PUEBLO, Colo. (Feb. 14, 2025) – Colorado State University Pueblo head volleyball coach Austin Albers has announced he is stepping down effectively immediately as the ThunderWolves head coach for another head coaching position.

"Austin joined our staff in December 2018 and worked tirelessly to elevate our program. He brought a high level of energy, vision for the program and passion for the student-athlete experience. I'm grateful for Austin's outstanding service to CSU Pueblo, Pack Athletics and our volleyball program," said CSU Pueblo Vice President of Athletics and Strategic Partnerships Dr. Paul Plinske. "He did a great job and will be missed. I'd like to wish Austin, Maggie and their family all the best as they transition to this new opportunity."

Albers recently completed his sixth season directing the ThunderWolves volleyball program and during his time at CSU Pueblo, he has raised the level of Pack Volleyball as he compiled a 93-61 overall record and a 65-28 mark in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference matches and led the program to back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Division II Regional Tournament in 2021 and 2022 as the Pack posted a combined record of 39-18 overall and went 25-11 in the RMAC and he also coached five AVCA All-Americans with the Pack. He also led the program to RMAC Tournament appearances in all six of his seasons in Pueblo and the program won back-to-back RMAC Brechler Awards in 2021-22 and 2022-23.

"I am incredibly grateful for my time at CSU Pueblo and the opportunity to lead this program for the past six years. My departure is bittersweet because of the relationships I've built, especially with the amazing student-athletes and assistant coaches who have given so much to this program. I'm proud of the work we've done together and know that I'm leaving the program in a better place." Albers said. "I want to thank Dr. Plinske for believing in me and trusting in me to rebuild this program. My experience at CSU Pueblo has helped me grow both personally and professionally and as my family and I move on to other opportunities, we are forever thankful to have been a part of the Pack Family."

Prior to Albers' arrival at CSU Pueblo, the Pack Volleyball program hadn't had a winning season since posting a 17-12 record under head coach Jen Gomez in 2014. In the four seasons after that 17-12 record, the Pack had posted a combined overall record of 32-76 and a 25-47 mark in RMAC matches.

Albers was named the seventh volleyball head coach in school history on Dec. 18, 2018 and led the Pack to  14-14 overall record and an 11-7 mark in his first season directing the program in 2019. The 11 RMAC wins were the most for the program since also winning 11 league matches in 1997. In the COVID-19 season of 2020, Albers led the Pack to an 11-4 overall record and a 9-2 mark in the RMAC, before recording a 20-9 record in 2021 and a 19-9 mark in 2022. Albers' 2023 squad was 13-14 overall and finished fifth in the RMAC with a 10-4 record, while his 2024 squad posted a 16-11 record and was fifth in the RMAC with a 9-5 record.

Before coming to CSU Pueblo, Albers spent five seasons as the head volleyball coach at Laramie County Community College, where he produced a 145-57 record and left the program as the all-time win percentage leader (.718) and earned the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) 30 Under Thirty Award in 2016. While at Laramie County, Albers was named a two-time Wyoming Community College Athletic Conference (WCCAC) Coach of the Year and the NJCAA D-I District Coach of the Year in both 2017 and 2018. He led Laramie County to 25 or more win in each of his five seasons and guided the team to the NJCAA Division I National Tournament in 2017 and 2018 and the program also captured Region IX regular season and tournament title those same two seasons.

Prior to becoming the head coach at Laramie County, Albers spent two years as an assistant coach at Sheridan College and began is coaching career as an assistant coach at Black Hills State University for three seasons, where he worked for his father, Jhett Albers, who was the head volleyball coach at BHSU for 11 years and also served as the school's athletic director.

He graduated from Black Hills State University in May 2012 with a bachelor's degree in Exercise Science Management and a minor in Athletic Coaching. He played collegiate soccer at Western Nebraska Community College before transferring to BHSU.

Dr. Plinske said that assistant coach Annemarie Chin will be elevated to interim head coach for the Pack program and a national search will commence to find Albers' replacement.

"Annemarie (Chin) will be elevated to interim head coach as we conduct a national search. It's our goal to have someone in place for a part of spring ball so preparations can begin for the fall campaign," added Dr. Plinske.

TRANSACTIONS: CSU Pueblo head volleyball coach Austin Albers has stepped down from his position after six years to pursue another head coaching opportunity.