Brooklyn, NY --- The Brooklyn College Office of Recreation, Intramurals and Intercollegiate Athletics has announced the hiring of
Michael Salak as Head Coach of the Men's Volleyball team effective immediately.
"I am extremely excited to be a part of the Brooklyn College family,” said Salak. “In many ways, it is sort of a home coming for me. I remember as a young volleyball player at Midwood High School sometimes practicing at Brooklyn College.”
Salak comes to Brooklyn after serving as the Associate Head Coach at fellow City University of New York Athletic Conference (CUNYAC) member Baruch College during the 2011 season.
While at Baruch, Salak helped lead the Bearcats to a 34-16 overall record in 2011, including a perfect 14-0 mark in the CUNYAC, en route to clinching their third straight conference championship. Baruch would also go on to reach the North East Collegiate Volleyball Association (NECVA) Tournament Final, as well as earn an at-large berth to the Molten Final Four.
Salak also has extensive coaching experience at the high school level, serving as head coach of both the Boy's Varsity (2003-2007) and Girl's Varsity (2003-2006) Volleyball team's at Hunter College High School.
Salak began his collegiate coaching career as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Long Island University – Southampton.
As a player at LIU-Southampton (1993-1997), Salak served as captain of the Men's Volleyball team and was the team's most valuable player. He would also go on to earn All-American: East honors. He finished his career ranked third all-time in the NCAA in career kills.
After graduation, Salak played professionally around Europe (1999-2002) with stints in Torhout, Belgium; Basel, Switzerland; Lisbon, Portugal; and Patra, Greece.
“Volleyball has taken me full circle and I now feel like I am back where my roots are,” continued Salak. “I look forward to working with the student athletes of Brooklyn College and helping them to excel at volleyball as well as life. Go Bulldogs!”
Salak is currently the Founder and Head Coach of the Girl's Varsity Volleyball team at Park Slope Collegiate High School.
