Loyola promotes Berzins to associate head coach

One of the top coaches in the nation is getting promoted after helping guide Loyola to two national titles in the last three years.

Loyola head coach Mark Hulse announced during the weekend that Kris Berzins was promoted from assistant coach to associate head coach for the upcoming season.


Berzins, a former Loyola player, was named earlier this year to the AVCA Thirty-Under-30 list that ranks to the top coaches in the nation who are 30 years old or younger . In addition, Berzins in his five seasons on the Ramblers coaching staff helped the program make three NCAA Tournament appearances and win back-to-back NCAA championships in 2014 and 2015.

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“Kris has had an incredible five-year run as an assistant coach here at Loyola, not to mention his outstanding playing career,” Hulse said in a statement. “With three Final Fours and two NCAA Championships, plus some high level success with USA Volleyball, Kris is flourishing as a coach, and we look forward to more accomplishments down the road.”

Along with his time at Loyola, Brezins served as an assistant coach for the U.S. Boys’ Youth National Team that finished in seventh place at the 2015 FIVB U19 World Championship — the highest finish in U.S. history at the event. He also is currently serving as a head coach for the USA Volleyball Select A1 High Performance Program.

Berzins began his coaching career after being a three-time All-MIVA outside attacker with the Ramblers and playing professional volleyball in Europe.

Loyola as the two-time defending NCAA champions finished last season in second place in the MIVA and lost in the conference tournament semifinals. The team returns a majority of its starters for the upcoming season, including All-American middle attacker Jeff Jendryk.