GAINESVILLE, Fla. - As the inaugural head coach and after eight seasons with Santa Fe College Volleyball, Nick Cheronis has announced his resignation from the program.

Cheronis will fulfill his contract through June 30, while the search for Santa Fe College Volleyball's second head coach in program history will begin immediately.

Former Santa Fe College President Dr. Jackson Sasser and the Board of Trustees voted to approve an intercollegiate volleyball team at SF, beginning in the fall of 2014. Cheronis brought a wealth of experience to the SF Volleyball program when he accepted the role as head coach for the team's first season.

Cheronis joined the Saints with over 30 years of coaching experience and success at a variety of levels, and his coaching prowess had already been on display in Gainesville. In 1992 he became an assistant coach at the University of Florida under Mary Wise. In 1996, he was promoted to Associate Head Coach with primary responsibilities as the defensive coordinator, assistant director of camps, and overseeing the Gator strength and conditioning program. During his 18 seasons at UF, he helped Wise guide the Gators to 17 consecutive Southeastern Championships, 18 trips to the NCAA tournament, 10 Elite eight appearances, seven final fours and a national championship match in 2003. 

His final stop before accepting the helm at Santa Fe College came at Saint Francis Catholic High School, when the Wolves made back-to-back state finals appearances in 2012 and 2013.

At SF, Cheronis found immediate success and made a seemingly seamless transition into the NJCAA. In 2014, SF posted a record of 31-7 overall on the Saints' way to the first Mid-Florida Conference Championship and FCSAA/NJCAA Region VIII State Tournament appearance. 

It was a sign of more good things to come. In all, the Saints have now earned four conference titles, with two in the Mid-Florida Conference (2014, 2020) and two in the Panhandle Conference (2018, 2019).

Additionally under Cheronis' leadership, SF has appeared in the Region VIII State Tournament on seven occasions, with one trip to the NJCAA Tournament in 2016 to secure a fourth place finish in the NJCAA Division I.  

Over his career, Cheronis and the Saints accumulated a 135-82 record. SF's consistency has led to postseason coaching recognition, and accolades for Cheronis include being named: the 2020 Mid-Florida Conference Coach of the Year, the 2019 Panhandle Conference Coach of the Year, the 2018 Panhandle Conference Coach of the Year, the 2016 AVCA Southeast Region Coach of the Year, and the 2014 Co-Mid Florida Conference Coach of the Year. 

In all, he has coached for 40 seasons at every level of play, and Santa Fe College Athletics is thankful for his eight seasons with the Saints. 

"Coach Cheronis was instrumental in starting the volleyball program here at Santa Fe College," said Director of Athletics Greg McVey. "He built a successful program on the court, but more importantly impacted the lives of his players and assistant coaches during his tenure. We wish him all the best as he begins a new journey." 

"I am truly blessed to have had this opportunity to coach volleyball at Santa Fe College for the past eight years," expressed Cheronis. "I would like to thank President Jackson Sasser and Athletic Director Jim Keites for having the confidence in me to grow this program from the beginning. I have mixed emotions about leaving at this time, but I'm really excited about the next chapter in my life."