This season (2023-2024) Cliff Bergfeld is the assistant coach for Root Volleyball’s top 13s team – 13-1 Green.

Cliff’s volleyball philosophy consists of three important ideas: 1. Work Hard: effort, purposeful actions and knowledge of the sport will create success, play as if your next coach is watching from the stands; 2. Be a Leader: in the classroom, on the court, the bench, and at home, be the role model you want to have; and 3. Use the gym as a classroom to learn life’s best lessons: teamwork, goal setting, sportsmanship, success, failure, etc.

His day job is as a healthcare executive and attorney for one of the nation’s largest healthcare organizations. Volleyball coaching is his avocation. However, please know, Cliff is passionate for the sport, he is dedicated to the athletes and is an advocate for youth athletics.

Cliff’s volleyball career began as a player. He competed at the varsity Junior College level from January 1995 through May 1996 for Ohlone College in Fremont, California and received 2nd Team All-Conference honors. He competed as a member of the University at Buffalo Men’s Volleyball Team from January 1997 through May of 1998. During the 1998 season, UB achieved a conference championship and an 8th place finish overall at NIRSA Men’s Club Nationals. Additionally, Cliff competed as an Open/AA level Grass and Beach Volleyball player for many years in many events – AVP Qualifier Tour, NCVA Grass Doubles Series, NOVA Beach Series, and the Motherlode.

Cliff’s coaching career started as the head coach of the Mission San Jose High School (Fremont, CA) women’s volleyball team in the fall of 1995. Returning home to Austin, he worked for Coach Lietzke as a coach for the University of Texas Summer Camp programs and coached a 14U team at Austin Junior Volleyball in Spring 1997. After moving to Western New York, Clif was head coach for the Depew High School women’s volleyball program (Depew, NY) in the fall of 1997; served as the assistant coach for D’Youville College women’s volleyball program,. Under his guidance they secured a conference championship with three athletes achieving All-Conference honors and one receiving National Small College All-American accolades in 1998. He then spent time as an assistant coach for the University at Buffalo women’s volleyball (MAC Conference DI) during the 1999-2000 season. This past season (2022-2023) Cliff Bergfeld is the head coach for Root Volleyball’s Rise team – 12 Cedar. The previous season (2021-2022) Cliff Bergfeld served as the head coach for Root Volleyball’s top 12s team – 12 Under Armour.

Presently, he lives in Buda, Texas with his wife, Deborah and two daughters. They are a busy family who like to travel, play outdoors, golf, hunt, snow ski, and of course play volleyball. He looks forward to helping all the Roots Volleyball athletes achieve their best. This will be Cliff’s 3rd season coaching with the Roots Volleyball family.