Rob Neilson enters his first season as head coach of BYU women’s volleyball after spending six years as the head coach at Utah State, where he established the Aggies as one of the Mountain West’s premier programs. During his tenure, Neilson led Utah State to five winning seasons, four 20-win campaigns, three Mountain West regular-season championships and three NCAA Tournament appearances. He compiled a 112-59 record, becoming just the third coach in program history to reach 100 wins. His teams also produced numerous all-conference, all-region and academic honors, while the Aggies posted their first conference championship since 2010 and went a program-record 18-0 in Mountain West play in 2025.
Neilson returns to BYU after previously spending nearly a decade in the Cougar men’s volleyball program as both a player and coach. As a player from 2003-06 he helped BYU to two conference championships and three NCAA Tournament appearances, finishing his career with a 91-31 record. A setter, Neilson recorded 2,790 career assists, which ranks among the top five in BYU’s rally-scoring history, while his 28 career solo blocks rank among the top 10 in program history. He earned All-MPSF honorable mention and Academic All-MPSF honors during his playing career and was named AVCA Player of the Week in 2005.
Following his playing career, Neilson remained at BYU as an assistant coach, working under Shawn Patchell from 2006-10 and serving as the program’s recruiting coordinator while overseeing player development. He served as BYU's interim head coach in 2011, leading the Cougars to a 20-8 record and a No. 2 national ranking. Neilson later served as an associate head coach, working with recruiting, player development, practice and match planning, scheduling, and donor and alumni relations. He helped guide the Cougars to two conference championships and the 2013 NCAA national championship match.
Neilson’s coaching career also includes extensive experience with USA Volleyball. He served as an assistant coach with the USA Youth National Team in 2011, helping the team compete at the Pan-American Cup and Youth World Championships. He later worked with the U.S. Men’s National Team, contributing to multiple international competitions and helping Team USA earn medals on the world stage. In 2017, Neilson was responsible for developing offensive game plans before transitioning to defensive responsibilities with the national team in 2018 and 2019.
In 2015, Neilson briefly stepped away from coaching to work for VolleyMetrics, where he gained experience in video and data analysis. That experience served as a bridge between his time with BYU and USA Volleyball and his eventual move into collegiate women’s volleyball. He joined Utah State in 2020 and quickly transformed the Aggies into a consistent conference contender.
Under Neilson, Utah State improved from a five-win team in his first season to 22 wins in 2021 and 2022, followed by 24-win campaigns in 2023 and 2025. The Aggies captured Mountain West championships in both seasons and added a Mountain West Tournament title in 2025. In 2025, Utah State went 18-0 in Mountain West play, won 22 straight matches and earned its first NCAA Tournament victory since 2001 with an upset of No. 7 seed Tennessee. His teams also combined competitive success with strong academic performance, producing numerous conference scholar-athletes and academic all-conference selections.
Neilson earned a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience at BYU in 2006, while also completing his MBA in 2013. He and his wife, Sarah, have five children, Etta, Liam, Charlotte, Whit and Lois.
Neilson returned to BYU on Dec. 23, 2025, nearly two decades after beginning his collegiate coaching career with the Cougars.
Experience
- BYU women's volleyball head coach (2026-pres.)
- Utah State women's volleyball head coach (2020-25)
- U.S. Men's National Team first assistant (2017-19)
- VolleyMetrics (2015-16)
- BYU men's volleyball associate head coach (2014-15)
- BYU men's volleyball assistant coach (2012-13)
- BYU men's volleyball interim head coach (2011)
- BYU men's volleyball assistant coach (2006-10)
Utah State Head Coach Highlights
- Compiled a 112-59 (.655) record in six seasons
- Just the third coach in program history to surpass the 100-win milestone and the first to do so since 1978
- Led the Aggies to a historic 2025 season with a 24-8 record, an 18-0 mark in Mountain West play, a Mountain West tournament title and a first-round upset of No. 7 seed Tennessee in the NCAA Tournament, USU’s first tournament win since 2001
- Helped Utah State to three Mountain West regular-season championships (2021, 23, 25) and two Mountain West Tournament titles (2022, 25)
- Three-time Mountain West Coach of the Year (2021, 23, 25)
- 2023 AVCA Pacific North Region Coach of the Year
- Coached 12 all-conference honorees, three all-region selections and one All-American
USA Volleyball Coaching Staff Highlights
- 2018 World Championship Bronze Medal
- 2019 World Cup Bronze Medal
- VNL Finishes: 2017 (4th), 2018 (3rd), 2019 (2nd)
- Head Coach for 2019 VNL Weekend in Bulgaria (2-1)
BYU Men's Volleyball Coaching Staff Highlights
- Named associate head coach in June 2014
- Helped lead BYU to a 26-5 record and an NCAA championship match appearance in 2013
- Assisted the Cougars to a 21-9 record and an NCAA semifinal finish in 2014
- Helped coach BYU to a 17-10 overall record in 2015
- Contributed to a 24-7 overall record in 2012
- Served as interim head coach in 2011, posting a 20-8 record and a No. 5 final national ranking
- Served as assistant coach under Shawn Patchell from 2007–10
Playing Career
- Starting setter at BYU in 2005 and 2006
- Member of BYU’s 2004 NCAA national championship team
- Named All-MPSF honorable mention and Academic All-MPSF in 2005 and 2006
- Earned AVCA Player of the Week honors in 2005
- Played under coaches Carl McGown and Tom Peterson
Education
- B.S. in Neuroscience, BYU (2006)
- MBA, BYU (2013)
Personal
- Hometown: Pacific Palisades, Calif.
- Served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Croatia
- Married to Sarah
- Has five children: Etta, Liam, Charlotte, Whit and Lois
Head Coach Record
| Year | Overall Record | Conference Record | Conference Finish | NCAA Tournament Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-21 | 5-10 (.333) | 5-10, MWC (.333) | 9th | — |
| 2021 | 22-9 (.710) | 14-4, MWC (.778) | T-1st | — |
| 2022 | 22-11 (.667) | 11-7, MWC (.611) | 4th | 0-1 (First Round) |
| 2023 | 24-7 (.744) | 17-1, MWC (.944) | 1st | 0-1 (First Round) |
| 2024 | 15-14 (.517) | 12-6, MWC (.667) | 2nd | — |
| 2025 | 24-8 (.750) | 18-0, MWC (1.000) | 1st | 1-1 (Second Round) |
| 6 Seasons | 112-59 (.655) | 77-28 (.733) | 5 Titles* | 1-3 (.250) |
*3 regular-season Mountain West Conference titles and 2 Mountain West tournament titles