Atlanta Vibe Add Beau Lawler as Assistant Coach for 2026 Season

The Atlanta Vibe are continuing to build momentum ahead of the 2026 Major League Volleyball (MLV) season with the addition of Beau Lawler as Assistant Coach. Lawler brings a wide range of coaching experience — from top collegiate programs to national team work — and has built a reputation for developing athletes and strengthening both defensive and offensive systems.

Lawler joins the Vibe fresh off the 2025 Athletes Unlimited season, where he worked as a Player Development Coach. In that role, he collaborated with elite professionals, focusing on skill refinement, performance, and overall athlete growth on and off the court.

Before stepping into the pro ranks, Lawler served as Associate Head Coach at Blue Mountain Christian University in Mississippi during the 2024 season and was also an assistant there in 2022. His time with the Toppers was marked by success: the team went 22-8 in 2024 and put together an incredible 34-3 run in 2022, finishing 19-1 in conference play and earning a trip to the NAIA National Tournament. For his work, Lawler was honored as the 2022 AVCA Northeast Region Assistant Coach of the Year and the Southern States Conference Assistant Coach of the Year.

His résumé also includes SEC experience at Ole Miss, where he was part of Kayla Banwarth’s staff and guided a defensive group that produced five double-digit block matches in the 2020–21 season. That unit helped the Rebels tie a program record with 18 total blocks in a five-set win over LSU.

Lawler has also made stops at Nebraska, Idaho State, and Utah, where he contributed to postseason runs and program milestones. At Nebraska, he helped the Huskers reach the 2019 NCAA Regional Final with a 28-5 record, while at Idaho State his work with middle blockers and liberos produced all-conference honors and a Big Sky Libero of the Year. He spent three seasons at Utah, working his way up from video coordinator to technical director, and was part of the Utes’ first NCAA Regional appearance in 2017.

In addition, Lawler has coached with Club V Volleyball, where 14 of his athletes went on to play at the collegiate level, and he currently serves as an assistant coach for the U.S. Deaf National Team. His involvement with USA Volleyball has also included statistical analysis at national team tryouts from 2016 to 2018.

“Beau is a brilliant mind in volleyball, as he has an excellent ability to break down the game, connect with athletes, and build elite systems,” said Atlanta Vibe owner Colleen Craig. “We’re building something special in Atlanta, and Beau’s experience and energy will help us take the next step.”

For Lawler, the opportunity to join the Vibe marks an exciting new chapter.

“I’m thrilled to be joining the Atlanta Vibe,” he said. “This organization is forward-thinking, competitive, and deeply committed to growing the sport. I’m eager to contribute to our identity and help build a team that Atlanta can rally behind.”