See what the top sports stories are for UA and Tucson.

To replace a Hall of Famer, Salpointe Catholic High School turned to a familiar name to lead its girls volleyball program.

Prior to this season, the Lancers hired long-time college coach Keith Rubio as its next coach. Most recently, he was associate head coach at New Mexico State before retiring in 2021.

“I moved here from Las Cruces,” Rubio said, “My brother lives here and my mom is sick, so I moved out here to spent time with my mom and the job opened up, so I applied for it.”

That brother is Dave Rubio, who in January 2023 retired after serving as the Arizona Wildcats’ head volleyball coach for 31 seasons. Dave Rubio racked up 570 wins at the UA, his Wildcats reaching 20 NCAA Tournaments, eight Sweet 16s, four Elite Eights and a Final Four.

Salpointe junior setter Brooklyn Burgle said she went to UA matches “all the time” when Dave Rubio was coach.

“I have so many pictures of me and my sister with him and we went to his camps a lot,” Burgle said. “So it’s so funny to have his brother our coach now.”

Keith Rubio replaced Heather Moore-Martin, who resigned as Salpointe head coach in May. She has won 10 state championships, including three indoor titles at Salpointe and four beach volleyball team championships while guiding the Lancers.

“I will take a break,” the Star reported Moore-Martin saying in May upon word of her Salpointe tenure ending being made public.

Moore-Martin, who went to Catalina High School, coached there until 2013 when she left for Salpointe. Last November, Moore-Martin was inducted into the Pima County Sports Hall of Fame.

Salpointe head coach Keith Rubio gives a thumbs-up to his Lancers during Sept. 21 match against Mica Mountain.

Rubio became associate head coach for NMSU after the 2016 season. At New Mexico State, he was “essential” in recruiting and strength and conditioning, according to the Aggies’ website, and also handled player development, scouting, camps and community events.

In 2013, the Rubio brothers faced off in the NCAA Tournament with Arizona sweeping the Aggies in the first round.

Keith Rubio said New Mexico State recruited the state of Arizona a lot and had Tucson players.

Before coming to NMSU in 2011, Keith Rubio was the head coach at Quincy (Illinois) University for seven seasons. In 2007, he led the Hawks to a 19-14 record, their highest win total since 1998.

“It’s really fun,” Salpointe junior setter Caitlin Hurley said of playing for Rubio. “He’s really into our team aspect instead of like focusing on one thing, so I like how much we’ve come together as a team since he’s been our coach.”

Keith Rubio said he’s also able to see Dave more than he had when they were both coaching at the college level.

“He’s actually staying pretty busy, but yeah, we see each other a lot more often than I have in the past — in 10 years,” Rubio said.

Before going to Quincy, he was assistant head coach at Oregon in 2002 and 2003, serving as the Ducks’ recruiting coordinator and camp director.

Rubio started as a volunteer assistant at USC from 1996-98 and then took his first paid assistant job at Boise State from 1998 to 2001.

“He’s great. I love him,” Burgle said. “He’s really energetic and he is very strong and like wise with his words, so, he helps us out with that.”

Keith Rubio said he’s enjoyed coaching high school so far.

“It’s great. Volleyball is volleyball. It’s a little bit lower level,” Rubio said. “The speed is greater at the collegiate level, but these kids are great. We’re really good. We’re like a college team.”

Burgle said there was a little adjustment period when he first started, but the new coach has fit in well to high school coaching.

“Overall it was really smooth and it’s been going super, duper well,” Burgle said.

The Lancers have started the season 16-4, including a 3-2 win over Mica Mountain at home last week to open Class 4A Kino Region play. At the time, both the Lancers and Thunderbolts, who both reached the state semifinals last year, were 7-0 in regular-season matches.

“I’m pretty proud of us so far of how we started,” Hurley said. “I think we still have a lot to work on there, so there’s always room for improvement. But so far a good start.”

Having a former college coach can help players prepare for the next step.

“He’s been helping us out with that, especially because most of our team wants of playing college and go to the next level,” Burgle said. “So he provides a lot of information about that and he’s really preparing us for the next level.”

Rubio said the Lancers have college-capable players like junior outside hitter/opposite Kate Mobley (committed to Wichita State) and her twin sister, junior outside hitter/opposite Natalie Mobley, who is expected to play at the NCAA Division II level.

“I feel like we’ve learned a lot more and it’s just a good learning experience for everybody, even if we’re not going to play in college,” Hurley said.

Become a #ThisIsTucson member! Your contribution helps our team bring you stories that keep you connected to the community. Become a member today.