Fresh off a championship-winning debut season, LOVB Austin has announced its 2026 coaching staff, led by Head Coach Erik Sullivan. The defending champions will enter the new season with heightened expectations and a staff defined by international experience, elite-level success and a shared commitment to excellence.
LOVB Austin showcased an unforgettable 2025 campaign, ultimately ending in dramatic fashion at the LOVB Finals. With two reverse sweeps to make it to the championship match, LOVB Austin claimed the inaugural title against LOVB Omaha and are looking to do it again in season two under the helm of their brand new coaching staff.
Erik Sullivan – Head Coach
Erik Sullivan enters his first season as head coach of LOVB Austin one year after taking the helm of the U.S. Women’s National Team. A two-time Olympian and former U.S. Men’s National Team libero (2000, 2004), Sullivan brings a wealth of international playing and coaching experience to both roles.
In his first summer guiding Team USA, Sullivan led the program to gold at the 2025 NORCECA Women’s Final Six in Mexico, a quarterfinal finish at the FIVB Women’s World Championship, and a Volleyball Nations League quarterfinal appearance. His reputation for building elite defensive systems and maximizing player development has already made an impact on the international stage.
Before taking over the national team, Sullivan spent 14 seasons at Texas, helping guide the Longhorns to three NCAA titles (2012, 2022, 2023), eight Final Four appearances, and 12 conference championships. A UCLA Athletics Hall of Famer, Sullivan was a two-time All-American and captain of the Bruins’ 1995 NCAA championship team.
Tayyiba Haneef-Park – Assistant Coach
Three-time Olympian and two-time silver medalist (Beijing 2008, London 2012) Tayyiba Haneef-Park joins the Austin bench ahead of the 2026 season, bringing elite international experience and a championship pedigree to the staff.
A seasoned coach at both the national and professional levels, Haneef-Park joined the U.S. Women’s National Team as an assistant in 2025, helping lead the squad to several podium finishes, including gold at the 2019 NORCECA Champions Cup, and silver medals at the 2023 NORCECA Pan American Cup and Final 6. She also earned 2024 Coach of the Year honors in the Pro Volleyball Federation after leading the San Diego Mojo.
As a standout player, Haneef-Park starred at Long Beach State, earning AVCA First-Team All-America honors (2001) and later capturing two Olympic silver medals and a World Grand Prix gold medal (2012) with Team USA.
Shannon Slatter – Director of Volleyball Operations
Promoted ahead of the 2026 season, Shannon Slatter brings more than two decades of coaching and leadership experience to her new role as Director of Volleyball Operations.
After joining LOVB Austin in 2025, Slatter helped guide the team to the LOVB Championship in its inaugural season and served alongside Team USA’s staff at the 2025 World Championship in Thailand. Her extensive coaching background includes collegiate roles at San Diego State University and San Diego City College, as well as head coaching stints with multiple elite club programs.
Her blend of operational expertise and coaching experience makes her an invaluable part of LOVB Austin’s continued growth on and off the court.
Virginia Pham – Technical Director
Virginia Pham enters her first season with LOVB Austin as Technical Director, bringing more than a decade of experience in operations, scouting, and performance analysis at both the collegiate and international levels.
Pham most recently worked alongside Sullivan as Performance Analyst for the U.S. Women’s National Team, helping capture gold at the 2025 NORCECA Final Six and supporting Team USA’s runs at the FIVB World Championship and Volleyball Nations League.
From 2020–25, she served as Technical Coordinator for USC’s men’s and women’s volleyball programs, in addition to directing operations for the men’s team. Pham continues to serve USA Volleyball as a performance analyst for the Women’s U21 National Team and technical coordinator for the U.S. Sitting National Team.
New this season, LOVB has allowed each team a second assistant coach, and Austin will fill this role closer to the beginning of the season.
With championship experience, strong leadership, and a unified vision, LOVB Austin’s 2026 coaching staff sets the stage for another thrilling season in front of a strong Austin fanbase.
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