John Klanac - Women's Volleyball Coach - Rice University Athletics

John Klanac

Title:
Associate Head Coach/Recruiting Coordinator
Email:
jak14@rice.edu
Phone:
348-8883

John Klanac enters his first season as Associate Head Coach and his fifth overall. He joined the Rice University volleyball program as assistant coach in 2018 and in his five seasons the Owls have posted a 114-27 record (.809).

In 2022, the Owls earned the program’s third Conference USA Tournament championship and eighth NCAA Tournament appearance, and the team’s ffith straight on the grand stage. The Owls went 27-4 (.871), the highest winning percentage in school history. They reached the Round of 32 of the NCAA Tournament for the third time in the last three seasons, defeating Colorado in the first round.

It marked the Owls fifth straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament, which puts them in elite company. Rice joined Texas and Baylor as the only programs in the state of Texas to qualify for the NCAA Tournament in each of the last four seasons and are one of just 18 programs across NCAA Division I to qualify for the NCAA Tournament in each of the last five seasons

In the fall of 2021, the Owls earned the program's seventh NCAA Tournament appearance and went 20-7 overall, reaching the Round of 32 of the NCAA Tournament for the second time in the last three seasons by sweeping San Diego in the opening round.

The 2021 fall season also saw the Owls reach the C-USA Championship match for a fourth straight season and the seventh time in program history after winning the West Division crown for a second straight season with a 12-0 mark.

In the spring of 2021 the Owls went 16-5 overall, including a 12-0 mark in C-USA play. It marked the first time Rice went undefeated throughout a conference season as the Owls captured the West Division title. The Owls closed the regular season by defeating the No. 2 ranked Texas Longhorns in five sets in Austin, marking Rice's second win over the Longhorns in two seasons. The Owls earned their third consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament, making it for the second straight year as an at-large.

The Owls had a magical 2019 campaign, recording the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament victory and the second-most wins (27) in school history. Rice finished the season ranked in the AVCA Top-25 (24th) for first time in program history and climbed as high as No. 17 during the season. The Owls also finished the season with a No. 19 rankings in the NCAA RPI, the highest finish in school history. The Owls had two players (Nicole Lennon and Anota Adekunle) earn AVCA All-American Honorable Mention honors. Rice also had a school record-tying four players named to AVCA Southwest All-Region Team and three Owls named to C-USA All-Academic Team.

In addition, the Owls placed a league-high six players on C-USA All-Conference teams. Perhaps the highlight of the season was the team's victory over No. 3 Texas for the first time in program history. Along the way Rice set a school record with 20 sweeps.

In 2018 the Owls turned in one of the best seasons in program history. The Owls posted their fifth straight season of 20 or more wins with a 24-7 record and a sweep of the Conference USA regular season and tournaments crowns.

The Owls achieved their best C-USA record (12-2) and recorded the longest winning streak (15 straight) in program history. Rice twice appeared in the AVCA Coaches Poll and placed five players on the 2018 All-C-USA teams, including three first-team members and the C-USA Player of the Year in Nicole Lennon. The Owls ranked top 10 in the nation in kills per set (7th-14.64), digs per set (8th-18.16), and assists per set (8th-13.74).

Prior to Rice, Klanac served as the volleyball director of operations at the University of Houston in 2017.

Klanac served as a volunteer assistant coach at Buffalo (2015-16). With the Bulls, Klanac worked primarily with the outside hitters and was in charge of charting offensive attacks. He also assisted the full-time staff with practice scheduling and day-to-day operations.

He has also served as a camp coach for Ohio State and USA Volleyball.

Klanac played collegiately at Ohio State from 2008-11, where he was a member of the 2011 National Championship team his senior season and earned All-American honors. He helped lead the Buckeyes to four Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association titles and four berths in the NCAA postseason, with one semifinal appearance and three championship game appearances.

He was a three-time MIVA All-Conference honoree, garnering Second Team honors in 2009 and First Team laurels in 2010 and 2011. For his play during the Buckeyes’ 2011 National Championship run, Klanac was named to the NCAA All-Tournament Team.

At the end of his Buckeye career, he ranked in the top 12 in kills (1,048), service aces (70) and points (1,217.5). Klanac graduated from Ohio State in 2011 with a degree in history.

Following Ohio State, Klanac played professionally overseas for five years. He played for Patriotas de Lares (Lares, Puerto Rico; 2014-15), Stiina Explorari Baia Mare (Baia Mare, Romania; 2014-15), Al Nasser Sports Club (Juffair, Bahrain; 2014), Waremme VBC (Waremme, Belguim; 2013-14), Kokkolan Tiikerit (Kokkola, Finland; 2012-13) and RWE Bottrop (Bottrop, Germany; 2011-12). With Kokkolan Tiikerit, he helped the team win the Mestaruusliiga (Finnish Championship).