GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Two new faces are joining the Grand Rapids Rise coaching staff.
Mike and Katie Gawlik, a husband-and-wife duo who both used to coach at Central Michigan University, were hired to the team for the 2025 season. Mike will be the associate head coach and Katie will be an assistant coach.
Mike is reuniting with Cathy George, head coach and VP of volleyball operations. He worked on her coaching staff at Michigan State for 11 seasons, from 2005 to 2015.
“I’m eager for the opportunity to be involved with growing women’s athletics at the professional level,” Mike said. “The Rise matches I attended had excellent attendance and fan engagement. I loved my time working with Cathy George at Michigan State and am anxious to get started.”
In his nine seasons with CMU, Mike was 137-123 overall (.527) and 81-77 (.513) in conference play.
This year, he led the Chippewas to the school's most successful campaign since 1983, finishing 24-7 overall and second place in the MAC.
In 2019, Mike was named MAC Coach of the Year, becoming just the second CMU volleyball coach in history to achieve the feat. That season, the Chippewas went 21-9 and advanced to the National Invitational Volleyball Championship.
He also helped the Spartans reach nine NCAA Tournaments, including three trips to the Sweet 16. Mike was an assistant coach for nine seasons before being named associate head coach in 2015.
“Success is a series of choices that we need to be willing to make every day,” Mike said. “When we play hard, play together, and play with joy — great things can happen.”
Katie was a volunteer assistant coach at Central Michigan for the last five seasons.
In her time on the court, Katie earned four letters from the University of Michigan during the 2004-2007 seasons, two All-American honors and was a two-time All-Big Ten honoree. She's the Wolverines' all-time leader with 1,895 career kills. She then went on to play professionally in Switzerland.
“I decided to sign with the Rise because it seemed like a good opportunity from a professional standpoint, and also a personal one,” Katie said. “I will get to coach some pretty elite players while also getting my daughter, Winnie, into an area where some of her needs can be met.”
The Rise's season begins on Jan. 10 against the Vegas Thrill. Single-match tickets go on sale Dec. 4. You can get yours here.
“Athletes, no matter what level you are coaching, need to know that you care about them as people,” Katie said. “Even at this new level where it is a job for them, if you can learn how to connect with each individual and truly care about their lives, they are going to play hard for you — just as you will give them everything you have as a coach to make them the best they can be.”
