“We are happy to have Nate, Kim and the kids back at BYU. His knowledge of BYU and its rich history is going to be valuable as we enter our first season in the Big 12,” Pope said. “Nate is one of the toughest players that I have ever had the opportunity to coach and that is going to translate to helping us be successful in every aspect of the program. He excelled here as a graduate assistant and had a terrific run as the head coach at Grantsville High School.”

The program’s all-time leader in games played returns to Provo after serving as an assistant coach at Salt Lake Community College since May. As an assistant at SLCC, he helped with academics, player development, recruiting and graphic creation.

“I’m thrilled to be back at BYU. I love it here,” Austin added. “I’m humbled, grateful, and excited to be part of Coach Pope’s staff and this era of BYU basketball. I’m eager to serve the student-athletes and build relationships with them.”

He spent the prior three years as the head boy’s basketball coach at Grantsville High School. Under his tutelage, the Cowboys went 55-17 including an appearance in the Utah 3A State Championship Game in 2022.

Austin served as a graduate assistant for BYU from 2018-20 helping the Cougars go 25-8 and on their way to a top 6-seed in the NCAA tournament in Pope’s first season in charge before it was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He began his coaching career as an assistant at Lone Peak High School.

Austin appeared in a program record 153 games during his time as a Cougars (2011-16) where he helped BYU win two NCAA tournament games and earn a pair of trips to the NIT semifinals at Madison Square Garden.

He finished his career with 289 offensive rebounds, the second-most in program history. He also ranks sixth in offensive rebounds in a single season (90, 2013-14) and 13th in career rebounds (792). One of his 89 career blocks came in the final seconds in BYU’s 69-68 victory over No. 25 Gonzaga at the McCarthey Athletic Center.

He graduated with his Bachelor of Arts from BYU in 2016, earning a Masters of Arts in mass communications in 2020. He is married to Kim and the couple has two children.

BYU women’s volleyball 17th in first AVCA poll

LEXINGTON, Ky. — BYU women’s volleyball came in at No. 17 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA)/Taraflex preseason poll, the organization announced today.

Coming off a 22-7 (14-3 WCC) season with a NCAA Tournament Second Round finish in 2022, the Cougars begin their inaugural year as members of the Big 12 Conference picked to finish second behind reigning national champion Texas.

Beginning last season at No. 10, the Cougars were ranked as high as No. 7 in the nation before finishing the year at No. 18.

Ranked opponents on BYU’s 2023 schedule feature No. 1 Texas, T-No. 5 Pittsburgh, No. 15 Baylor, No. 19 Houston and No. 21 Washington State.

BYU has both begun and ended each of BYU head coach Heather Olmstead’s eight seasons ranked in the top-18. It has also now been ranked in the AVCA Top 25 for 152-consecutive weeks.

2023 AVCA Women’s Volleyball Coaches Poll

Ranking/School/First-Place Votes/Overall Votes

1. Texas (44) 1564

2. Wisconsin (7) 1489

3. Stanford (13) 1449

4. Louisville 1388

5. Nebraska 1294

Pittsburgh 1294

7. Minnesota 1105

8. Penn State 1091

9. Oregon 1067

10. Kentucky 899

11. Florida 841

12. Marquette 768

13. San Diego 760

14. Ohio State 745

15. Baylor 694

16. Purdue 644

17. BYU 617

18. Creighton 546

19. Houston 421

20. Georgia Tech 394

21. Washington State 359

22. USC 204

23. Rice 192

24. Western Kentucky 181

25. Arkansas 122

Others receiving votes: Kansas 99, Tennessee 84, Washington 63, Auburn 62, UCF 53, Hawaii 49, Miami (Fla.) 45, Georgia 35, LSU 28, TCU 20, Illinois 18, Utah 18, Iowa State 14, LMU 14, Pepperdine 14, Florida State 12, James Madison 5.

Next poll: Aug. 28