Brian Solomon named Head Volleyball Coach at Tech
Butte-Montana Tech's Athletic Director Joe McClafferty announced Brian Solomon as the new head volleyball coach for the Orediggers.
"We had an outstanding pool of applicants," McClafferty said.
Solomon comes to Tech from Columbia College in Columbia, S. C. Columbia College is a member of the NAIA and the National Christian College Athletic Association. In five seasons with the Fighting Koalas, Solomon rebuilt the program three straight winning seasons from 2009-11.
In 2009, he led Columbia to their first ever 20 plus win season and finished third in the Southern States Athletic Conference and brought 10 SSAC awards to the school. Solomon was the SSAC Coach of the Year that season.
In 2009, he led Columbia to their first ever 20 plus win season and finished third in the Southern States Athletic Conference and brought 10 SSAC awards to the school. Solomon was the SSAC Coach of the Year that season.
In 2011, Columbia College joined the Appalachian Athletic Conference. Solomon achieved another 20 plus win season for the Koalas and took the team into the AAC tournament semi-finals. His players won the AAC Setter and Libero of the Year awards.
Solomon's teams were co-recipients of the NAIA's Champions of Character team award two years in a row (2009-10). As a school, Montana Tech had the second highest score in the nation for the award that recognizes competitive athletics, academic excellence and character values.
In addition to his coaching duties, Solomon was the Assistant Athletic Director for Academic Affairs at Columbia.
"We are very excited to have a person of Brian's character and coaching ability as our new head volleyball coach," McClafferty said. "We were attracted to the proven academic and athletic successes that Brian's teams have exhibited."
Before Solomon was a coach, he was a setter at Hope International in southern California. While at Hope, he led his team to a top ten ranking in NAIA men's volleyball for three seasons and back-to-back NCCAA National Championships in 2002 and 2003. He was an NCCAA All-American in 2003 and was named Hope International's Outstanding Male Athlete of the Year in 2004.
"Brian is a wonderful fit for Montana Tech," McClafferty added. "He is an energetic, technical, competitive coach who believes our athletes are students first."
