In 1986, during the San Francisco convention, the membership recognized the growing and developing high school and club communities.

Although incorporated as a non-profit in 1981, the AVCA began to grow and diversify, and a full-time executive director wasn't hired until July 1983.

At the collegiate level, all major NCAA conferences are represented and membership among the club coaches has risen dramatically.

[2] In 2006, the AVP sanctioned a combine that selected 8 players from 8 colleges and paired them into teams (title was won by Bibiana Candelas (USC)/Paula Gentil (Minnesota)).

In 2007 Nebraska (Jordan Larson/Sarah Pavan) won an invitational competition of 8 colleges, which featured only two players per school, as opposed to entire teams.

In 2010, the competition reverted to one doubles squad per school, with 12 colleges invited; it was won by Loyola Marymount (Emily Day/Heather Hughes).

The two-player team format continued in 2011, except that players were paired with different partners from other schools for every match, until the semi-final winners were determined.

Beginning in the spring of 2012 the AVCA began sponsoring a national championship tournament for women's collegiate beach volleyball.

In 2012, the Showcase featured four collegiate teams competing in one match each against the Chinese Volleyball League champion, Jiangsu.

Past sponsors include NACWAA, Runza Restaurants, Rockvale Outlets and State Farm.

Stanford (1991–92) and Penn State (2007–08) are the only schools in which both the men and women teams' coaches won the award in the same academic year.