MONROE, La. – ULM Head Beach Volleyball Coach
Michael Hobson was recognized as one of the American Volleyball Coaches Association's "Thirty Under 30 Beach" in an announcement from the AVCA Wednesday afternoon.
Hobson is in his first season as the head beach volleyball coach and is an assistant indoor volleyball coach at ULM.
The AVCA's "Thirty Under 30 Beach" award was created in 2021 to honor up-and-coming beach coaching talent at all levels of the sport. The rising stars are hard-working, passionate about teaching and demonstrate dedication to the fast-growing sport of beach volleyball.
"I want to thank
Charlie Olson and
Erika Cheung on giving me this opportunity to lead the beach team," Hobson said. "Also, a huge thank you to the current team who have made this transition easy. It is great to feel all the hard work I've put in through my career pay off and be recognized. This award gives me the motivation to keep improving and keep working."
"I'm ecstatic about this recognition for Michael," ULM Director of Volleyball
Charlie Olson said. "He's come into this new role, embraced it and excelled in every facet of our game. I'm confident he will continue to elevate ULM Beach to new heights, bringing in a different look to how we train, recruit, scout, and compete. The future is definitely bright and in great hands."
Hobson, a native of Cambridge Springs, Pennsylvania, came to ULM after two seasons at Seattle U, where he helped the Redhawks navigate the COVID-19 pandemic-shortened 2021 spring season and bounce back for a full season in the fall of 2021.
Prior to Seattle U, he spent two seasons as the Director of Volleyball Operations at Texas Tech. He also spent time as an assistant coach at Bucknell, helping the Bison improve their 2017 win total by nine games.
He spent one season as a graduate assistant coach at Northwest Missouri State in 2015-16, coaching middle and pin hitters both offensively and defensively. He helped the Bearcats post a winning record and had four players named to the All-Mid America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Team, the program's most since 1985. He also specialized in video and statistical analysis for the team.
Statistics have been a specialty for Hobson, who started his coaching career as a technical director for the Penn State men's volleyball team in 2013. He spent two seasons with the Nittany Lions, who earned two straight trips to the NCAA Final Four. In addition to his statistical and video expertise using Data Volley and Data Video software, he helped with the coordination and running of practices, as well as scouting reports for upcoming opponents. He also prepared scouting reports and video analysis before each game.
Hobson is a 2015 graduate of Penn State and a 2016 graduate of Northwest Missouri State University with a Master's of Science in applied health/sports sciences.
