NASHVILLE, Tenn. – After a quarter century marked by unwavering loyalty and competitive excellence, Lipscomb University's Brandon Rosenthal has announced his retirement from coaching to explore other professional opportunities and to focus on family life.

Rosenthal, who took over a team barely out of its NCAA Division I infancy, and who led it to nationally competitive heights and recognition, has been a pillar of the Lipscomb community, and departs his role not out of a desire to leave the university, but from a calling to embrace a new pace of life. After decades of commitment to the year-round demands inherent in collegiate athletics, Rosenthal looks forward to exploring interests outside of the bench while remaining a proud Lipscomb graduate program alumnus and supporter.

"Coach Rosenthal embodies everything we want a Lipscomb Athletics leader to be–connected to our mission and values, integrity, passion, competitiveness and a deep-seated love for our student-athletes," said Athletics Director Philip Hutcheson. "While we are saddened to see him leave the coaching ranks, we are incredibly happy for Brandon and his family as they embark on this well-deserved next chapter."

Starting with the Bisons in 2001 as a graduate assistant, he became the head coach of the program prior to the start of the 2003 season. 

"It has been an honor to be the Head Coach of Lipscomb Volleyball for the past 23 years and associated with Lipscomb Athletics for 25 years. My goal from day one was to give everything I had to Lipscomb Volleyball and while today is bittersweet, I am very proud of what Lipscomb Volleyball has become. I recently arrived at this decision to retire as I have missed my family and ultimately decided it was time to put FAMILY FIRST, a message I have preached for decades," said Rosenthal.

"This job is so much bigger than volleyball and I firmly believe my greatest accomplishment during those two-plus decades are the relationships. In the end that is what will always matter most. I have been fortunate to be a part of so many amazing things and I look forward to continuing those relationships for decades to come."

Over the course of his 23-year stint at the helm of LUV, Rosenthal leaves as the all-time winningest coach in the program's history with a 415-269 overall record. In addition, his 415 wins is the most among ASUN coaches all-time and is the most among Division I coaches in the State of Tennessee. 

On Nov. 21, 2024, he picked up his 400th career victory over North Alabama in the quarterfinals of the ASUN Tournament, becoming the 98th head coach across all three NCAA Divisions to win 400 matches with one institution. 

After missing the ASUN Championship in his first two seasons, the Bisons made 21 straight appearances to the postseason event, including 19 semifinal appearances and 12 championship match appearances. 

Holding a 30-14 record in the ASUN postseason event, the Bisons won seven conference tournament championships. 

He led the Bisons to eight NCAA Tournament appearances. Along with the seven automatic qualifiers, his 2014 team earned an At-Large bid to the postseason. 

His teams finished 13 times in the top 100 of the Rating Performance Index, or RPI. 

"Brandon's legacy here is secure, not just in the record books, but in the culture he built. He is leaving the program in a position of strength, and he does so with our full support and lasting gratitude. And our appreciation isn't just for the impact he's had on our volleyball program, or on the game in middle Tennessee, in the ASUN and even nationwide. Our appreciation is even greater for what he's done to raise standards and the vision for what is possible for Lipscomb teams," said Hutcheson. "Our Lipscomb volleyball program under Brandon's leadership has helped to challenge and inspire other programs to their own greater heights, too, and more times than I can count, one of the first Lipscomb Athletics coaches to congratulate and cheer on another Lipscomb team in their successes has been Brandon. He will always have a home here at Lipscomb University and I am thankful to call him a Lipscomb Athletics teammate, and more importantly, friend.

"There have been many impactful coaches who have left indelible marks at Lipscomb–Boyce, Bennett, Dugan, Duty, Griffith, Hanvey, and Meyer, to name a few–and Brandon undoubtedly has earned his spot on that list. We will certainly miss his leadership, his encouragement and his daily presence. But if anyone deserves the Jonathan Seamon moniker "once a Bison, always a Bison", it's Brandon. So we will certainly not be saying a big 'goodbye' to Brandon nearly as much as we will be saying a big thank you, well done, and 'hope to keep seeing youin recognition of his always-welcomed place here. 

A five-time ASUN Coach of the Year, as well as the South Region Coach of the Year in 2014, Rosenthal has coached nine Players of the Year, three Setters of the Year, two Defensive Players of the Year and two Freshmen of the Year selections. 

In addition, seven players have participated with the USA Volleyball National Team Open Program.

Totaling 56 all-conference selections, he has seen 20 named All-Region and nine All-Americans by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. 

Rosenthal added, "I would love to take this opportunity to thank the three university presidents that I had the pleasure of working with, Dr. Flatt, Dr. Lowry, and Dr. McQueen. I thank you for believing in me and affording me the opportunity to be an ambassador for Lipscomb University. In addition, the two athletic directors I worked with in Dr. Steve Potts and Philip Hutcheson not only gave me a chance, but also helped in making this program better than we found it."

"Thank you Lipscomb Volleyball for taking a chance on a young guy that will always believe that it is so much bigger than the sport itself. I will always be proud to be a part of Lipscomb and LUV."

Lipscomb University will conduct a national search for the next Head Volleyball Coach.