Elite Volleyball Leadership
Alan Knipe
Olympic Coach. NCAA Champion. Hall of Fame Leader.
Olympic Coach
USA Volleyball
4× NCAA National Champion
Long Beach State
USA Volleyball Hall of Fame
Recognized at the highest level
20+ Years Collegiate Coaching Experience
Elite program leadership
From Player to Champion Coach
Alan Knipe is the head coach of the Long Beach State Men’s Volleyball Team, one of the most successful programs in NCAA history. A former 1991 NCAA Champion as a middle blocker for CSULB, he has transformed the program into a powerhouse with a career coaching record of 445–170 (.724).
Born
January 1, 1969 — Huntington Beach, CA
Education
California State University Long Beach, Marina High School
Career Highlights
NCAA Champion (1991), Final Four appearances, multiple NCAA titles as Head Coach
Building a Culture of Excellence
Player Development
Mentored dozens of All Americans & Olympian
Winning Tradition
Multiple NCAA Championships as Head Coach
National Recognition
Respected leader in U.S. volleyball and former U.S. Men’s National Team Head Coach
2012 London Olympics Alan Knipe
Three-time AVCA National Coach of the Year Alan Knipe has created a winning culture at Long Beach State. A living part of Long Beach State men’s volleyball history, Knipe is the only person in program history to have been a part of all four LBSU National Championships. Knipe was a player on the 1991 squad that captured the program’s first ever National Title, before coming back to his alma mater as a head coach and leading the Beach to the school’s first ever back to back NCAA National Championships in 2018 and 2019.
In 2025, Knipe added a new chapter to his legacy, guiding Long Beach State to a 30-3 overall record on the way to the program’s fourth NCAA National Championship with a 3-0 sweep of UCLA behind National Player of the Year and worldwide sensation Moni Nikolov.
In 22 seasons at the helm of the Long Beach State men’s volleyball program, Knipe has guided the Beach to ten NCAA Final Fours – eight in the last nine seasons – three Big West Conference tournament championships, 13 MPSF tournament appearances, six Big West Tournament appearances, and four NCAA Championships.
Alan Knipe has built one of the greatest programs in college volleyball.
NCAA
Mentorship & Athlete Development
Coach Knipe is passionate about mentorship at every level:
Guiding college athletes into professional careers
Supporting Olympians on their path to global competition
Advising young coaches in building sustainable programs
Leading clinics where aspiring players gain direct mentorship
His legacy is measured not only in championships but in the leaders he develops on and off the court.
Alan Knipe Awards
A collection of coaching features, leadership resources, and athlete development highlights.
USA Volleyball Practice Overview
Practice overview for players.
Exclusive Coaches Clinics
With Alan Knipe, USA Men’s National Team Head Coach from 2009–2012.
Indoor Volleyball Setting
Verbal cues for setters and non-setters with Alan Knipe.
Volleyball Tip
Develop a mantra list to help deal with pressure by Alan Knipe.
Leadership & Life
The Great Coaches Leadership & Life features Alan Knipe as a volleyball player and coach. As a player, he was a Collegiate All-American and represented the USA Team.
Worldwide Philosophies
Alan’s influence extends across borders, sharing philosophies that go beyond volleyball:
Excellence is Habit
Winning cultures are built through consistency in daily habits.
Team Above Self
Individual greatness comes from elevating the whole.
Global Respect
His coaching and mentorship style has been shared across Europe, Asia, and the Americas.
