He replaces Lee Maes, who was named the head coach
at the University of Virginia last week.
According to Cook, Sullivan’s combination of
high-level playing and coaching experience made him stand out among a talented
field of candidates.
“I feel that Erik is one of the up-and-coming
young coaches in the country and was a good fit for what we were looking for on
our staff,” Cook said. “As a player, he played at the highest level,
representing the United States in two Olympics and playing professionally. Since
moving into coaching, he has worked with not only the Colorado program, but also
at the club level and in the USA program. He has coached in the Big 12 for four
years and understands the programs in our league, which was an important
consideration for us.”
Sullivan said that being familiar with the Husker
program, as well as the coaching styles of both Cook and assistant Lizzy Stemke
will make for a smooth transition as he joins the staff in time for the start of
spring practice.
“I know that Nebraska is second-to-none in terms
of the facilities, the support they receive from both the fans and the
administration and the success they have enjoyed in recent years. Programs
around the nation use Nebraska as a model on how to build their program,”
Sullivan said. “I’ve known both John and Lizzy through the USA program and that
was important because you want to develop a comfort level among the
staff.”
Sullivan said his extensive playing background
with the national team and professionally was essential in his coaching
development.
“The thing I learned playing around the world is
that you can win in different ways,” Sullivan said. “There is not one model or
style that leads to success. Many of the players at Nebraska have aspirations of
playing either professionally or at the national team level, and I can help in
their preparation and with the demands of continuing a volleyball career
following college.”
In his four years at Colorado, Sullivan helped the
Buffaloes to three straight NCAA appearances and helped tutor a pair of players
who earned All-Big 12 recognition, including two-time all-region selection Allie
Griffin.
Sullivan, 35, played libero for Team USA at the
2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. His trip to Athens was his second
Olympic tour of duty, as he served as co-captain of Team USA at the 2000
Olympics in Sydney, Australia.
An eight-year veteran of the U.S. National Team,
Sullivan’s defensive successes are well documented. He earned Best Defensive
Player in the World at the 1998 World Championships and that same year he earned
the USA National Team’s Tom Haine Players’ Award. Sullivan was touted as the
America’s Cup Best Reception Player in 2000 and the Best Libero at the 2001
World Championship Qualifier. He was the Best Defensive Player at the 1997
NORCECA Zone Championships and the Best Reception Player at the 1999
NORCECA.
Sullivan’s playing experience has also stretched
to the professional ranks in Europe. His professional resume includes stints in
Naefels, Switzerland (1995-97), Malaga, Spain (1999), Apeldoorn, The Netherlands
(2000-01) and Odintsovo, Russia, (2003).
Back in the United States, Sullivan played
professionally on the Four-Man Volleyball Beach Tour from 1996-97. He was named
the tour’s Rookie of the Year in 1996 and was tabbed the tour’s Left Side Player
of the Year in 1997.
Sullivan served as director of the Pikes Peak
Volleyball Club in Colorado Springs, Colo., from 2001-02 and served as coach of
the club’s 17 & Under contingent.
A two-time American Volleyball Coaches Association
(AVCA) second-team All-American at UCLA, Sullivan led the Bruins to a pair of
national titles during his four-year playing career (1992-95). Sullivan finished
his career as UCLA’s all-time leader in matches with 10 or more digs (25) and
ranked second in career digs (747). As a senior in 1995, Sullivan captained the
Bruins to an NCAA title while ranking ninth nationally in digs (2.5 dpg). He
graduated from UCLA with a bachelor’s degree in physiological science in the
spring of 1995.
A
native of Encinitas, Calif., Sullivan is married to the former Amanda Heavner of
Santa Barbara, Calif. The couple has a daughter, Shaye (6) and a son, Cade (1).