MOUNT OLIVE (Aug. 14) – A graduate of the university and alumnus of the program, Yigit Erkek was announced as the head men's volleyball coach at Mount Olive this month.
Erkek returns to the University of Mount Olive after serving as a Graduate Assistant for the men's volleyball program at the University of Jamestown in North Dakota over the previous two years. During his tenure with Jimmies, he assisted the program in a pair of 20-win campaigns with back-to-back Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Championships. The program also made consecutive appearances in pool play at the NAIA National Championship and ranked in the top 10 nationally. Erkek aided in the development of four NAIA All-Americans, two GPAC Player of the Year winners, and 13 GPAC All-Conference selections.
"I am incredibly happy and excited to return to Mount Olive as the head coach. The feeling of being able to give back to the program, community, and school that I was a part of for four years motivates and excites me," said Erkek. "I am grateful for this opportunity given to me by our Athletic Director Joey Higginbotham and the University of Mount Olive. I look forward to working with the players on and off the court, and I do not doubt that together we will be successful."
Following graduation from UMO, Erkek worked as a Youth Sports Coordinator at the YMCA of the Triangle in Raleigh, North Carolina. He directed the volleyball program for three branches and managed youth athletes ages 5-14. Additionally, Erkek served as a volleyball coach at the NC Volleyball Academy in Durham. He worked with the U14 first team and the U18 second team as an assistant coach. He helped the U18 program qualify for the USAV Girls National Tournament in 2021.
"We are extremely excited to bring Coach Erkek back home to lead our men's volleyball program," said Director of Athletics Joey Higginbotham. "He has a great passion for UMO Men's Volleyball, and we look forward to watching him return our program back to competing for Conference Carolinas Championships."
Erkek was a four-year member of the UMO men's volleyball team (2016-2020) and tallied 121.5 points with 73 kills and 68 blocks in 35 career matches. He was also a two-time All-Academic Team selection by the Conference Carolinas. During his time as a student-athlete, Erkek worked as a student assistant and manager for the Mount Olive men's and women's tennis teams in 2019.
In the summer of 2018, he served as an assistant coach and secretary for the Fenerbahce Sports Club in Izmit, Turkey.
Erkek completed his bachelor's degree in sport management from the University of Mount Olive in 2020 before earning his master's degree in sports leadership from the University of Jamestown in 2023.
