Andrew Sato
Cal State Fullerton, assistant coach.
2022: Sato helped lead the program to its most regular season wins since 2012, as the team went 13-15 overall. Cal State Fullerton boasted three All-Big West Conference selections in 2022, as Bianca Martinez was named to the All-Freshman Team and Elizabeth Schuster and Danielle Jefferies earned Big West Honorable Mention.
Sato, a four-year starting libero at Cal State Long Beach, comes to the Titans after one year as the assistant at UTSA and before that, two years as the volunteer assistant coach at powerhouse Nebraska. Sato, who served in three coaching roles while in Lincoln, graduate assistant, interim assistant and volunteer assistant coach, also was on the coaching staff at Cal during the 2017 season.
Sato starred for Long Beach during his four-year career, serving as a team captain that led the team to a pair of Final Fours (2016-17). A two-time AVCA All-American, Sato finished his career as the Long Beach record holder in career and single-season digs. Sato was a fixture with USA Volleyball during his playing career, serving as a member of the Team USA Youth, Junior and Senior National Teams.
Sato opened his coaching career with Cal as the volunteer assistant coach in 2017, with the Bears earning 13 wins, including results over Texas Tech, Rice, Arizona, Arizona State and Washington State.
He then moved to Lincoln to join legendary coach John Cook's staff. In his first season with the Cornhuskers, Sato helped the club to a 29-7 record, including a 15-5 mark in league play and an 18-3 stretch at historic Devaney Center. The Huskers fell in the national championship game vs. No. 1 Stanford in a five-set thriller in Minneapolis, earning NCAA Tournament wins over Missouri, Kentucky, Oregon and Illinois. Sato, a former standout libero, helped coach a backline that saw five players total at least 190 digs during the season, led by 4.03 digs per set from senior All-American Kenzie Maloney. Maloney earned third-team AVCA All-America and first-team All-Big 10 honors in 2018.
The Cornhuskers again had a historic season in 2019 with Sato on the staff, claiming 28 wins and advancing to the NCAA Regional Final at Wisconsin. Nebraska went 28-5 and a staggering 17-3 in conference and 17-2 at the Devaney Center. Five liberos totaled at least 200 digs during the season for the Huskers, with freshman Kenzie Knuckles averaging a team-leading 3.83 digs per set.
Andrew is also a SCVC Alum.
