SAN FRANCISCO -- Academy of Art University Director of Athletics Brad Jones has announced Mike Gomez as the new head coach of the Urban Knights volleyball program. Familiar with the Pacific West Conference from his recent stint helming Holy Names volleyball, Gomez brings over six years of collegiate and club coaching experience into his role at ART U.

"We are pleased to announce Mike Gomez as our head volleyball coach," Jones said. "Mike is someone we have watched and have been aware of as he has led other volleyball programs and teams on the university and club level. We are excited to have him on our staff leading our volleyball program."

Building the HNU volleyball program to have one of its best seasons since becoming NCAA Division II members, Gomez guided the Hawks to a 14-14 overall record, 9-11 PacWest record, and ultimately seventh place in the conference standings in 2022. Holy Names also finished with three All-PacWest Team honorees, bettering the pair in 2020-21. Gomez, who assumed HNU's head coach position in 2018, steadily increased the program's win total each year as the Hawks were a competitive 27-35 overall from 2020-22.

The last five years did not mark the first stint for Gomez with HNU volleyball as he served as a volunteer assistant coach for the program in 2016 and from 2010-13. Prior to joining the PacWest in 2012, the Hawks enjoyed tremendous success within the California Pacific Conference both in 2010 and 2011 as Gomez worked alongside two-time Cal Pac Coach of the Year Dwight Combs, helping guide the team to back-to-back Cal Pac titles, a combined 23-0 conference record, and 13 All-Conference honorees including Player and Libero of the Year in both seasons.

"I'm beyond excited to begin my time as head coach for Academy of Art University and share my love of volleyball with another group of talented and devoted student-athletes," Gomez said. "Coach Breann [Robinson] has done amazing work instilling a culture of positivity and competitiveness within the volleyball program and I hope to continue to build upon the solid foundation that she leaves behind. I would be remiss not to mention my excitement to work alongside my college teammate and longtime friend in Coach Nick [Monroe]; his hard work, dedication, and passion for teaching the game of volleyball is a blessing to have in our gym. As a former PacWest head coach for HNU, I've always had a tremendous amount of respect for the ART U volleyball program and now as a member of the Urban Knight family, I can't wait to get to work with this team. I would like to thank our Director of Athletics Brad Jones and the rest of the athletic department support staff for this incredible opportunity."

Outside of his contributions to Holy Names, Gomez has worked as an assistant coach for various Rage Westside Volleyball Club teams in Belmont since 2019. He initially volunteered with the 18-U team in their 2019 run to Nationals then stepped in with the 16-U and 17-U squads who earned open division gold and bronze medals respectively the following season. He has since assisted the 17-U and 18-U teams from 2021 to today, simultaneously serving as a co-recruiting coordinator as well.

When he wasn't spending multiple seasons with Stanford's Summer Volleyball Camp, Gomez was the head indoor volleyball coach and beach volleyball director for nearly three years with Pulse Volleyball Club in Ripon. He was responsible for all aspects of directing and coaching progressively each year for the 17-U, 15-U, and 16-U and pioneered the beach program which saw three teams earn NCVA regional bids in the program's inaugural and subsequent seasons.

Prior to his most recent role leading Holy Names' volleyball team, Gomez could be found as the HNU athletics department's graduate assistant for athletic events and facilities from 2015-17. His responsibilities during that time included preparing event facilities in accordance with NCAA Division II protocols and assisting in the hiring process and management of student staff for institutional athletic events.

A four-year starter on the men's volleyball team at Holy Names, Gomez was a libero and outside hitter and served as team captain for two seasons prior to earning his bachelor's and master's degrees in English, culminating his academic career in 2017.