BRIDGEWATER, Va. – There was the sound of squeaking shoes and the rhythmic sounds of a ball bouncing on the hardwood in the gym at Bridgewater College as a group of mostly first-years scrambled to set up the net one early morning. Standing off to the side, Assistant Coach Nolan Hurrell cracked a smile.
It was only their seventh practice, but the players were already buying into the culture he and Head Coach Colton Frey were working hard to instill: show up early, embrace the uncomfortable, and find joy even in the grind.
Hurrell left Michigan to help launch a brand-new program in Virginia. A former libero, club leader, and semi-professional player, he now channels his energy into guiding young men through the same growing pains he once faced.
His story is one of persistence, adaptability, and passion for a sport that didn’t come into his life until later than most coaches. It’s about building something bigger than himself, establishing a foundation for the future of men’s volleyball at Bridgewater.
Roots in Michigan: A game discovered late
For someone who now lives and breathes volleyball, it’s striking that Nolan Hurrell didn’t grow up with the game. Born and raised on the east side of Michigan, Hurrell’s first introduction to volleyball came informally when he was in the 8th grade, playing casually with friends. His high school didn’t have a team, leaving him without formal training or a dedicated coach.
That curiosity bloomed once he arrived at Western Michigan University. Originally a nursing major, Hurrell discovered the school’s Division I men’s club program and took a leap of faith at tryouts. He made the team as a libero, and soon volleyball became central to his life. Not content to just play, he also held leadership roles as treasurer, vice president, president, and social chair.
“I got to enjoy the game as a player,” he explained, “but also be involved in the behind-the-scenes stuff, the coaching, making decisions.”
Semi-pro player, budding coach
After graduation, Hurrell wasn’t ready to put volleyball behind him. He balanced part-time work with playing in the Volleyball League of America (VLA), one of the few semi-professional leagues for men in the U.S. Competing at that level sharpened his technical understanding of the game, but it also reaffirmed his passion for volleyball.
Meanwhile, he began coaching, first at the high school level, working with both boys and girls, then as a part-time assistant with the women’s program at the University of Michigan Dearborn (an NAIA school). He said the dual experiences gave him perspective on player development across age groups and genders.
“Being that person for the younger version of me that I didn’t have” became a driving force in his decision to coach, particularly on the men’s side he said, where role models are scarce.
Drawn to Bridgewater: A program in its infancy
Hurrell said his path to Bridgewater College was less about chasing prestige and more about chasing possibility. When he saw that Bridgewater was launching a men’s volleyball program from scratch, he recognized an opportunity to make an impact.
“I love the idea of helping volleyball grow,” he said.
His first Zoom interview with head coach Colton Frey left a strong impression. Hurrell resonated with Frey’s vision for culture and coaching philosophy. A follow-up campus visit sealed the deal.
“The collective of the athletics staff made me feel like I wanted to be here,” Hurrell said. “Everyone was super nice, super welcoming.”
So he packed up in Michigan and moved to Virginia, eager to help build a team from the ground up.
Wearing many hats: The assistant’s role
As assistant coach, Hurrell said his day-to-day is anything but boring. From recruiting, to running positional drills, creating practice plans, and managing the team’s social media, his responsibilities stretch across the program.
“Basically whatever Coach Frey needs me to do, whether it’s creating Excel spreadsheets, recruiting, or running one-on-ones.” Hurrell said.
The flexibility has allowed him to grow quickly. It has also given him partial ownership in shaping a young roster that includes 15 freshmen and just two upperclassmen.
Coaching philosophy: Relationships first
Hurrell said he sees his players as more than athletes. He emphasizes their physical, emotional, and mental well-being as much as technical improvement.
“I am very relationship-driven, looking at the athlete as a whole person,” Hurrell said.
This approach, he said, is influenced heavily by his mother. Watching her invest deeply in others, always caring and always encouraging left an impact.
“She’s the biggest person that really encouraged me into coaching,” he said. “I want to emulate that to my athletes, too.”
In practical terms, he said that means frequent check-ins, balancing accountability with empathy, and cultivating a culture where players feel comfortable both succeeding and failing.
Culture builders: Embracing the uncomfortable
Hurrell beamed when describing the character of his team. Despite their youth, he sees resilience and buy-in. “We talk a lot about embracing the uncomfortable,” he said. “It’s gonna be hard to get up for 6 a.m. practice and they do it.”
That willingness, he believes, is what sets this group apart. They arrive early, set up the net, warm up properly, and lean into challenges. Off the court, they’re just as connected, dropping by the coaches’ offices, sharing meals and building friendships. The blend of hard work, caring, and humor (his three words for the team) creates what Hurrell calls “something really special.”
Hurrell’s career is unfolding at a pivotal moment for men’s volleyball. Across the U.S., boys’ volleyball has been the fastest-growing high school sport in recent years. Virginia is no exception, with more schools and colleges introducing programs.
Life outside the gym
Though volleyball occupies much of his time, Hurrell makes room for other passions. He enjoys running and reading, often bringing a book to team study halls. He also jokes about his love of food: “The guys always see me at the dining hall.”
Those simple interests, he said, help him recharge and connect with players in non-volleyball contexts.
For now, Hurrell is focused on helping Bridgewater’s inaugural men’s volleyball class navigate its first practices, first matches, and first growing pains. But his vision extends beyond the immediate season.
He wants to continue being the kind of coach he once wished he had, relationship-driven, holistic, and invested in growth.
Asked to summarize the journey, he circles back to why he came: “Helping volleyball grow, helping people grow, that’s why I’m here.”
