League One Volleyball (LOVB) is thrilled to announce the appointment of Erik Sullivan as the new head coach of LOVB Austin. A two-time Olympian, former U.S. Men’s National Team player and highly respected coaching leader, Sullivan was recently named head coach of the U.S. Women’s National Team, governed by USA Volleyball, and will take the reins of LOVB Austin starting with the 2026 season. He steps in following Austin’s historic win as the first-ever League One Volleyball champions.
“A proven leader and one of the most respected minds in our sport, Erik has a deep commitment to growing the sport of volleyball, so we could not be more excited to welcome him to LOVB,” said Rosie Spaulding, LOVB Pro President. “His strong ties to Austin, his championship pedigree, and his rapport with the players make him the perfect fit for LOVB Austin, and we’re excited for how he will guide the performance of this elite team even further.”
During his 14-season tenure as associate head coach at the University of Texas, he played an integral role in shaping one of the nation’s most dominant programs, contributing to three NCAA national championships and eight Final Four appearances.
"Having Erik lead LOVB Austin feels like such a full circle moment," said Founding Athlete and LOVB Austin outside hitter, Logan Eggleston. "He's played such a huge role in my development as a player and a person, and I know he'll bring that same leadership and passion to this team as he did during our time together at Texas. There's something so special about building a pro team here in Austin, and having someone who understands the community and our fans makes it even more meaningful."
Sullivan boasts a distinguished international résumé. As a libero, he represented the United States at the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games. He has contributed significantly to USA Volleyball in a variety of coaching roles, including serving as an assistant coach for the U.S. Women’s Junior National Team, which earned a fourth-place finish at the 2011 FIVB World Championship. He is also a key member of the USA Volleyball National Team Development Program (NTDP) Scouting Network for girls’ indoor volleyball, where he plays an active role in identifying and nurturing future U.S. National Team athletes.
“Coming back to Austin and helping lead this next chapter of LOVB is incredibly meaningful to me,” said Sullivan. “This team has already made history, and I’m honored to help build on that world-class legacy while contributing to the rise of professional volleyball in the U.S. through League One Volleyball.”
With Sullivan at the helm, LOVB Austin aims to defend its title and continue inspiring the next generation of volleyball players and fans.
Sullivan succeeds Chris McGown, who joined LOVB Austin for the second half of the 2025 season as interim head coach after Head Coach Marco Bonitta stepped away for personal reasons.
“We are grateful to Chris not only for joining us for the remainder of the last season, but more importantly for the impact he made beyond winning the LOVB Finals. The foundations he’s helped build at LOVB Austin will long be felt, and he will forever be part of the LOVB family,” said Spaulding.
About LOVB
Founded in 2020, LOVB’s mission is to reimagine the future of volleyball. With a unique community up approach, LOVB is one holistic ecosystem - from club to pro. The largest community of youth clubs in the country, LOVB launched the first serve of its pro league in January 2025, featuring some of the very best players in the world including American silver medalists and players from the last Olympics. For more information on LOVB, its clubs, and its professional teams in Atlanta, Austin, Houston, Madison, Omaha, and Salt Lake, please visit www.lovb.com or on social channels like Instagram.
