GEORGETOWN, Ky. – Georgetown College Vice President for Athletics Chris Oliver has named Eric Snyder as the Tigers’ fourth head coach of the men’s volleyball program on Tuesday.
“We’re happy to welcome Eric Snyder as the new leader of our men’s volleyball program. Coach Snyder brings significant quality experience to our athletic department, and he has built very strong programs on both the men’s and women’s sides throughout his head coaching career,” Oliver said. “I look forward to seeing him put his stamp on the Tiger men’s volleyball program on and off the court as we continue our championship pursuits.”
Snyder arrives at Georgetown after most recently serving as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at the University of North Carolina-Wilmington, an NCAA Division I member of the CAA.
Prior to UNCW, Snyder served as the inaugural head men’s volleyball coach at Bethel University (IN) and was charged with establishing the first Pilot men’s volleyball program. He also served as an assistant athletic director and helped the women’s program reach the NAIA National Tournament as an assistant coach for the Lady Pilots.
Overall, Snyder boasts a collegiate head coaching record of 165-93 on the men’s side as well as a 125-104 mark with the women.
“I am incredibly excited to join Georgetown College and help lead the men’s volleyball program. This is a tremendous opportunity to build on a championship-level foundation already in place and create a culture centered on academic and athletic excellence, player development, the student-athlete experience, and competing at the highest level,” Snyder said. “I am grateful to Athletic Director Chris Oliver for granting me this opportunity and challenging me to bring the men’s volleyball program back to national prominence. I am looking forward to working with the current student-athletes, connecting with a great group of men’s volleyball alumni, and finding talented future Tigers that will join a valued tradition of success that has been built since the program’s inception.”
Prior to his time at Bethel, Snyder served at times as both the men’s and women’s volleyball coach at Mid-South Conference member Campbellsville University from 2018-2022.
Snyder started at Campbellsville as the women’s coach for his first two seasons in 2018 and 2019 before coaching only the men’s side from 2019 to 2022.
He guided the men’s program at Campbellsville to four consecutive 20-win seasons and a pair of NAIA national tournament appearances. The Tigers compiled a record of 94-24 during his tenure, including a 26-5 mark in 2021.
Snyder was named the 2020 AVCA/NAIA National Coach of the Year as well as the 2020 Mid-South Conference Coach of the Year.
Before his time at CU, he led Warner University to a 17-3 record and won the conference regular-season title after going 12-0. The Royals lost in the tournament finals to end their year.
Prior to his time at Warner, Snyder spent three seasons at Coker College. He led the Cobra men’s volleyball program to two of their best seasons in program history. While under his direction, the program ranked as high as No. 23 in the NCAA DI/DII RPI poll.
In 2015-16, Coker finished the season ranked No. 1 in DI/DII with 2.05 aces per set. It was the first NCAA statistical championship in the program’s history. During the 2016-17 season, Snyder not only scheduled some of the toughest non-conference opponents (Penn State, Ohio State, Harvard, Princeton), but he also created an IVA (Independent Volleyball Association) postseason tournament to allow independent NCAA Division II men’s programs an opportunity to play for a postseason championship.
Before his time at Coker, Snyder spent time as an assistant coach at both Kennesaw State University and Emory University, where he helped the Emory Eagles to the Final Four and a 34-5 record.
Before coaching at Emory, he served as the head women’s volleyball coach for two years at the United States Coast Guard, compiling a 44-20 record. He led the Bears to an ECAC Division III New England Championship and a share of the NEWMAC regular season championship with a record of 26-6 overall and an 8-1 record in conference play in 2011.
Snyder was also the head coach at the University of Mary in 2009 and Stonehill College during the 2007 and 2008 campaigns. While at Stonehill, he led the Skyhawks to a 21-11 record in 2008. It was the first time that program reached the 20-win mark since 1997. For his efforts, Snyder was named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association’s (AVCA) Thirty Under 30 Award List, an award that honors thirty of the up-and-coming coaches under 30 years of age in volleyball at all levels of the game.
Snyder’s assistant coaching stops include the men’s program at Emmanuel College (MA) as well as the women’s program at Bentley University. While at Emmanuel, Snyder helped guide the nationally ranked Saints to the best record in program history, 28-9, in 2011.
Snyder also served as a Graduate Assistant Coach at Tiffin University as they made the transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II.
Snyder served as a student assistant for the women’s program as an undergraduate at Southern New Hampshire University, where he helped lead the team to their first-ever NE-10 Conference Tournament appearance. He also played on the men’s team and helped lead the Penmen men’s volleyball program its first-ever New England Collegiate Volleyball League tournament appearance in 2004.
He received a bachelor’s degree in sport management/business administration from Southern New Hampshire and holds a master’s degree in business administration from Tiffin University.