Colorado Mesa University Athletics

Austin Albers is in his first year as Colorado Mesa University's Head Volleyball Coach after being hired for the position on Feb. 14, 2025.

"I am honored to be the next head coach of Colorado Mesa Volleyball. This program has a rich tradition of success, and I am excited to build upon that legacy." Albers said. "My family and I are thrilled to join the Grand Junction community, and I look forward to working with our student-athletes to continue the tradition of excellence both on and off the court. I want to thank the hiring committee, Director of Athletics Joan McDermott, and President Marshall for their trust in me to lead this program."

Albers becomes just the fifth coach in the program's history and the third coach for the program in the past 42 years. He inherits a program that has made four straight NCAA Tournament appearances and that has won 90 matches during that time span. 

"After a lengthy and competitive search process, Austin rose to the top and we are excited to have him become a Maverick," McDermott said. "Austin is one of the young and up and coming coaches in collegiate volleyball and his track record shows he is a winner and strives for excellence."

Albers comes to Colorado Mesa after spending the past six seasons at Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference foe CSU Pueblo. He had a 93-61 (.604) overall record with the Pack and his team made the NCAA National Tournament in 2021 and 2022. He inherited a team that won five matches in 2018 and took them to a nine-win improvement (14-14) and a trip to the RMAC Tournament in his first season. All six of his CSU Pueblo teams qualified for the RMAC Tournament.

His teams also found success in the classroom as his program was awarded with the RMAC Brechler Award in both the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons. The Brechler Award is given to the program with the highest team GPA in the conference. 

Prior to his time with CSU Pueblo, he was the head coach of Laramie County Community College where he had a 145-57 career record and left as the program's all-time win percentage leader (.718). He received the AVCA 30 under 30 award along with NJCAA Region IX Coach of the Year and NJCAA DI District C Coach of the Year honors.

Albers is no stranger to collegiate athletics as his father, Jhett, is a former Director of Athletics at Black Hills State and was the head volleyball coach at BHSU for 11 seasons.

He graduated with honors from Black Hills State University in May of 2012 with a bachelor's degree in exercise science management and a minor in athletic coaching. He played collegiate soccer for Western Nebraska Community College before transferring to BHSU. 

Austin is married to his wife Maggie and has two children, Emmitt and Ellison.