INSIDE THE PROGRAM
A series of conversations with coaches and leaders in volleyball who share their perspective on building successful programs, developing athletes, and leading teams at the highest level.
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Michelle Collier
Building a Program: Leadership, Culture, and the Future of College Volleyball
Leadership, culture, and long-term vision behind one of the most competitive programs in the ACC — and how coaching paths sometimes begin in unexpected places.
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Why This Conversation Matters
Behind every successful program there is a philosophy that shapes daily work, culture, and long-term standards.
For young coaches and athletes trying to understand high-level volleyball, watching matches is only a small part of the picture.
The real work of building a program happens in the training environment, in leadership decisions, and in the consistency of the standards that guide the team every day.
This conversation offers a perspective on what it takes to lead and sustain a competitive program in one of the strongest conferences in the country.
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Opening
Volleyball has a unique way of connecting people across countries, cultures, and generations.
My professional path first crossed with Michelle Collier in Brazil, when the Georgia Tech volleyball team visited the country as part of one of the international trips permitted by NCAA rules.
During that visit, the team spent time at the Brazilian National Team training center in Saquarema — a place closely connected to the history of high-performance volleyball.
It was there that we first met.
At the time, it was simply a conversation between two coaches who share a deep respect for the game.
But sometimes volleyball reconnects people in unexpected ways.
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The Moment the Collaboration Began
A few months later, after the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, I traveled to Atlanta for a short period to study English.
During that month, I spent time around the Georgia Tech volleyball program and had the opportunity to exchange ideas with the coaching staff.
In the afternoons, after my language classes, Michelle invited me to share my experience with the staff in a consulting capacity, discussing training methodology and technical perspectives.
Because of NCAA regulations at the time, my interaction during that period was limited to working with the coaching staff rather than directly with the athletes.
What began as an exchange of ideas eventually became the beginning of a professional collaboration that continues today.
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Michelle’s Journey
Before becoming one of the most respected head coaches in the Atlantic Coast Conference, Michelle Collier built an exceptional career as a player.
At the University of South Florida, she earned AVCA All-American honors, and her impact on the program was so significant that her jersey was later retired and she was voted C-USA Player of the Decade. Her performance as a college player was remarkable. Today 20+ years later she continues to hold Top 5 career NCAA records for kills and attempts.
After her collegiate playing career, Michelle continued her journey in volleyball through coaching and international playing experiences, gaining perspective across multiple levels of the sport.
Since becoming the head coach at Georgia Tech in 2014, she has helped elevate the program into one of the most competitive teams in the ACC and the country.
Her leadership has been recognized with ACC Coach of the Year honors and some of the most successful seasons in Georgia Tech volleyball history.
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A Conversation With Michelle Collier
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Building a Program
When you first arrived at Georgia Tech as head coach, what vision did you have for the program?
From day one, the vision was to build a nationally competitive program—one that would be recognized not only for winning, but for how we develop our student-athletes on and off the court. We wanted to create an environment where excellence is expected, growth is constant, and our players leave stronger in every aspect of their lives.
What cultural standards did you want to establish from the beginning?
Our culture has always been anchored in our core values. They serve as our compass and unify everyone involved in the program—players, coaches, and support staff.
- Excellence – in preparation, performance, and accountability
- Evolution – embracing growth, change, and continuous improvement
- Energy – bringing passion and intention every day
- Everlasting – building something that endures beyond individual seasons
These values shape how we train, compete, and support one another.
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Leadership and Staff
How important is the coaching staff in building a successful program?
It’s critical. Success at this level is never built alone. You have to surround yourself with people who share your vision but bring different strengths to the table. The best staffs challenge each other, communicate openly, and are relentlessly committed to finding ways to improve and win.
What qualities do you value most when assembling a coaching staff?
It starts with loyalty and respect—those are non-negotiables. From there, I value people who communicate honestly, embrace different perspectives, and are willing to work through challenges together. The ability to align around a shared purpose while leveraging individual strengths is what drives a staff—and a program—forward.
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Working Together
When we first started working together at Georgia Tech, what perspective or experience were you hoping I could bring to the program?
Your experience competing and winning at the highest levels of the game brought immediate value. We wanted to learn from that, adapt what translates to the college environment, and build something unique. It helped elevate our standards and contributed to creating a high-performance environment rooted in both experience and innovation.
How important is it for a head coach to build a staff with complementary experiences and perspectives?
It’s essential. Just like on the court, the strength of a team comes from how well the pieces fit together. Different backgrounds and perspectives allow us to see the game—and our players—from multiple angles. That’s how you put people in the best positions to succeed and ultimately elevate the entire program.
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Coaching Philosophy
What principles guide your philosophy as a head coach?
At the core, it’s meritocracy. Everything is earned. Your actions have to speak louder than your words. We’ve built our program on the belief that consistent work, discipline, and accountability drive results. That standard has allowed us to grow into a nationally respected program.
What standards define the culture of the Georgia Tech volleyball program today?
Our culture continues to be defined by our core values:
Excellence. Evolution. Energy. Everlasting.
They are not just words—they are lived daily in how we prepare, compete, and support each other.
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Coaching in a Changing Era
College athletics is evolving rapidly. How do these changes influence the role of the head coach today?
The role has become more complex. Between NIL, the transfer portal, and increased visibility, there are more factors influencing both individual decisions and team dynamics. As a head coach, it requires a deeper understanding of each player, stronger communication, and the ability to align individual needs with team goals. More than ever, it’s about managing people, relationships, and culture at a high level.
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Advice for the Next Generation
What advice would you give to young coaches starting their careers today?
Be patient. Be willing to learn from your mistakes. Stay humble enough to acknowledge them and grow from them. Every team and every season is different, but your core values should remain constant. That consistency is what builds trust and long-term success.
What do young athletes need to understand about discipline, commitment, and long-term development if they want to succeed at the college level?
You have to earn it every day. Progress looks different for everyone, but consistency is what separates people over time. Stay committed to the process, find joy in the daily work, and invest in the people around you. That’s where real growth happens.
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Closing Reflection
Building a successful volleyball program requires much more than talent.
It requires leadership, vision, and the ability to guide athletes through the constant evolution of the sport.
Michelle Collier’s journey reflects the commitment required to lead at the highest level of collegiate volleyball.
Her perspective also reminds us that the relationships built through this sport often extend far beyond the court.
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ABOUT THE SERIES
This conversation is part of a broader project.
INSIDE THE PROGRAM will continue expanding beyond coaches.
Future conversations will include:
Athletes
Strength and Conditioning Coaches
Sports Scientists
Physical Therapists
Athletic Trainers
Physicians
Sport Psychologists
Performance staff across different disciplines
From around the world.
And not only in volleyball, but across multiple sports.
Because high performance is not built from one perspective alone.
It is built from the integration of knowledge, experience, and standards across every area that supports the athlete.
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Standards create discipline.
Discipline sustains excellence.
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From fundamentals to gold standards.
Claudio Pinheiro
