Brad Rostratter isn’t one to pass up a challenge.

The second-year men’s volleyball coach at UC San Diego doesn’t have the luxury of a traditional offseason when he’s dividing his time between building the Tritons’ program and leading the U.S. Women’s Volleyball team at the Pan American Cup. 

“I’ve put a lot of miles on my car going back-and-forth from Orange County,” Rostratter jokes. “But the reward of being able to help build this program while also furthering USA volleyball’s goals competing on the international circuit is second to none.”  

Rostratter’s tenure working with Team USA dates back to 2015 as he worked his way through the system before taking the reins ahead of international play in 2022. In his first two years at the front of the program, the U.S. won back-to-back bronze medals while competing in Mexico and Puerto Rico.

At the 2023 Pan Am Games in Santiago, Chile, the USA cruised through pool play without losing a single set. The team went undefeated with a 4-0 mark against Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Peru. Advancing to the championship bracket, Rostratter’s squad would end up falling to eventual champion Argentina before bouncing back to take the bronze with a win over the Dominican Republic in four sets.

Brad’s love for the game is as evident as his youthful and enthusiastic personality that can be seen on the court and in an interview setting. Being able to connect with scholar-athletes navigating the world of school and volleyball can be a challenge for any coach, but having the right attitude and necessary experience goes a long way. 

Dating back to his college days playing for Concordia, where he ended his collegiate career with an NAIA National Championship, he knew his time and dedication to the sport wasn’t leaving him as he forged ahead on his next path.

“Once my playing career came to a close, I knew immediately that I wanted to get into coaching,” Rostratter said. “I was fortunate enough to meet a lot of great people who wanted to give me opportunities that led to my roles leading both UC San Diego and USA Volleyball.” 

Rostratter flourished in his first role as an assistant coach at Concordia, which included a four-season stint at his alma mater. It didn’t take long for other programs to take notice as he was able to make stops at Arizona State and Pepperdine and coached 16-year-olds for the Sports Academy Volleyball Club in Ventura County. 

In 2019, Rostratter launched a men's volleyball program at Vanguard. While leading the Lions, he was tabbed a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Coach of the Year and twice was selected as the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) Coach of the Year.

Making numerous connections during his time on the recruiting trail and leading his own program, he began to put himself in position to continue furthering his burgeoning career. His connections in U.S. Volleyball began to grow as he helped guide Balboa Bay to the national championship at the AAU Boys Junior National Volleyball Championship in Orlando.

With two years of competition and a pair of bronze medals in his back pocket, Rostratter now gets to look forward by building up the program further as they seek a spot in the Pan American Games in future years.

Following another successful summer coaching both teams with numerous trips up-and-down the 5 Freeway, Brad’s ecstatic about his second season leading the Tritons’ men’s program.

A roster that features numerous talented returners along with several newcomers sure to make an impact is set to make some noise among the powerhouse programs in the West Coast.  

Entering its seventh season as a member of the ultra-competitive Big West, the Tritons’ schedule features several marquee non-conference matchups inside LionTree Arena with Princeton, Grand Canyon, reigning national champion UCLA, and USC all slated to compete on UC San Diego’s home floor ahead of Big West play. 

With the arrival of conference play in late February, the Tritons face off against the toughest competition in the nation. In fact, all six Big West squads are ranked in the national top-20 as of press time, including No. 2 Long Beach State, No. 3 UC Irvine, and No. 4 Hawai‘i.

The Tritons begin their 2024 home slate on Tuesday, Jan. 16, vs. Princeton (5 p.m.). You can view the team's 2024 schedule here. Single match and season tickets are available through the Triton Box Office.