Elaine Michaelis

Elaine Michaelis guided BYU’s women’s volleyball program for 40 seasons before retiring from coaching in May 2002. She also served as Director of Women’s Intercollegiate Athletics at BYU from 1995-2004, overseeing one of the country’s most successful intercollegiate women’s athletics programs.

A legend in the coaching profession, Michaelis retired as the all-time leader in victories among female coaches and second overall in collegiate volleyball at any level with 886 wins (which included only the 33 seasons since volleyball records were maintained at BYU starting in 1969). She currently ranks fourth overall in Division I women’s volleyball victories, trailing only UCLA’s Andy Banachowski, Hawai’i’s Dave Shoji and Penn State’s Russ Rose. When Michaelis retired from coaching, only six other female coaches (all softball coaches) had ever achieved more wins than Michaelis in an NCAA Division I sport.

Shawn Olmstead

Shawn Olmstead was named the head coach of BYU women's volleyball before the 2011 season after serving as an assistant coach for three seasons on the squad.

During his four season at the helm of the Cougars, Olmstead guided his team to a 103-25 overall record, including two West Coast Conference titles. He coached his team to three-straight NCAA Tournament trips, which included back-to-back regional semifinal appearances. In his final season at the head of the BYU squad, Olmstead led his team to the first NCAA Tournament national championship apperance in program history. The team finished with a 30-5 overall record and Olmstead was named the AVCA Coach of the Year, the Pacific South Region Coach of the Year and the WCC Co-Coach of the Year.

Jason Watson

Jason Watson was named the head coach of BYU’s women’s volleyball program on Feb. 17, 2005, after serving for three years as an assistant with the team.

In his three seasons at the helm, he compiled a 74-18 (.804) overall record while leading the Cougars to three straight NCAA Tournament appearances and a return to the national rankings. He was named the Mountain West Conference Coach of the Year in 2005 after posting a 25-4 record in his first season as a head coach and leading the Cougars to their first MWC regular-season title since 1999. In 2007, he guided the Cougars to the NCAA Tournament Regional Finals for the first time since 1998 and helped the program achieve a national ranking as high as No. 9.

Karen Lamb

Karen Lamb spent three years as head coach of the BYU women’s volleyball program after replacing the legendary Elaine Michaelis from 2002-04. Lamb continued BYU’s winning tradition in her three seasons, compiling a 57-39 record and moving BYU to 943 all-time wins in the 36-year recorded history of the program, which ranked third among NCAA Division I teams. An assistant to Michaelis for eight seasons preceding her promotion, Lamb spent 20 years in the collegiate coaching ranks, including 12 years as a head coach and two years coaching with the U.S. National Team.

At BYU, Lamb led the Cougars to their biggest single-season turnaround ever. After an uncharacteristic 2002 season that was plagued with an unprecedented number of injuries, Lamb helped BYU achieve a 10-win improvement in 2003 with another 20-win season -- its 29th 20-win season in the prior 30 years -- with a 24-9 record. The Cougars also made their 21st NCAA Tournament appearance in 2003, upsetting New Mexico State, which was riding a 24-match win streak, before falling to No. 2 Hawai’i in the second round. In 2004 the Cougars continued their winning ways with a 19-11 season behind the nation’s No. 2 blocker Lindsy Hartsock. Despite failing to earn an NCAA Tournament berth for only the third time in the Tournament’s history, BYU placed four athletes on the 2004 All-Mountain West Conference team, bringing Lamb’s total of all-conference performers to nine.

Shay Goulding

Shay Goulding was named the head coach of the BYU women's volleyball program on Feb. 27, 2008 and in her three years at the helm she achieved a 43-42 record and helped BYU to 1,060 all-time wins. Goulding coached the Salt Lake Community College Bruins prior to coaching the Cougars. A four-time NJCAA District I Coach of the Year and two-time American Volleyball Coaches Association West Region Coach of the Year, Goulding guided her SLCC teams to four NJCAA Tournament berths, placing as high as second.

Assistant coaches
Jonny Neeley 2016-17 (2)
Charlene Johnson Whitted 2015 (1)
Dave Hyte 2014-15-16-17 (4)
Heather Olmstead 2011-12-13-14 (4)
Emillie Toone Checketts 2011-12-13 (3)
Maegan Alme 2010 (1)
Shawn Olmstead 2008-09-10 (3)
Mike Wilton 2009 (1)
Chelsea Goodman 2008 (1)
Brent Aldridge 2005-06-07 (3)
Brooke Huebner 2004-05-06-07 (4)
Jason Watson 2002-2003-2004 (3)
Mari Carpenter 2002-03 (2)
Karen Lamb 1997-98-99-00-01 (5)
Les Calles 1993-94-95-96 (4)
Stephanie Trane 1993-94-95-96-97-98-99-00-01 (9)
Sari Stevens 1989-90-91 (3)
Jim Brinton 1987 (1)
Kenny Tonks 1988-89-90-91-92 (5)
Craig Choate 1985-86-87-88 (4)
Tom Peterson 1982 (1)
Carl McGown 1981-82-83-84-85-86 (6)
Matt McShane 1980 (1)
Sharon Islava 1979-80 (2)
Malia Ane 1976-77 (2)

Volunteer assistant coaches
Chris McGown 2009-10 (1)
Lindsy Hartsock 2007 (1)
Nina Puikkonen Mortsenen 2005-06 (2)
Anna-Lena Nielsen 2004 (1)
Ashley Eyre 2003 (1)
Karen Curtis-Lamb (3)

Undergraduate assistant coaches
Rachel Greene 1998 (1)
Charlene Johnson 1995 (1)
Cynthia Reeves 1995 (1)
KaLani Curtis 1994 (1)
Michelle Fellows-Lewis 1994 (1)
Rebecca Molen 1993 (1)
Stephanie Trane 1992 (1)
Diane Campbell 1988 (1)
Sari Stevens 1987-88 (2)
Karen Curtis-Lamb (1)