BYU looking for new head coach as Heather Olmstead leaves women’s volleyball program
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- BYU women’s volleyball coach Heather Olmstead celebrates with her team after a first round NCAA Tournament victory against James Madison in Pittsburgh, Pa., on Friday, Dec. 2, 2022.
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- BYU women’s volleyball coach Heather Olmstead talks to her team in a match against Loyola Chicago in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at West Lafayette, Ind., on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024.
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- BYU women’s volleyball coach Heather Olmstead smiles during a Big 12 Conference match against Iowa State in the Smith Fieldhouse on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023.
One of the winningest coaches in women’s college volleyball and BYU are parting ways.
Heather Olmstead, who posted a 279-55 overall record (84%) in 11 seasons as head coach of the Cougars, is moving on.
A news release from the school on Thursday said Olmstead was announcing she was “transitioning out of her role as head coach of the BYU women’s volleyball team to pursue new professional avenues.”
Make what you will about the creative use of words in that one.
Olmstead took over for her brother, Shawn, when he left for the BYU men’s volleyball head coaching job in 2015. Heather Olmstead led the Cougars to a Final Four in 2018 and the program regularly advanced deep into the NCAA Tournament.
The 2018 AVCA National Coach of the Year, Olmstead and her staff’s development of players has led to 14 All-Americans, 23 All-Region honorees, nine All-Big 12 honorees and 22 All-WCC honorees in addition to a national player of the year candidate, the 2018 AVCA National Freshman of the Year and multiple West Coast Conference awardees.
Olmstead and BYU were an incredible 213-29 (88%) overall and 130-12 (92%) competing in the West Coast Conference in eight seasons.
The road was much more challenging when the Cougars moved into the Big 12 in 2023, though still largely successful. BYU was 66-26 (72%) overall and 35-19 (65%) in league play, qualifying for the NCAA Tournament all three seasons.
But some cracks were beginning to show. The past two seasons, BYU was a No. 5 NCAA seed but lost in the first round to schools from non-power conferences: A 3-0 sweep at the hands of Loyola Chicago (Atlantic 10) in 2024 and a 3-2 loss to Cal Poly (Big West) this season.
Immediately following the 2025 season, two-year staring setting Alex Bower, an All-Big 12 performer and a legacy athlete at BYU, announced she was headed into the transfer portal. Older sister Whitney, BYU’s all-time assist leader, is an assistant at the University of Utah.
A few days later, Big 12 Freshman of the Year Suli Davis posted on social media she was also leaving for the portal. In response to rumors she was unhappy with Olmstead and the staff, Davis posted on Wednesday that her decision had nothing to do with the coaches or program, but didn’t explain her reasons for going to the portal, either.
Davis entered the portal under the “do not contact” tag, for what that’s worth.
Despite the glowing “after careful consideration” posts by Bower and Davis about BYU, losing its two best players pointed to a program with some problems and a change is being made.
Heather Olmstead has coached for Team USA in international competition for several summers and will likely have plenty of opportunities to continue her career.
In the BYU news release, Olmstead said: “Coaching at BYU has been an incredible chapter — one filled with championships, NCAA tournament runs and record-setting seasons. But the true highlight has always been the people. I’m grateful for every athlete who let me be part of her journey and for the chance to help shape strong leaders, teammates and women who go on to make a difference long after their playing days. As I move into this next chapter, I do so with deep gratitude for the BYU community, for the players who trusted me with their development and for the staff who stood beside me through every challenge. I wish this program continued success, and I’m excited for what’s next.”
Also included in the news release was a statement from BYU Director of Athletics Brian Santiago: “I want to thank Heather for everything she has done to make BYU women’s volleyball great. She poured her heart and soul into this program and guided incredible teams that have had consistent national relevance and success and represented BYU well. Her student-athletes have gone on to do remarkable things. We wish Heather all the best as she pursues new opportunities, and we will open a national search for a new women’s volleyball head coach immediately.”
There are a number of interesting candidates for BYU to consider.
Long-time assistant David Hyte was named as the interim coach. Former Cougar men’s player Rob Neilson just took Utah State to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, finishing 24-8 overall after an unbeaten (18-0) mark in the Mountain West Conference.
Former BYU men’s All-American and Olympic gold medalist Ryan Millar just completed his first season as head coach at Eastern Illinois, leading the Panthers to a Ohio Valley Conference title and an NCAA berth.
Other candidates who warrant consideration include Weber State head coach Jeremiah Larsen, University of San Diego associate head coach Carlos Moreno, University of Utah assistant Will Stanley, SMU assistant Trent Sorensen, current BYU assistant Daniel Jones, Nebraska assistant Jaylen Reyes, North Carolina State assistant Rob Browning, USA assistant coach Luka Slabe and former Cougar head coach Jason Watson, now at Arkansas.
