Spiking on the competition

For men’s club coach, volleyball is more than just a game to play

COACH — Bryan Rigg is in his  fifth season at the helm of the men’s volleyball club team. Photo Credit: Leah Seavers

COACH — Bryan Rigg is in his fifth season at the helm of the men’s volleyball club team.
Photo Credit: Leah Seavers

Volleyball is Bryan Rigg’s life.

Rigg has been involved with the sport since he was a child, and his interest has carried him to his current position as head coach of the men’s club volleyball team at Liberty University.

Rigg, who is in his fifth season as head coach, continues to take the men’s team to new heights as is evidenced by the tournament win in the East Coast Volleyball Association (ECVA) Saturday, Feb. 11.

This win secured the team’s position in the ECVA’s East Coast Championship.

Rigg had his first interactions with volleyball when he began playing on a church team with his parents around the 6th grade, branching into his high school career.

Looking beyond high school, Rigg wanted to find a college that would give him an opportunity to play volleyball.

“When I was graduating high school like most people who play sports, you probably think you’re better than you are,” Rigg said.

“I began to look and quickly realized that there’s no opportunities.”

The thought of attending Liberty had not crossed Rigg’s mind up until this point, but a series of events made it his only option.

“I had never visited Liberty,” Rigg said.

“I didn’t even know anything about it, but I just decided to come.It’s all in God’s providence, but I didn’t know anything about it. But, I’m absolutely so thankful that that’s the way that God directed me.”

After graduating from Liberty in 2007, Rigg went to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to pursue seminary school.

“While I was in Pennsylvania I coached high school boys’ volleyball and I was involved with a club up there as well, and I really just loved the volleyball scene, so I made more connections and networked up there.”

Rigg returned in 2010 for a job as a pastor in Lynchburg and found that Liberty had begun funding the club volleyball team, providing facilities and helping with traveling expenses, as well as hiring the team’s first coach, Johnathan Willows.

Still wanting to be involved with the sport, Rigg quickly asked to join on as an
assistant coach.

After only one year of assistant coaching, Willows asked Rigg if he would be willing to take over as head coach.

Rigg took him up on it, going to the length of switching jobs from his church in Lynchburg to taking up a part-time position as an associate pastor at Mercy Presbyterian Church in Forest, Virginia.

Since Rigg started coaching he set a goal for himself to improve every year.

The results are evident, with the team’s rankings rising each year — the most recent accomplishment being the tournament victory.

“Three years ago, I was voted national coach of the year by the National Collegiate Volleyball Federation,” Riggs said.

“Two years ago was our first trip to East Coast and Division I, and we finished second in the south, second on East Coast. Last year was our highest national ranking ever. This year’s our highest national ranking ever. It’s the first time we’ve ever won this initial playdate tournament — the first time we’ve ever made this qualification for East Coast. Every step of the way it’s something new that we do.”

The players are seeing the progress as well.

David Hong is the most senior player on the current team being in his fourth and final year.

“Winning the tournament this past weekend was huge for us,” Hong said.

“We haven’t won a tournament in two years. That was a big statement for us, especially since we reaffirmed that beating Virginia Tech wasn’t just all hype or emotion or luck — that we are the better team and that we were able to execute our game plan better and more efficiently than Tech did.”

Rigg said he wants to aim to be relational with his players and keep the focus on character while coaching.

“I am a very emotional person,” Rigg said.

“The guys on the team say that I’m probably the most competitive guy out there — more competitive than the players. I always enjoy the winning. always want to push for that, but I’ve turned my focus more towards being relational. It’s turned my focus towards developing a quality of men and a quality on our team versus the end result.”

Looking beyond the season, despite the potential for bigger opportunities, Rigg said he has no plans of leaving the team or Liberty.

“I’ve absolutely loved it so much that I don’t see myself ever not doing this,” Rigg said.

“There isn’t a day that I don’t enjoy doing it.”

Panyard is a sports reporter.

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