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Massachusetts Institute of Technology

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Headshot of Costas Theocharidis

Costas Theocharidis

Costas Theocharidis enters his third season as an assistant coach on the men's volleyball team in 2027. In his second season with MIT, the men’s volleyball team made history winning its first-ever conference championship and reaching the NCAA quarterfinals for the first time in the history of the program.

Originally from a small town in a remote, rural part of Greece, Costas was a dominant outside hitter for the University of Hawaii (UH) men's volleyball program from 2000 to 2003. “Greece Lightning,” as he was affectionately called by fans, is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most decorated players in NCAA men’s volleyball history.

His collegiate career included several historic milestones:

  • NCAA Division I all-time leader in total kills (2,198) and attacks per set (rally scoring era).
  • The first player to become a four-time first-team All-American in US college men’s volleyball history.
  • The only international player to be a two-time NCAA Division I National Player of the Year.
  • The first-ever Academic All-American of the Year for UH.
  • National champion (2002) and Final Four MVP.

He has been inducted into the Hawaii Sports Circle of Honor (Hall of Fame). 

After retiring from the sport at 23, he focused on building a successful business career in corporate finance. He has worked in a variety of client-facing advisory roles — as a financial restructuring/corporate turnaround advisor, investment banker, private equity valuation advisor, and private wealth manager — for some of the most successful and admired companies in the world. He received his Master's degree in Finance & Accounting from the London School of Economics (LSE) and he was also awarded the CFA charter. 

As a father, he wanted to be a source of inspiration to his three daughters and the younger generation of student-athletes, so he published the “Warrior for Life” series — a two-volume Amazon bestselling memoir on leadership, resilience and peak performance.

He lives in Somerville, Massachusetts, with his wife, Elena, and their three daughters: Christina, Sophia, and Eva.