USA Volleyball announced today the appointment of three-time Olympic medalist and International Volleyball Hall of Famer April Ross as Head Coach, Women’s Beach National Teams, making her the first female head coach in the program’s history. Effective immediately and reporting directly to General Manager, USA Beach Volleyball, Carolina “Gabi” Garbato, Ross will oversee high-performance leadership, strategy, and technical alignment for the Women’s Beach Senior National Team as Team USA prepares for the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour, FIVB Beach World Championships, and the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
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USA Volleyball Names Three-Time Olympic Medalist April Ross First Female Head Coach of Women’s Beach National Teams
“Stepping into this role for the Women’s Beach National Teams is an absolute honor,” said April Ross, Head Coach, Women’s Beach National Teams. “Having competed at the highest international level, I know firsthand the dedication and strategic precision required to stand on top of the Olympic podium. My focus is on cultivating an athlete-centered environment where our players and coaches have everything they need to perform at their best and win on the world stage leading up to LA28.”
Since joining USA Volleyball as Head of Coaching for Beach National Teams in May 2025, Ross has played a key role in developing national team coaches and athletes. As Head Coach, she will partner directly with Senior National Team athletes and Independent Contractor (IC) coaches as a collaborative support system, integrating USA Volleyball and USOPC sports science and performance resources to build a world-class program capable of winning Olympic and World Championship medals.
“Appointing April Ross as Head Coach of the Women’s Beach National Teams is a monumental step forward as we work to continuously elevate our beach program building toward the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles,” said John Speraw, President & CEO of USA Volleyball. “April brings an unrivaled athletic, coaching, and academic background to this leadership role. Paired with Gabi Garbato’s strategic vision, her unparalleled championship experience gives our women’s national team program extraordinary momentum and the high-performance standard needed to keep Team USA at the pinnacle of international competition.”
In addition to leading the Senior National Team, Ross will work closely with Matt Fuerbringer, Men’s Beach National Team Head Coach to guide pipeline coaching staff, aligning core technical standards and performance expectations across their respective pathways throughout the USA Volleyball Beach National Team Development Program (NTDP).
“April Ross represents the gold standard of beach volleyball, both in competitive achievement and leadership,” said Carolina “Gabi” Garbato, General Manager, USA Beach Volleyball. “Her deep understanding of high-performance athlete development, paired with her proven ability to mentor coaches and structure data-driven training environments, makes her uniquely qualified to lead our Women’s Senior National Team. April’s vision directly aligns with our goal of expanding the depth of U.S. women’s teams capable of winning medals on the global stage.”
About USA Volleyball
Founded in 1928, USA Volleyball is a nonprofit organization and recognized by the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB), and World ParaVolley as the National Governing Body (NGB) for the sport of volleyball in the United States. USA Volleyball is dedicated to building, creating, and supporting a safe, inclusive, and positive volleyball experience and a lifetime of opportunity for all. With more than 520,000 registered members, USA Volleyball conducts national championship events, coaching and official certification programs, and grassroots development across the disciplines of beach, indoor, sitting, and beach ParaVolley. For more information, visit usavolleyball.org and follow USA Volleyball on Instagram, Facebook, X, and TikTok.
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