruiting class in 2012, helping the Seminoles to a 154-41 record, featuring five NCAA Tournament appearances (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013), highlighted by a 2011 Final Four berth, a 2009 Elite Eight spot and a 2013 Sweet Sixteen berth.
Gokhan’s collegiate resume also includes stints as an Assistant Coach at the University of Arkansas, Northwood University, Cameron University, and Western New Mexico University.He began his coaching career in his native Turkey as a club coach (Eczacibasi Sports Club) in 1995-96 before working the next six years coaching club, high school, and middle school teams, most of which achieved national, regional, and city honors. In his six seasons before starting his collegiate career, Yilmaz led his charges to two national championships and four other finals appearances. All of his teams earned berths in the Turkish National Tournament.