| THE ARRIAGA FILE |
PERSONAL
Hometown: Denver, Co.
College: Stanford University (Bachelor of Science in Biology) 2015
COACHING RESUME
2020-Present: UTA (Assistant Coach)
2017-19: Loyola Maryland (Assistant Coach)
2016: George Mason (Assistant Coach)
2015: Colorado (Technical Coordinator)
2013-15: Stanford (Student Assistant Coach)
PLAYING CAREER
Stanford University: 2012 |
UTA volleyball head coach J.T. Wenger announced the addition of Eric Arriaga to his coaching staff in February 2020. Arriaga joins the Mavs after spending the last three seasons in a similar role at Loyola University Maryland.
2021 saw the Mavericks capture their highest Sun Belt Conference Tournament seeding since joining the league, as UTA earned the No. 2 seed in the SBC West. Alli Wells was once again named SBC All-Conference and she became the 18th member of the 1,000 career dig club. Briana Brown was named First Team All-Conference.
In Arriaga's first season as assistant coach, four Mavericks earned Sun Belt Conference postseason accolades, including Alli Wells being named Libero of the Year. UTA ended the fall regular season by defeating #11 Texas State 3-0 in San Marcos.
Arriaga, who spent the 2016 season as an assistant coach at George Mason, served as an assistant during the 2017, 2018 and 2019 seasons with the Loyola University Maryland volleyball program.
A 2015 graduate of Stanford University, where he was a member of the men's volleyball team, Arriaga was a technical coordinator at the University of Colorado during the 2015 season.
At Loyola he coached the 2018 Rookie of the Year and two-time Libero of the Year (Katie Forsythe). Forsythe, who also earned 2019 ECAC Defensive Player of the Year honors, became the first player to earn multiple Patriot League Libero of the Year honors since 2013 and the fastest player in Patriot League and Loyola history to reach 1,000 career digs.
In his time at George Mason, Arriaga helped the Patriots to their longest Atlantic-10 Conference winning streak since the program joined the league, and the program set a school record for single-match digs with 126. Arriaga assisted with player development and training in all positions while he also contributed to the team's recruiting, marketing and scouting efforts.
After he graduated from Stanford with a Bachelor of Science in biology, Arriaga returned to his home state as the technical coordinator for the Colorado women's program. He helped the Buffaloes to a 19-13 overall record and their first-ever win over his alma mater. Arriaga assisted the Colorado coaching staff with opponent scouting, statistical analysis and video coordination.
A native of the Denver area, Arriaga joined the Stanford men's volleyball team as a walk-on outside hitter and defensive specialist in 2012. That season, Stanford reached the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation title match and finished with a 22-7 overall record.
After an injury curtailed his playing career, he continued with the program as a student assistant coach from 2013-2015. In 2014, the team finished as the NCAA Division I Runners-Up.
He also has worked as a club coach for the Boulder Athletic Club in Colorado and NVVA Volleyball Club in Virginia.
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT ARRIAGA
“Eric has a strong drive and determination that has allowed him to leave a positive mark on every program he has been a part of. It has been wonderful watching him evolve as a coach and recruiter the past few years.”
- Jackie Simpson-Kirr
Former George Mason Head Women’s Volleyball Coach, now Associate Head Coach/Recruiting Coordinator at Clemson University
“I am really excited to add Eric to the UTA Volleyball program. He has fantastic experience at many different levels of Division I collegiate volleyball. Eric has a great track record at recruiting to the programs he has worked with, and he knows how to develop talent in the gym. He is very cerebral about the game and is passionate in all of his endeavors: I know he will add to our program immediately.”
- J.T. Wenger
UTA Head Volleyball Coach
