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The top assistant coach for BYU is getting a promotion for the upcoming season.
BYU announced last week that Rob Neilson was named the team’s associate head coach under Chris McGown.
Neilson has been on the Cougars’ coaching staff since 2007, including serving as McGown’s assistant coach for the last three seasons. In addition, Neilson was the team’s interim head coach for the 2011 season and helped guide BYU to a second-place finish in the MPSF before narrowly missing the at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.
“This change more accurately represents Rob’s role and assignments within our program, and the profound level to which he contributes to our success,” McGown said in a statement. “He’s one of the best coaches in the country—energetic, committed and knowledgeable, with a tremendous work ethic. He has a great vision for how athletics combine with the unique ideals of BYU, and he continues to help drive our team forward.”
Before joining the BYU coaching staff, Neilson was a member of the program’s 2004 national championship team and then spent two years as the Cougars starting setter.
BYU finished the 2014 season winning its second consecutive MPSF championship and reached the NCAA Tournament semifinals. The team also returns five starters for the upcoming season but will be without outside attacker Taylor Sander, a four-time All-American and the 2014 National Player of the Year.