With a sad heart, Florida Atlantic University Athletics announces the death of Capri Grotowski, FAU’s head beach volleyball coach, at the age of 38.
We expressed our sincere condolences to the Grotowski family.
FAU Volleyball Capri Grotowski Was Suffering From Breast Cancer
FAU volleyball coach Capri Grotowski was battling breast cancer when she died on Saturday at the age of 38. Winninginpadise announced the news on Twitter and stated, “her influence and passion for the FAU family will be remembered forever.”
The beach volleyball coach at Florida Atlantic struggled for nearly a decade-long with breast cancer.
She coached at FAU for eight years, frequently while coping with treatments and the effects of her disease.
This last season was the most successful of Grotowski’s tenure with the Owls, as her team went 23-12 and won the NCAA tournament. As well as Grotowski was voted Conference USA coach of the year.
“With the departure of Coach Grotowski, the FAU family has experienced a devastating loss,” university president John Kelly stated. “We are appreciative of Capri’s contributions to the institution and the individuals she has touched throughout her life and work.”
Similarly, Staford Beach Volleyball tweeted, “We would want to express our profound sympathies to the @FAUBeachVB squad, coaches, and staff on the loss of head coach Capri Grotowski.”
Capri was a fantastic spokesperson for beach volleyball, transforming the Beach Owls into a national powerhouse.
“We are grateful for Coach Grotowski’s competitive attitude and the spirit of excellence she instilled in the sport.”
“The Cardinal Beach VB family is thinking of Steve, Cayd, and Kyah Grotowski as they go through this tough time in their life.”
Capri Grotowski Passed Away At 38
Capri Grotowski, a head coach for the FAU beach volleyball team passed away at the age of 38. The whole volleyball community is mourning her death.
Grotowski valiantly battled cancer. She had a huge influence on the FAU community and was widely recognized across the board.
Brian White, FAU’s vice president, and director of athletics wrote “This is a devastating loss for everyone who knew her. Capri was a fantastic competitor, but an even greater person. We should all remember her and the Grotowski family in our prayers.”
Dusty May, the head basketball coach of Florida Atlantic University, referred to the news as awful. “Capri was an amazing instructor as well as a strong and lovely individual. She left a lasting impression,” he wrote.
Capri Grotowski Is Survived By Her Husband Steve Grotowski
Grotowski is survived by her husband, Steve Grotowski, who played beach volleyball for his home in Great Britain in the 2012 London Olympics.
The couple is blessed with two children.
Steve began as a volunteer assistant on the FAU coaching staff in 2015 and was promoted to assistant coach in 2016. In his eight years with the team, he has led the Sandy Owls to six winning seasons, an NCAA Tournament victory, and a No. 8 national rating.
The Sandy Owls are coming off their most historic season to date, with a school record of 23 victories and their first berth in the NCAA Beach Volleyball Championship.
Grotowski, the tournament’s acting head coach, guided the No. 8-seeded Owls to a 3-0 first-round triumph over ninth-seeded Stanford. It was the program’s first-ever NCAA Tournament victory.
The Sandy Owls reached the Elite 8 and concluded the 2022 season ranked eighth in both the AVCA and CVBV national rankings. Grotowski was named AVCA National Assistant Coach of the Year, the first national coaching honor won by an FAU beach volleyball coach.
Previously, Grotowski spent nearly a decade playing professional beach volleyball on the AVP and internationally on the FIVB World Tour.