PROVO -- Ryan Millar has announced that he will return to the U.S. National team and professional volleyball and will not pursue the vacant men's volleyball head coaching position at BYU.
"My experience last season at BYU was great," Millar said. "I wouldn't trade it for anything. It gave me a great coaching experience for the future and helped recharge my competitive drive to make me want to play again."
Millar, who served alongside Shawn Patchell as interim co-head coaches during the 2007 season, coached one year at BYU after a stellar four-year playing career (1996-99) for the Cougars. Millar is currently training with the U.S. National team in the World League tournament. Team USA has played matches in Portland, Ore. and Green Bay, Wis. He is currently mulling over offers to play professionally in Greece, Poland, Russia or Italy.
As a coach, Millar led BYU to a 23-6 overall record and an 18-4 MPSF record, good for second place in the regular season. The Cougars spent two weeks as the consensus No. 1 team during the 2007 season and won their first postseason match in three years.
"Ryan was a great asset to our volleyball program," said BYU Director of Athletics Tom Holmoe. "He helped us through a difficult transition and for this I am truly grateful. We will miss his energy, drive and experience, but wish him well as he represents our country and furthers his professional playing career."
Millar starred for BYU as a player. He is the only Cougar men's volleyball player to earn All-America honors in all four years. Millar was named to the freshman team in 1996 and to the first team his subsequent three seasons as a player. Millar holds three single-match school records, four single-season records and seven career records. In 1999, to cap his senior season, Millar led BYU to its first Volleyball National Championship.
After his collegiate career, Millar joined the USA National Team and has played with Team USA since 1999. He played in the 2000 Sydney Olympics and the 2004 Athens Olympics.
In 2006, Millar lead Team USA to a Gold Medal finish and a perfect 6-0 record at the First Annual Pan American Cup in Mexicali, Mexico. He played in the prestigious FIVB World League. Even though he missed six matches due to the birth of his son, Millar led Team USA in total blocks and blocks per game. Millar earned "Best Blocker" accolades at the season-ending FIVB World Grand Champions Cup as the United States won the silver medal with a 4-1 record in 2005
He played professionally with Bossini Montichiari in Italy in 2001 after playing for Volley Forli in 2000. In 1999, Millar started at middle blocker on the second-place America's Cup team. Millar has played Internationally with either the US National Team or professional club volleyball in South America, North America, Europe, Asia and Australia.