University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Photo by: Ross Turteltaub
Lugo-Rodriguez Promoted to Associate Head Coach
February 14, 2024 | Women's Volleyball
LOS ANGELES โ The UCLA women's volleyball program announced the promotion of Amir Lugo-Rodriguez from assistant coach to associate head coach Wednesday morning. Lugo-Rodriguez joined the program in 2023 as part of head coach Alfee Reft's first staff.
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In his first season at UCLA in 2023, Lugo-Rodriguez helped the Bruins to an 18-12 overall record and 10-10 mark in Pac-12 matches for a sixth-place finish in the conference standings. The Bruins' season was highlighted by three victories over top-25 opponents, including two on the road in the final three weeks of the season versus No. 9 Washington State and No. 24 USC. UCLA finished with a 7-3 record in its final 10 conference contests. Lugo-Rodriguez worked primarily with the Bruins' middle blocker group, which featured AVCA Honorable Mention All-American and All-Pac-12 selection Anna Dodson and Desiree Becker. Dodson and Becker led all Pac-12 blocking duos in the regular season with a combined 267 total blocks. As a team, the Bruins averaged 2.58 blocks per set.
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"Amir has been an absolute rock for our program in this inaugural season at UCLA," Reft said. "He has been instrumental in building a lasting infrastructure in how we train and has taken the role as our lead trainer in the gym. He is a dependable and effective leader who has shown great dedication to the continual growth and progress of our program. He undoubtedly makes us better in more ways than one and I could not be more thrilled to name him as our associate head coach."
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"I am extremely grateful for this opportunity," Lugo-Rodriguez said. "There is no place like UCLA, and I look forward to continuing to work with a great mind and leader like Alfee."
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Prior to UCLA, Lugo-Rodriguez helped restore two programs in Northwestern and California. In his two seasons as assistant for the Wildcats, Lugo-Rodriguez helped Northwestern achieve its first above-.500 season in eight years in 2022. In 2019, with Lugo-Rodriguez's assistance, California went 20-10 for its first 20-win season since 2011. During the campaign, he mentored Preslie Anderson, the Pac-12 Conference hitting percentage leader (.402) as well as three additional Bears who earned All-Pac-12 honors that season.
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Lugo-Rodriguez touts three years of U.S. National Team playing experience. He started as a middle blocker for Team USA in the 2017 World University Games and earned a preliminary roster spot for the 2015 Pan American Cup.
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The South Pasadena, Calif., native was a big contributor at Long Beach State from 2014-17. While playing for the 49ers, Lugo-Rodriguez earned AVCA First Team All-American honors his senior season, in addition to garnering Off the Block National Blocker of the Year and a Volleyball Magazine Second Team All-American. He was a three-time MPSF All-Academic selection, president of Long Beach State's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and helped lead Long Beach State to two straight NCAA Final Four appearances in 2016 and 2017.
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In his first season at UCLA in 2023, Lugo-Rodriguez helped the Bruins to an 18-12 overall record and 10-10 mark in Pac-12 matches for a sixth-place finish in the conference standings. The Bruins' season was highlighted by three victories over top-25 opponents, including two on the road in the final three weeks of the season versus No. 9 Washington State and No. 24 USC. UCLA finished with a 7-3 record in its final 10 conference contests. Lugo-Rodriguez worked primarily with the Bruins' middle blocker group, which featured AVCA Honorable Mention All-American and All-Pac-12 selection Anna Dodson and Desiree Becker. Dodson and Becker led all Pac-12 blocking duos in the regular season with a combined 267 total blocks. As a team, the Bruins averaged 2.58 blocks per set.
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"Amir has been an absolute rock for our program in this inaugural season at UCLA," Reft said. "He has been instrumental in building a lasting infrastructure in how we train and has taken the role as our lead trainer in the gym. He is a dependable and effective leader who has shown great dedication to the continual growth and progress of our program. He undoubtedly makes us better in more ways than one and I could not be more thrilled to name him as our associate head coach."
ย
"I am extremely grateful for this opportunity," Lugo-Rodriguez said. "There is no place like UCLA, and I look forward to continuing to work with a great mind and leader like Alfee."
ย
Prior to UCLA, Lugo-Rodriguez helped restore two programs in Northwestern and California. In his two seasons as assistant for the Wildcats, Lugo-Rodriguez helped Northwestern achieve its first above-.500 season in eight years in 2022. In 2019, with Lugo-Rodriguez's assistance, California went 20-10 for its first 20-win season since 2011. During the campaign, he mentored Preslie Anderson, the Pac-12 Conference hitting percentage leader (.402) as well as three additional Bears who earned All-Pac-12 honors that season.
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Lugo-Rodriguez touts three years of U.S. National Team playing experience. He started as a middle blocker for Team USA in the 2017 World University Games and earned a preliminary roster spot for the 2015 Pan American Cup.
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The South Pasadena, Calif., native was a big contributor at Long Beach State from 2014-17. While playing for the 49ers, Lugo-Rodriguez earned AVCA First Team All-American honors his senior season, in addition to garnering Off the Block National Blocker of the Year and a Volleyball Magazine Second Team All-American. He was a three-time MPSF All-Academic selection, president of Long Beach State's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and helped lead Long Beach State to two straight NCAA Final Four appearances in 2016 and 2017.
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Players Mentioned
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