University of Minnesota Athletics
Volleyball
Barber, Eric
Eric Barber
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
- barbere@umn.edu
Assistant coach Eric Barber joined the Gophers after spending three seasons on UCLA's volleyball staff. He was hired on Jan. 1, 2023.
In his first season in 2023, he helped the Gophers to a 17-13 (12-8 Big Ten) record and a trip to the NCAA Tournament. After defeating Utah State in the first round, the Gophers fell to No. 12 Creighton in the Round of 32.
Four players were named All-Big Ten in 2023, including reigning Big Ten Player of the Year Taylor Landfair and opposite Lydia Grote. Under his guidance, Landfair posted career-bests in digs (2.03) and aces (0.31) per set and posted a career-best 10 double doubles. Grote earned her first career postseason all-league honor in addition to being named AVCA All-North Region. She had the best serving year of her career at 0.31 aces per set and led all pins with a .245 hitting percentage.
Minnesota started its 2023 season with a Big Ten/Big 12 Challenge Tournament title, earning a four set win over TCU and a sweep over then No. 15 Baylor. The Gophers top win of the season came on Sept. 8 in a five set win over then No. 6 Oregon in Palo Alto, Calif. Minnesota finished its preseason slate 4-4 and started the conference slate slow, going 2-4 in its first six matches. The Gophers were able to turn their season around, however, winning 10 of their final 14 league games to earn a postseason bid.
During his time in Westwood, the Bruins made two NCAA Tournaments, including a Sweet 16 finish in 2021. UCLA went 15-7 (14-6 Pac-12) in the spring of 2021 and 25-7 (16-4 Pac-12) in the fall of 2021.
In the spring of 2021, UCLA was 19th in the nation in assists per set, 22nd in kills per set and 35th in hitting percentage, while also ranking first among Pac-12 teams in assists and kills per set. They ranked 25th in hitting percentage in the fall of 2021. During his time with the Bruins, Mac May and Zoe Fleck were named All-Americans in consecutive seasons, while Fleck earned Pac-12 Libero of the Year honors in the spring and fall of 2021.
"I am so grateful for the opportunity to build upon the tradition of Minnesota volleyball," said Barber. "I want to thank coach Cook, Director of Athletics Mark Coyle and Deputy Athletic Director Julie Manning for trusting me to be a part of this team and athletic department. I can't wait to compete in the Big Ten and to get on campus and start working with the team and staff."
Prior to UCLA, Barber spent the 2019 season at Cal Poly, where the Mustangs compiled a 21-9 record and a second-place finish in the Big West Conference. They earned a trip to the NCAA Tournament, advancing to the second round.
Before that, Barber was a volunteer assistant coach at USC in 2018. He began his collegiate coaching career as a volunteer assistant with the Washington beach volleyball program in 2018, also serving as a graduate manager for the Huskies' indoor volleyball team in 2016 and 2017. The Santa Monica, Calif., native's began his career as an assistant for the boys' and girls' varsity teams at La Jolla High School (2014-2016).Â
Barber played collegiately at UC San Diego, where he graduated from UCSD with a bachelor's degree in environmental systems with a minor in political science in 2015. Barber completed his master's degree in civil engineering at Washington in 2018.
"Eric Barber was one of the best kept coaching secrets on the west coast," said Cook. "He was exactly who I hoped would join us here in Minnesota. His humility, consistency and sincerity are matched only by his ability to develop the student-athletes under his guidance."
In his first season in 2023, he helped the Gophers to a 17-13 (12-8 Big Ten) record and a trip to the NCAA Tournament. After defeating Utah State in the first round, the Gophers fell to No. 12 Creighton in the Round of 32.
Four players were named All-Big Ten in 2023, including reigning Big Ten Player of the Year Taylor Landfair and opposite Lydia Grote. Under his guidance, Landfair posted career-bests in digs (2.03) and aces (0.31) per set and posted a career-best 10 double doubles. Grote earned her first career postseason all-league honor in addition to being named AVCA All-North Region. She had the best serving year of her career at 0.31 aces per set and led all pins with a .245 hitting percentage.
Minnesota started its 2023 season with a Big Ten/Big 12 Challenge Tournament title, earning a four set win over TCU and a sweep over then No. 15 Baylor. The Gophers top win of the season came on Sept. 8 in a five set win over then No. 6 Oregon in Palo Alto, Calif. Minnesota finished its preseason slate 4-4 and started the conference slate slow, going 2-4 in its first six matches. The Gophers were able to turn their season around, however, winning 10 of their final 14 league games to earn a postseason bid.
During his time in Westwood, the Bruins made two NCAA Tournaments, including a Sweet 16 finish in 2021. UCLA went 15-7 (14-6 Pac-12) in the spring of 2021 and 25-7 (16-4 Pac-12) in the fall of 2021.
In the spring of 2021, UCLA was 19th in the nation in assists per set, 22nd in kills per set and 35th in hitting percentage, while also ranking first among Pac-12 teams in assists and kills per set. They ranked 25th in hitting percentage in the fall of 2021. During his time with the Bruins, Mac May and Zoe Fleck were named All-Americans in consecutive seasons, while Fleck earned Pac-12 Libero of the Year honors in the spring and fall of 2021.
"I am so grateful for the opportunity to build upon the tradition of Minnesota volleyball," said Barber. "I want to thank coach Cook, Director of Athletics Mark Coyle and Deputy Athletic Director Julie Manning for trusting me to be a part of this team and athletic department. I can't wait to compete in the Big Ten and to get on campus and start working with the team and staff."
Prior to UCLA, Barber spent the 2019 season at Cal Poly, where the Mustangs compiled a 21-9 record and a second-place finish in the Big West Conference. They earned a trip to the NCAA Tournament, advancing to the second round.
Before that, Barber was a volunteer assistant coach at USC in 2018. He began his collegiate coaching career as a volunteer assistant with the Washington beach volleyball program in 2018, also serving as a graduate manager for the Huskies' indoor volleyball team in 2016 and 2017. The Santa Monica, Calif., native's began his career as an assistant for the boys' and girls' varsity teams at La Jolla High School (2014-2016).Â
Barber played collegiately at UC San Diego, where he graduated from UCSD with a bachelor's degree in environmental systems with a minor in political science in 2015. Barber completed his master's degree in civil engineering at Washington in 2018.
"Eric Barber was one of the best kept coaching secrets on the west coast," said Cook. "He was exactly who I hoped would join us here in Minnesota. His humility, consistency and sincerity are matched only by his ability to develop the student-athletes under his guidance."
Highlights: Gophers 3, Marquette 0
Sunday, September 21
Cinematic Recap: Diet Coke Classic
Wednesday, September 17
Highlights: Gophers 3, SDSU 1
Sunday, September 14
Highlights: Gophers 3, Dayton 0
Saturday, September 13
