Across Continents and Courts: The Volleyball Story of Taylor Hammond

Taylor Hammond joined the Stanford staff as The Kawika and Erik Shoji Assistant Men's Volleyball Coach and Recruiting Coordinator in July 2023. He enters his first season with the Cardinal in 2024. Hammond comes to The Farm after spending the 2023 season as an assistant at UC San Diego. Prior to his stint with the Tritons, he was the top assistant and recruiting coordinator at Orange Coast College, leading the Pirates to a state championship in 2022. "Taylor is a great volleyball coach and has a wealth of recruiting experience. He is a very hard worker and incredibly diligent and professional," said The Birkhofer Family Head Men's Volleyball Coach John Kosty. In June 2023, Hammond served as an assistant coach for the United States U21 National Team, featuring current Cardinal outside hitter Alex Rottman. The pair earned a silver medal at the NORCECA Pan American Cup in Havana, Cuba. In 2021, Hammond was the volunteer assistant coach for the women's team at Auburn University. He has also coached at several clubs and high schools in Orange County, including Balboa Bay and 949 Athletics as well as Dana Hills High School (2017-20), El Toro High School (2019-20), and Santa Margarita High School (2018). A four-year starting setter for Penn State, Hammond was a four-time All-Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA) selection and was the conference Newcomer of the Year in 2013. The Nittany Lions won four EIVA titles and advanced to the national semifinals three times. A native of Mission Viejo, Hammond earned his bachelor's degree in communication arts and sciences from Penn State in 2016. Following graduation, he played professionally in Germany. With Netzhoppers of Königs Wusterhausen, he reached the semifinals of the German Cup and was twice honored as a match MVP.