Birky joins Griz volleyball coaching staff

You may have noticed Sarah Birky last season if you attended a home Grizzly volleyball match. The Montana coaching staff officially consisted of head coach Allison Lawrence, associate head coach Dana Hallisey, and assistant coach Ollie Nicholson. But Birky was there, on the bench and in the practice gym, doing many of the same duties as a coach.

Following the season, Lawrence recognized the time and work that Birky put in by adding her to the Grizzly coaching staff for the 2025 year.

"I think what Sarah has brought since August has been invaluable. I've known Sarah from the volleyball community in Missoula for a while now, and I think even in small interactions that we've had in the community she makes a really strong impression," Lawrence said. "She has always had a presence, energy, and teaching ability that I thought would be really valuable in her program."

Birky played a big role in her first season with the program after joining the Grizzlies for some summer camps. She was an instant fit with the group during those camps, and remained with the team for the 2024 season.

It was a fast and furious entrance into the coaching ranks for Birky, who assisted with Montana's defensive specialists and liberos. As she now officially joins the staff as an assistant, Birky is looking forward to finding more of a footing this spring and summer.

"I'm a volleyball fanatic. I travel for it and I play it, I watch and study it at every level and division, and I got the chance to step in with Montana last fall kind of all hands on deck and it was incredible and so challenging in the right kind of way," Birky said. "This spring season we can slow it down a little bit and get back to basics, and I'm so, so glad to be here."

Birky grew up in Billings and spent time in North Dakota playing volleyball. She returned to her home town and was working as a physical therapist. Her husband also worked in the medical field, and following the outbreak of COVID-19 they wanted to take a step back and reevaluate.

They decided to move back to Missoula. Both attended the University of Montana, and enjoyed their time in the city. Once back in Missoula, Birky looked to get involved in the volleyball community.

She plays and coaches beach volleyball, and quickly became part of the tight-knit Missoula volleyball community. It led to interactions with the Grizzly coaching staff and an opportunity to come help with UM's youth camps.

"I was asked to help with some of the summer camps. I'm a physical therapist by my normal trade, and when I moved here I didn't know if I was going to continue that role or change it up," Birky said. "I was lucky enough to serve as a coach for camps and witness the Griz volleyball culture first-hand. I absolutely loved it, and then made an off-hand comment asking if they needed anyone to shag balls in the fall. Allison reached out later that fall to say they could use another person in the gym as they ramped up for the season. It was just the right time, the right place, the right role, and this staff is incredible so there was no way I could say no."

Lawrence said that the more that Birky was involved with the activities around Griz volleyball, the more she also seemed drawn to the people within the program.

She was a quick fit with the rest of the coaching staff, and added to the day-to-day experience of the student-athletes on the team right away. She helped with the DS/libero positions, her specialty as a 5-7 former libero, and also assisted with some athlete practices when the rest of the team was on the road.

"She's just very detail oriented, very driven, and very people focused. She can read the environment and know exactly what she needs to do to enhance it," Lawrence said. "I think that's a skill of someone who has a ton of professionalism and a ton of life experience to be able to have the wisdom and poise to do those things in a gym full of people that you don't know all that well yet.

"I think she has been incredible and has enhanced the experience of our athletes."

Birky rounds out Lawrence's staff that includes associate head coach Dana Hallisey and assistant coach Ollie Nicholson.

"I couldn't be more excited. The pedigree of women that is coaching this team is incredible. They have all acheieved at such a high level in this sport. They're so experienced, so well spoken, and so thoughtful," Birky said. "The time and effort that they put into this team is beyond admirable, so to be considered anywhere amongst the ranks of them is so inspiring."

Birky and her husband came to Missoula not knowing what exactly her plans may be, but she knew one thing, she wanted to be involved in volleyball in some capacity. She found exactly what she was looking for at the University of Montana.

"I am grateful and excited to add to this already incredible program with a heavy focus on teamwork, grit, and willingness to commit to the hard work. I was really looking for a way to get into the community a little deeper when we got here and you can't get any better than Griz athletics," Birky said. "We bleed maroon and are so glad to be here. Go Griz."

University of Montana Athletics

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