COACH ERIK

HEAD COACH 159 ONYX(2026-2027)

Coach Erik is passionate about helping athletes build strong fundamentals, become great teammates, and develop a lasting love of volleyball.

BACKGROUND

Coach Erik’s volleyball journey began in high school in Indiana, where he started as a setter before transitioning to middle blocker. He played all four years, with his senior season culminating in a third-place finish at the Indiana State Finals. He has continued playing volleyball as an adult and still enjoys getting on the court whenever he can.

Coach Erik has been actively involved in youth volleyball for the past several years, initially coaching his daughter and many returning athletes through Junior Frog, Spike Frog, and Spike Frog Pro. He joined Austin Velocity for the 2025–2026 season and is excited to return for his second season with the club as head coach of 159 Onyx. His daughter also plays for Velocity on 121 Diamond.

Coach Erik believes a successful season is about more than wins and losses. His goal is for athletes to improve individually and as a team, compete hard, support one another, enjoy the experience, and finish the season loving volleyball even more than when they started.

Originally from Valparaiso, Indiana, Coach Erik has called the Austin area home since 2003. He lives in Volente with his wife and two children. When he isn’t coaching, playing volleyball, or running, he works full-time as a technology professional at Amazon Web Services.

COACHING PHILOSOPHY

Fundamentals
Build reliable skills and strong habits that athletes can depend on under pressure. Players should understand not only what to do, but why.

Quality Reps
Court time is valuable. Practices should be purposeful, fast-moving, and designed to maximize meaningful touches and opportunities to learn.

Continuous Improvement
Focus on getting a little better every day. Coach Erik believes in using feedback, observation, data, and proven coaching methods to help athletes, teams, and coaches continuously improve.

Team First
Great teams communicate, support one another, take accountability, and treat teammates and coaches with respect. Coach Erik sees volleyball as an opportunity to develop teamwork and life skills that extend well beyond the court.

Love the Game
Compete hard and pursue success while remembering why we play. Volleyball should be challenging and demanding, but it should also be fun. Coach Erik wants athletes to finish the season more confident, more capable, and even more excited about the sport.