MONROE, La. – Russ Friedland, who played an integral role in the turnaround of the East Carolina program the last two seasons, has been named ULM's 11th head volleyball coach, according to an announcement made by Athletics Director
Nick Floyd on Tuesday, Jan. 30. Friedland's hire is pending approval by the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System.
The 34-year-old Friedland established himself as one of the nation's up-and-coming assistant coaches during his two-year tenure at East Carolina under head coach Julie Torbett. In 2017, ECU finished 22-11 overall, including a single-season record 13 wins in American Athletic Conference play (13-7). The Pirates produced the most victories in a single season since 1982, its first 20-win season since 2005 and its first winning record since 2006. After being selected 11th in the AAC preseason poll, ECU posted its first winning league record since 2006 and its highest finish in any conference standings since 2000. In addition, ECU finished 2017 ranked No. 12 in the Midwest Region, according to the Rich Kern RPI (RKPI).
Last season, ECU produced Top 10 single-season marks in six statistical categories, including assists (fourth with 1,498), digs (fourth with 1,986), hitting percentage (fifth at .230), block assists (fifth with 434), kills (sixth with 1,608) and total blocks (ninth with 276.0).
Other 2017 season highlights include:
• Produced four 2-0 weekends in AAC play, including road sweeps of Temple and UConn.
• Completed season series sweeps of four AAC opponents: Cincinnati, Houston, Memphis and USF; defeated Temple and UConn in the teams' only regular-season meetings.
• Defeated Temple for the first time in program history; knocked off Tulsa for the first time since joining the AAC; and recorded its first-ever win at Cincinnati.
• Won six-straight conference matches from Oct. 1-20 (Tulsa, Temple, UConn, Tulane, Houston and Memphis).
• Posted a .358 hitting percentage in 3-0 win at Memphis – the highest figure ever for the team in an AAC match.
• Compiled a 13-7 record in home matches, winning the second-most home contests in a single season and the most since 1979.
• Won seven of nine home matches in AAC play, falling only to league champion Wichita State and second-place SMU (in five sets).
• Went 8-5 on the road, securing a winning record in road matches for the first time since 2006.
In 2015, ECU took a large stride in the rebuilding process, posting a 15-15 record – its first non-losing season since 2006. The Pirates started the season 10-0, putting together the longest winning streak in school history, and won every non-conference match for the first time in program history. ECU also won 12 matches away from Greenville, North Carolina, including seven true road victories as well as the first road weekend sweep of two AAC opponents (Tulane and Houston).
"We're excited to welcome Russ Friedland into the Warhawk family," Floyd said. "Russ has an outstanding background in volleyball, and he really made a positive impression on everyone he met with during his on-campus visit, including the student-athletes. We're really excited about the future of the ULM volleyball program under his leadership.
"He has gained the reputation as an outstanding recruiter, and he's been affiliated with programs that displayed vast improvement during his tenure. Those factors made him a very appealing candidate. During our search process, it became quite evident that Russ is ready to make the step from assistant to head coach."
"I'm grateful for the opportunity to step in and lead the ULM volleyball program," Friedland said. "I'd first like to thank
Nick Floyd,
Lisa Varytimidis and
Todd Dooley for giving me the chance to advance the volleyball program. After spending time with the student-athletes and administration during my visit, I was sold on ULM. The community and the people of Monroe were so welcoming, and I'm very excited to start working with both our beach and indoor programs."
Friedland previously spent three years as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at UNLV (2013-15). During his time in the Las Vegas Valley, the Rebels amassed a 58-34 record (.630), including three-straight winning seasons. UNLV finished two matches over .500 (16-14) in 2013 before going 26-7 in 2014.
Friedland mentored six student-athletes who went on to earn All-Mountain West honors, including Sekola Falemaka (2013), Allison Davies (2014), Daryn Glenn (2014), Bree Hammel (2014-15), Alexis Patterson (2014) and Katlin Winters (2014: honorable mention).
The 2014 campaign was a memorable one for Friedland and the Rebels as the team established single-season records for overall (26) and conference (14) wins. UNLV set seven program marks and tied five more while five players garnered All-Mountain West recognition, including Hammel who was named AVCA All-Pacific South Region honorable mention. The Rebels knocked off then-No. 7 Colorado State at home, marking the highest-ranked opponent ever defeated by UNLV.
Prior to his appointment at UNLV, Friedland served as a volunteer assistant coach at Tennessee in 2012, working with two-time National Coach of the Year Rob Patrick. The Lady Vols won 13 of their last 14 regular-season matches en route to a third-place finish in the SEC, a trip to the NCAA Tournament and a 22-8 final record. At Tennessee, he worked closely with the setters and defensive specialists, coordinated video breakdown and exchange, and helped manage the summer camps program.
Friedland spent four years as head coach of the Metro American Volleyball Club in Washington, D.C., leading the MAVBC 18-South (2008-09) and 17-Travel (2009-12) teams. His 17-Travel squad won back-to-back South Atlantic titles in 2010 and 2011, earned the No. 1 ranking in the Chesapeake Region in 2012 and qualified for multiple girls Junior National Championships. During his tenure at the club, he coached over 30 future NCAA Division I and II student-athletes.
While running the club team, Friedland also worked during the 2011 season as an assistant coach at Howard where he helped the Bison advance to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament.
His other coaching experiences include stops at George Washington (2009), American (2008), Daniel Webster College (head women's and men's coach, 2007), Endicott College (2006) and UConn (2004).
A native of Mansfield, Connecticut, Friedland earned a Bachelor of Science in sport management (2005) and a Master of Business Administration (2006) from Endicott College in Beverly, Massachusetts. He was a four-year letterman on the Gulls' men's volleyball team (2002-05).
