Josh Lauer Named UMSL Volleyball Head Coach

Lauer Awarded Head Coaching Position After One Year as Interim Coach

St. Louis, Mo. – The University of Missouri-St. Louis Athletic Director Pat Dolan has announced that Josh Lauer has been hired as the women’s volleyball head coach. Lauer served as the interim coach this past season for UMSL, and led the team to a 9-17 record in his first season at the collegiate level.

“In the short time Josh has been at UMSL, he has made a positive impact to the players, the department and the University,” said Athletic Director Pat Dolan. “We want Josh to be able to recruit talented student-athletes to the UMSL volleyball program and begin focusing and preparing on next year as soon as possible. With his ties to the Midwest volleyball clubs, I am confident he will be able to draw quality, local student-athletes to UMSL as well as student-athletes from around the Midwest area.”

This past season, Lauer served as the interim head coach for the Riverwomen, being hired for that position less than one week before the start of practice. He guided the team to a 9-17 record on the year and a ninth-place finish in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Lauer had one player earn all-conference honors, as freshman Claudia Medina was named a second team all-conference selection.

Lauer has been the head coach for the St. Louis CYC Volleyball Club since 1999 and has helped run one of the top volleyball clubs in the country. He has worked primarily with high school aged athletes in the past, serving as the head coach at the 16 and under level. Since joining the St. Louis CYC Volleyball Club, he has helped establish conditioning programs, skills clinics and developed offensive and defensive systems. During his tenure as coach, his teams have finished in the top five regionally every year and attended the USAV Nationals in both Open and Club divisions. Lauer has coached numerous players who have gone on to play college volleyball at the NCAA Division I, Division II and Division III levels.

Lauer graduated from Washington University – St. Louis with a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry and a minor in religious studies. He currently works as a senior research technician at Washington University – St. Louis in the School of Medicine Department. Lauer is a certified volleyball official, having worked at the high school and collegiate levels, and for the USAV Junior Nationals.