Sullivan named to replace Maes

Only moments after he was officially named as an assistant volleyball coach at Nebraska, Erik Sullivan sounded like someone who knew all about the challenges that face the Huskers.

The two-time Olympian spent the last four seasons as an assistant at Colorado, but his training began as an All-American at UCLA in the early 1990s. The Bruins won two national titles in his time there, and when they didn’t, some no doubt wondered what in the world happened.

“There, the thing we were always guarding against was becoming complacent,” Sullivan said Thursday. “I’m sure it’s very much like that at Nebraska.”

Nebraska head coach John Cook moved quickly in naming Sullivan to replace Lee Maes, the former NU assistant who was named head coach at Virginia earlier this month.

Cook said it was important to move quickly because of the number of other schools in need of assistants and with the start of spring practice at Nebraska barely a month away.

Sullivan, he said, fit the bill perfectly as someone who has played at the highest level and has a working knowledge of the Big 12 Conference.“I’m always building relationships with people who I think might someday be somebody I would look at for a coaching position,” Cook said. “Erik is really strong in the gym, and with a young team, I wanted somebody who was really a good trainer.

“And if you look at what he’s done as a player, you know he can compete.”

Sullivan spent eight years with the U.S. National Team. He played libero for Team USA in the 2004 Olympics in Greece, and in 2000, was co-captain of the U.S. team in Australia.

Sullivan coached the outside hitters and passers at Colorado. At Nebraska, he’ll coordinate Nebraska’s block and defense as well as share recruiting responsibilities with second-year assistant Lizzy Stemke.

Sullivan said he hopes to one day become a head coach, but for now, he’s eager to see how things are done inside a program where the support and success are unmatched.

“Nebraska does all the things that a lot of programs strive for,” he said. “And all those things are attractive to a coach. It’s the right job for me at this point in my life.”

The Encinitas, Calif., native begins work on Monday.