Volleyball Hires Heather Olmstead

PROVO, Utah—BYU women’s volleyball announced the hiring of Heather Olmstead as assistant coach, finalizing the coaching staff for the 2011 season.

“We are excited and fortunate to add Heather to our coaching staff here at BYU,” head coach Shawn Olmstead said. “Her experience both as a player and coach will allow her to make an immediate impact on our team.  She is very well known and respected in this region and so we look forward to her ‘hitting the ground running’ in terms of recruiting.”

Heather Olmstead comes to BYU after six years as assistant women’s volleyball coach at Utah. During her time with the Utes, the team won two conference championships and reached the Sweet 16 of the 2008 NCAA Tournament. The Utes went 103-51 during her six years as assistant coach.

Prior to coaching at Utah, Olmstead was an assistant coach at her alma mater, Utah State during the 2003-2005 seasons. The team reached the 2005 NCAA Tournament with her on the coaching staff.

Olmstead played volleyball for Utah State from 1998-2001. While at Utah State, she recorded a single-season school record for most digs with 340 and the second-most career digs with 981.  The Aggies went to the second round of the NCAA Tournament her senior year and ended the season ranked No. 21.

She followed her college career with a year in the European Professional Volleyball League and was the only libero selected for the United States Professional Volleyball Team in the 2002-03 season.

“I feel honored to join Shawn and Emillie on their coaching staff and become a part of the rich volleyball tradition BYU has created,” Olmstead said. “It’s an incredible opportunity that BYU has given me to be able to coach with Shawn and I appreciate that.  I’m excited to work together to get this team the best that it can possibly be.”

Olmstead, the sister of head coach Shawn Olmstead, is the daughter of Rick and Trudy and is the fourth of seven children. She enjoys playing beach volleyball, snowboarding, hiking and traveling.