Gary Preston Jr. joined Pratt Institute as the head coach of the men's and women's volleyball teams in August 2026. Preston brings 15 years of experience to Clinton Hill, having worked with both men and women at the club, collegiate and international levels — including stints across NCAA Divisions I, II and III.
Preston's collegiate coaching résumé spans multiple standout programs. He served as head women's volleyball coach at Mercy University, guiding the team to a top-three conference finish and a berth in the conference playoffs during the 2021–2022 season. As assistant women's volleyball coach at the University of Arkansas Fort Smith, he helped lead the team to the 2018–2019 Heartland Conference Championship, an appearance in the NCAA Regional Tournament and a 21–12 overall record. Earlier in his career, as an assistant coach for the Hunter College men's volleyball team, he helped guide the program to a No. 10 national ranking in NCAA Division III, an NCAA Elite Eight appearance and an outstanding 28–7 overall record.
Most recently, Preston served as head girls' varsity volleyball coach at Rutgers Preparatory School in Somerset, New Jersey, where his teams consistently competed among the state's best. In 2024, he led the program to a finalist finish in the New Jersey Non-Public B State Championship. In 2025, his team captured the Skyland Conference Raritan Division Championship and the NJISAA Prep "B" Volleyball Tournament title while finishing with an impressive 23–4 overall record.
Beyond the scholastic and collegiate levels, Preston has continued to grow the game through professional and high-performance coaching. He founded and serves as head coach of a women's semi-professional team in the Volleyball League of America (VLA), leading the program to qualify for and compete at the VLA National Championships in summer 2025. He also serves as a coach with Gold Medal Squared, one of volleyball's premier coach and athlete development organizations.
Internationally, Preston served as an assistant coach for the London Orcas in the United Kingdom's Super 8s League, helping the club finish among the league's top four and advance to the National Cup semifinals.
As a student-athlete, Preston played setter and served as team captain at New Jersey City University, where he earned his bachelor's degree. He holds a master's degree in sports management with a concentration in coaching from Rome City Institute in Italy, where he also contributed to the development of the school's men's and women's volleyball program and helped athletes secure professional playing opportunities abroad.
