OLYMPIA, Wash. — Michael Bryant is the new head coach for The Evergreen State College Volleyball Program.  “We are all excited to have Mike join our Athletic Department.  He brings extraordinary talent and professionalism to our volleyball program.  We are confident that Coach Bryant will inspire our student-athletes and energize fans,” said Athletic Director Sarah Works, “and we are particularly pleased with his impressive academic background and commitment to intellectual pursuits.”

Bryant is an experienced coach at the NCAA Division I and Division II levels.  In 2005, he served as the volleyball operations coordinator for the NCAA national champion volleyball team at University of Washington.  He comes to Evergreen Athletics after positions as Assistant Coach at Seattle University, the University of Idaho and the University of Pittsburgh.

In addition to Bryant’s impressive coaching background, he also “is a pleasant guy to spend time with,” said Evergreen Track and Field Coach Jason McConnell.    Similar opinions came from Evergreen’s student-athletes, upon hearing the news of Coach Bryant’s hiring.    Evergreen Freshman Mackinnon Walsh proclaimed “Yes! I am so excited! Oh happy day!”

As an athlete, Bryant played on the men’s volleyball team at Foothill College in the San Francisco bay area where he earned honors as a Varsity All-League Setter, and he played on the Men’s volleyball club team at the University of Washington.  In addition, Bryant was named MVP for the USAV Puget Sound Region.

Bryant graduated with a BA in Sociology from the University of Washington in 1996.  He earned a Master’s degree in Sports Administration from Seattle Pacific University in 2001.  He is currently pursuing his PhD, with research areas related to sociological and academic issues in intercollegiate athletics.