Erik Sullivan Opens Up About Team USA, UCLA Championships & LOVB Austin

Two-time Olympian Erik Sullivan joins Bump Set Chat to discuss his incredible volleyball journey from UCLA Bruins men's volleyball to the international stage with Team USA and now as the head coach of United States men's national volleyball team while also leading LOVB Austin.

We discuss:
🏐 His playing days at UCLA
🏅 Competing in two Olympic Games
🌍 Playing professionally overseas
🇺🇸 Coaching Team USA
🔥 Balancing Team USA and LOVB Austin
💪 Building championship culture
🎯 Advice for young volleyball players and coaches

If you love volleyball, coaching insights, and inspiring athlete stories, this episode is for you.

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@USAVolleyball @leagueonevolleyball @TeamUSA @TexasLonghorns
0:00
2:45 LOVB experience *
4:20 Brie **
5:15 ES background and discovering volleyball **
6:55 Indoor VB in Cali
7:30 the volleyball hook **
8:45 Path to UCLA *
10:30 memories at UCLA **
12:15 MB OH and LB played
14:00 1998 big rule changes ** Switched to Libero
15:15 the lost art of jawing at the net **
16:12 path to pro **
17:10 early years playing pro *
19:19 pro year memories *
20:50 Path to repping TEAM USA **
22:00 open tryout for USA *
23:00 Just figuring it out **
24:00 Daily tryout **
24:55 2000 team getting the word * Kevin Barnett*
26:00 Team USA Jersey **
28:17 non vball Olympic experience takeaway ***
30:10 Athens experience **
31:20 Knowing when to hanging it up **
33:20 Pro vball not rainbow and unicorns **
35:00 calling to coach *
37:25 Wife of pro athlete and coach **
38:55 Jerrett **
40:00 how Nebraska / Texas affected his philosophy - John Cook **
41:20 Texas being built *
42:35 Path to coaching TEAM USA *
44:33 catching in with John **
47:05 Holy crap moment **
48:50 Olympic qualifying games so stressful *
51:00 OLY qual moment **
52:20 the win or lose for the Olympics
53:10 TEAM USA coaching mindset **
56:20 Structuring and running efficient practices in TEAM USA gym
57:20 TEAM USA Culture **
58:05 Great quote
59:30 How do the elite players push the coach **
1:01:25 Most rewarding thing as a coach **
1:03:00 winning a natty doesn't solve your problems ** building relations s
1:04:00 Perspective **
1:06:10 fulfilling moments **
1:07:20 being in the moment not the big picture **
1:08:30 enjoy the moments **
1:10:30 Passing for the libero's **
1:12:30 learn asses and move on
1:13:00 Resetting **
1:14:55 freshman year at UCLA molded Erik **
1:16:15 CAT's question **
1:19:30 High Level program higher expectations ***
1:20:40 fake news libero setting **
1:22:14 new libero rules **
1:23:45 serving
1:24:11 Away from volleyball
1:25:35 book suggestions candy crush **
1:27:05 John and Tim Kelly ** bring it promotions **