Erin Virtue Joins U.S. Women's National Team Staff

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado, March 3, 2017 -– Erin Virtue, currently the women’s volleyball associate head coach at Northwestern University, has accepted a position with the U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team as a consultant assistant coach working with Karch Kiraly, the program’s head coach, for the 2020 Olympic quadrennial.

“Erin has done strong work coaching and supporting USA programs over the long haul, but she’s much more than that,” Kiraly said. “She’s dedicated to helping the people around her be the best version of themselves, and doing so with integrity and skill. Since that’s a prime aspiration here, that makes Erin a great fit, and makes us excited to see where our work together can lead.”

“I am truly honored and humbled to be called up to work with Karch and staff throughout this quad,” Virtue said. “I am excited to learn under Karch, as well as provide my best efforts for our USA athletes and the entire USA program in preparation for the 2020 Olympic Games.”

Virtue is no stranger to the USA gym as a player and coach within USA Volleyball’s High Performance pipeline. She served as head coach of the U.S. Girls’ Youth National Team that captured silver at the 2016 NORCECA Women’s U18 Continental Championship and qualifying Team USA to this year’s FIVB Women’s U18 World Championship.

As part of her work within USA Volleyball’s High Performance pipeline, she observed the coaching methods employed by Kiraly with the U.S. Women’s National Team and implemented the same fundamentals within the youth program she led. In total, Virtue has spent 11 seasons coaching in the High Performance program, mentoring athletes in the Select (U16), Youth (U18) and Junior (U20) age groups.

Virtue, who will continue working at Northwestern in the split role, is in her second season working with the Wildcat volleyball team.