UChicago Volleyball Coach Mitchell McPartland Named 2025 NCAA Division III LGBTQ Coach of the Year
University of Chicago head volleyball coach Mitchell McPartland has been named the NCAA Division III LGBTQ Coach of the Year, as announced at the NCAA Convention in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday night.
Mitchell McPartland has used his platform to share his journey as a queer person in sports and empower others on campus to be their authentic selves. He has led social media campaigns for Pride Month, and he helped organize a Pride Game during softball and women's lacrosse games. He also came up with a statement to read before each game, emphasizing UChicago's goal of creating inclusive spaces for members of the LGBTQ+ community both on and off the field.
On a personal side, with the help of other athletics staff, McPartland recorded a "letter to my former self" that talked about his journey as a queer person and posted it on the UChicago athletics social media channels. McPartland employs small, but impactful, changes, as well. At the end of his coaching biography on the school website, he includes that he has a husband.
"That way, if any future recruits might be reading my biography, mentioning my sexuality was an opportunity for me to be authentic and open to being a member of the LGBTQ+ community," McPartland said. "It is my goal to continue to create policies and create opportunities for UChicago athletics to be a safe place for any and all members of the LGBTQ+ community."
McPartland has been and continues to be one of the strongest advocates of the LGBTQ community, not only at the University of Chicago, but in all of NCAA Division III.
The Division III LGBTQ of the Year Recognition Award Program, developed by the Division III LGBTQIA+ Working Group, aims to recognize, honor and celebrate the academic achievements, athletics excellence, service and leadership of LGBTQ student-athletes and the service, leadership and promotion of LGBTQ inclusion by an LGBTQ athletics administrator, coach or staff member.
McPartland and the UChicago volleyball team wrapped up their season with a 15-14 record overall on the season and 6-1 in the UAA regular season as he helped lead the Maroons to the UAA regular season title.