Bio

Detlev Rothe
Head Coach

Coach Detlev Rothe has led the Roadrunner Volleyball program since 2015, bringing more than 30 years of experience as a player, coach, and program builder. A lifelong ambassador of the sport, Rothe has been a driving force in the development of youth volleyball across the Coachella Valley for over 16 years as Founder and Director of Desert Sports Volleyball Club (est. 2005) and 111 Beach Volleyball Club, guiding multiple teams to Junior National competition.

Under his leadership, College of the Desert Volleyball has flourished on both the indoor and beach courts. Since 2015, the indoor program has accumulated 115 wins, highlighted by Inland Empire Athletic Conference championships in 2019 and 2022, and a Conference Coach of the Year award in 2022. The 2018 squad recorded the program’s first 20-win season in nearly 15 years, and the 2019 team captured COD’s first conference title in over a decade. Rothe’s players have earned 31 All-Conference honors, 15 Honorable Mentions, four Academic All-State awards, and multiple All-State and All-Southern California selections.

On the sand, the Roadrunners have quickly emerged as one of the CCCAA’s premier beach programs. COD has qualified a pairs team for the State Championship in each of the past four seasons, including a bronze medal finish in 2019 and a team ranking as high as No. 7 in the state. Rothe was named Vice President of the 3C2A Beach Volleyball Coaches Association in 2020, reflecting his commitment to advancing the sport statewide.

Rothe’s volleyball journey began with the Breakers of Laguna Beach High School and continued at UC Santa Barbara, where he competed collegiately. As a beach player, he reached NCVA Open/Pro status, winning tournaments including the De Anza Classic and Hayward Open, and earning multiple Top-3 finishes at USAV Nationals while competing on the Spike It Up, AVP Next, and Jose Cuervo Tours. He also gained NC2A coaching experience as an assistant at Cal State Hayward (now CSUEB) from 1996–2003.

Dedicated to the complete development of student-athletes, Rothe emphasizes both athletic excellence and academic achievement. Since arriving at COD, his players have consistently transferred to four-year programs with strong athletic and academic resumes, including a program-record five Academic All-State honorees in 2019–20.

Rothe remains deeply involved in the growth of volleyball at every level, serving as IEAC/PCAC conference seeding representative since 2018, maintaining USAV CAP and BeachCAP certification, and supporting local programs such as Xavier College Preparatory, where he helped launch their CIF girls’ beach volleyball team.

Away from the court, Rothe and his wife, Marion—who also serves as a co-coach—enjoy raising their three children, Juliette, Landon, and Grayson. Together, they share a love for soccer, beach volleyball, and exploring the outdoors through hiking and camping.

~ Bio current as of August 2025