Bryan Rigg ('07) last served as head coach for the Flames in the 2018-19 season, when he was named Club Sports Men's Coach of the Year for the second time in his eight-year first stint. (Photo by Gabrielle Calhoun)
Rigg sets high standards for Flames’ men’s volleyball as interim replacement for Knapp
12/13/2025 10:51:00 PM | Men's Volleyball
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The former Liberty player and eight-year head coach will take the helm from his former recruit who is assuming the same role at the University of Lynchburg.
When fourth-year Head CoachJosh Knapp accepted a full-time position to lead the University of Lynchburg's NCAA Division III men's indoor and beach volleyball program last week, Flames Assistant Coach Bryan Rigg — who recruited Knapp to the Flames as a player in 2017 — agreed to take the reins on an interim basis through the upcoming spring season.
"I told (Club Sports Deputy Athletic Director Jeff Boettger) I could do it for the interim, while they look for the next head coach," said Rigg, who played setter for the Flames in the early 2000s. "I'm looking forward to it."
Rigg has served as an assistant under Knapp for the past three seasons — working with the Division II team in 2022-23 and the DI squad the past two and half seasons — after eight seasons as head coach from 2011-19.
Josh Knapp served as head coach for three years after replacing Kaleb VanDePerre in the middle of the 2022-23 season.
"Josh was one of the biggest recruits from the Class of 2017, and he's become a really good coach," Rigg said. "We've had a really good relationship, and it continues to be."
Rigg was named the National Collegiate Volleyball Federation Coach of the Year in 2013-14 and also earned Club Sports Coach of the Year honors that year and again in 2018-19. He stepped down after being promoted from assistant pastor to senior pastor at Grace Presbyterian Church in nearby Forest, Va.
Boettger is thankful to have Rigg back at the helm, if only for the upcoming spring semester.
"We have an awesome program, and we are very happy about and comfortable with Bryan taking the interim coaching position, allowing us to do a deeper dive in pursuing a full-time head coach," he said. "He has a heart for the athletes, a heart for the mission of the university, and a super strong volleyball background which will help him succeed in that aspect as well."
Rigg also coaches his daughter, Naomi, and Boettger's daughter, Ava, on a girls travel volleyball team that won a state championship two weeks ago.
"He is very good at the student-athlete care side and planning and organizing side, and with his life experience and biblical knowledge as a pastor, he will be able to share and pour into students from a spiritual perspective, which is a fantastic mix," Boettger said.
Rigg said the Club Sports Holistic Development staff, led by Associate Athletic Director Reese Braband, has emphasized the spiritual aspect of training student-athletes in the years since he last served as head coach.
"One of the things that is different from when I was here before is Club Sports has developed official spiritual leaders (Disciple Makers) on the team, and we have two guys, (junior libero) John Kinzler and (sophomore opposite hitter) Justin Over, who do a really good job of it," Rigg said.
He is working on setting the Flames' spring semester schedule, including its annual Midnight Mayhem match, one of four to be staged in the Liberty Arena.
"I absolutely can't wait for those (Liberty Arena matches), which will all be finalized in the next week," Rigg said. "Everything's fluid right now."
Liberty will have the opportunity to host the ECVA South Championships in March with hopes of qualifying for the East Coast Championships. That will be the Flames' best chance to earn a high seeding for the April 2-4 NCVF National Championships, to be held in Kansas City, Mo., for the second time in three years.
"Last year at nationals, this team qualified into the Gold Bracket and finished tied for eighth place," Rigg said. "Those guys are all one year older, with a few good senior leaders, so it is logical to think they could finish even higher this year."
