Jeff Nygaard

Jeff Wayne Nygaard (born August 3, 1972, in Madison, Wisconsin) is an American former volleyball player. He was a member of the United States national indoor team in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta and the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. He was a middle blocker. He also played beach volleyball at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens with partner Dain Blanton.

High school
Nygaard attended La Follette High School in Madison, Wisconsin, where he played volleyball and was MVP of his state in 1991. Nygaard helped La Follette win state championships in 1987 and 1989, and finish second in the state in 1988.

College
Nygaard played college volleyball at UCLA and was named National Player of the Year in 1994 and 1995. He also won NCAA Championships while playing for the Bruins in 1993 and 1995, and was named NCAA Championship tournament Most Outstanding Player in 1995.

In 2007, Nygaard was inducted into the UCLA Hall of Fame.

Beach volleyball
Nygaard played professional beach volleyball from 2001 to 2011, winning almost $500,000 in career earnings. In total, he won seven AVP tournaments and one FIVB tournament. In 2003, he was selected as the AVP Most Valuable Player.

Coaching
Nygaard was an assistant coach for the Whittier College women's volleyball team in 2009. Nygaard is currently the head coach of the USC Trojans men's volleyball team.

Awards

 * Two-time NCAA Champion 1993, 1995
 * Two-time NCAA National Player of the Year 1994, 1995
 * FIVB World Championship bronze medal 1994
 * NCAA Championship Most Outstanding Player 1995
 * AVP Most Valuable Player 2003
 * UCLA Hall of Fame 2007