Sam Wittert

Sam Wittert discovered his passion for volleyball in middle school and soon began training under two-time Olympian Liane Sato at Santa Monica High School in Los Angeles. He was recruited in 2017 to play for UC Santa Cruz and in his sophomore season, served as the starting setter during the team’s run to a 2019 NCAA Division III National Championship runner-up finish—the highest in program history. After completing his final two seasons as team captain, Sam graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and began coaching in the Santa Cruz community.

He has since coached with Kinnect Volleyball Club, Main Beach Volleyball Club, and in 2023, ran the boys’ volleyball program at Soquel High School. Over the last two years, he has spent his summers co-directing Nike Volleyball Camps at UCSC, working with hundreds of middle and high school athletes from all over the country. Most recently, Sam concluded his third season as the Assistant Coach for the UC Santa Cruz Women’s Volleyball program.

Sam is a relational leader who blends his background in psychology with a deep passion for high-level competition. He is grateful for the opportunity to work with developing athletes and dedicated coaches, drawing on teachings from Gold Medal Squared and USA Volleyball. Sam remains committed to building meaningful connections, challenging the athletes he leads, and continually expanding his coaching knowledge and approach to best serve the volleyball community.