Olympic Gold Medalist Eric Fonoimoana Joins USC Beach Volleyball Staff

LOS ANGELES – Eric Fonoimoana, an Olympic beach volleyball gold medalist at the 2000 Sydney Games, has been named volunteer assistant coach for the USC beach volleyball program head coach Anna Collier announced on Tuesday, Oct. 9.

"USC is extremely honored and privileged to have yet another Olympic beach volleyball gold medalist join our program," said Collier. "Eric has brought a whole new set of skills, drills, theories, and philosophies to our team, and we are so excited to move into the 2018-19 season with him as one of our coaches on the sand."

Previously, Fonoimoana served as the head coach for his alma mater Mira Costa High School girls varsity beach volleyball team (2013-18). Under his direction, MCHS won six consecutive IBVL (Interscholastic Beach Volleyball League) championships from 2013-18 and claimed back-to-back state crowns (2017-18).

"Being here at USC, it's all about winning," said Fonoimoana. "Winning is something that I've strived for and done for my whole life. I wanted an opportunity to go after a national championship and when this opportunity became available, I jumped at it."

Fonoimoana replaces Dain Blanton, who coincidentally was his partner at the 2000 Sydney Games. Blanton, also a gold medalist, had previously served in USC's volunteer role for three seasons and helped the Women of Troy win back-to-back NCAA crowns (2016-17). Blanton himself replaced three-time Olympic gold medalist Misty May-Treanor who served as the Trojans' volunteer coach for two seasons and was on staff when USC captured its first national title (the AVCA championship) in 2015.

Fonoimoana was the MCHS boy's varsity indoor volleyball head coach for five years (1992-96) and led his squad to the 1996 CIF championship. He later served as the team's consultant for many years. As a past MCHS player himself, Fonoimoana was named 1987 Athlete of the Year and was recognized as a distinguished alumnus with his induction into the MCHS Hall of Fame in 2012.

Fonoimoana played collegiate indoor volleyball at UC Santa Barbara where he was named an AVCA second-team All-American in 1992. He was inducted into the UCSB Athletics Hall of Fame in 2003 for his indoor volleyball accomplishments and was chosen for the Significant Sig honor; bestowed by the Sigma Chi fraternity to its most distinguished alumni.

Professionally, Fonoimoana was a force on the sand. He played on the AVP Tour (American Volleyball Professionals) for 16 years and won at least one tournament during a seven-year span from 1998-2004. He won the 1998 King of the Beach tournament and was named the AVP's Most Valuable Player in 2002 when he and partner Dax Holdren won four titles and appeared in six final matches. He ranks in the AVP's top 10 for all-time tournaments played and has won at least one title in each of the AVP's major open tournaments; including two Manhattan Beach Open crowns. Fonoimoana also owns 39 top-ten finishes in FIVB (Fédération Internationale de Volleyball) events. He was inducted into the CBVA (California Beach Volleyball Association) Hall of Fame in 2013.

Fonoimoana is also the owner and a coach for the Elite Beach Volleyball Club in Manhattan Beach, Calif. He helped lead Elite to BVCA (Beach Volleyball Clubs of America) championships in 2014 and 2017.

Outside of beach volleyball, Fonoimoana is a licensed realtor at Schneider Properties Team where he was named a top producer in 2010 and 2011. In the community, Fonoimoana dedicated large amounts of his winnings and time off to a foundation he started in 2000 called Dig For Kids. The foundation helps kids in inner cities excel in academics and volleyball. As the founder and CEO of Dig For Kids, Fonoimoana has had a hand in raising over $1 million for underserved youth.

Fonoimoana graduated from UC Santa Barbara in 1993 with a bachelor of science in sociology and a minor in coaching. He currently resides in Hermosa Beach, Calif.

Last spring, the Women of Troy (27-14) finished as the runner-up at the Pac-12 Championship and were chosen as one of two at-large selections into the 2018 NCAA Championship. The Trojans advanced to the Saturday final at the championship and finished in fourth place. Now in her eighth year at the helm, Collier collected her 170th victory in 2018. Senior Abril Bustamante and sophomore Tina Graudina were named AVCA All-Americans and were chosen as the Volleyball Magazine National Pair of the Year.

For more information on the three-time national champion USC beach volleyball team and a complete schedule, please visit USCTrojans.com and follow @USCBeach on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

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Olympic Gold Medalist Eric Fonoimoana Joins USC Beach Volleyball Staff

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