Steve Grotowski - No. 15 Women's Beach Volleyball Coach - Florida Atlantic University Athletics

Photo by: Mauricio Paiz

Steve Grotowski

Title:
Head Coach
Email:
sgrotowski@fau.edu
Phone:
954-729-0319

Steve Grotowski was named head coach in July of 2022 after serving as the program’s assistant coach since 2015.

In three seasons as head coach, Grotowski has led the Sandy Owls to two winning seasons, including a 21-win season in 2025, two CUSA Championships (2023, 2025), and two NCAA Tournament appearances (2023, 2025).

Under Coach Grotowski's leadership, the Sandy Owls have achieved great success, highlighted by one of the winningest seasons in program history in 2025, capturing the 2025 CUSA Championship and earning the program’s third NCAA Championship appearance. The Sandy Owls finished the season at 21-15 overall, marking the program’s fourth 20-win season and tying for the second-most single-season wins in program history. It was also one of the most decorated seasons in program history, including Grotowski receiving his second CUSA Coach of the Year honor. The Sandy Owls also earned numerous awards, including two AVCA All-American honors, marking just the seventh and eighth All-Americans in program history, CUSA Pair of the Year, four AVCA Top Flight honors, five CUSA All-Conference honors, two CUSA All-Freshman Team honors, CUSA Pair of the Tournament, and four CUSA All-Tournament team honors.

In his first year leading the Sandy Owls, FAU beach volleyball had a tremendous season in 2023. The CUSA Coach of the Year guided the Sandy Owls to their second conference championship and first CUSA title in program history, in addition to leading Florida Atlantic to its second-ever NCAA Championship appearance. The Sandy Owls also earned CUSA Pair of the Year, CUSA Co-Freshman of the Year, four CUSA All-Conference First Team honors, and two CUSA All-Freshman Team honors following their impressive 2023 campaign.

In 2022, the Sandy Owls produced a historic season with a school-record 23 wins and the program’s first NCAA Beach Volleyball Championship appearance. As the acting head coach at the tournament, Grotowski led the No. 8-seeded Owls to a 3-0 opening-round win over ninth-seed Stanford to mark the program’s first-ever NCAA Tournament win. The Sandy Owls advanced to the Elite 8 and finished the 2022 season with a No. 8 ranking in the AVCA and CBVB national polls. Without a surprise, Grotowski was tabbed the AVCA National Assistant Coach of the Year, the first national coaching award achieved by an FAU beach volleyball coach.
Grotowski played a role in the incredible career achieved by Erica Brok/Mackenzie Morris. The all-time winningest pair in FAU history, with 95 victories together, ended their FAU career as two-time AVCA First Team All-America selections, three-time AVCA Top Flight honors, All-2022 C-USA Pair of the Year, CCSA Co-Freshman of the Year, as well as a large list of other honors. Grotowski was also instrumental in the development of the 2022 C-USA Freshman of the Year, Julie Honzovicova, as well as CUSA First Team Pair, Courtney Moon/Marketa Svozilova.

Grotowski played professional beach volleyball on the AVP and internationally on the FIVB World Tour for over a decade. In 2012, Grotowski earned a berth to the London Olympics where he competed for his native Great Britain.

In addition to an extensive playing career, he has also coached junior volleyball for boys and girls since 2000. He currently runs VB Beach volleyball club.

Born in London, England, Grotowski has lived in South Florida for over 25 years. He resides in Boynton Beach with his two children, Cayd and Kyah. His late wife, Capri, was the program's head coach from 2014 until her passing from cancer in 2022. The team's annual Capri Classic tournament is held in her memory.