This season (2022-2023) Gabe Rivera is the assistant coach for Roots Volleyball’s second 16s team – 16 Blue.

Last season (2021-2022) Gabe was the head coach for 16UA Blue and head coach for 17 Hickory. He led both teams to multiple medal finishes throughout the season. The previous season (2020-2021) he was the head coach for 16 Maple. In 2019-2020, Gabe served as the head coach for 15 HCI Black and the head coach for 12 HCI White. Previously (2018-2019), he was the head coach for 16 Under Armour. For the 2017-2018 Gabe served as the head coach for 16 HCI Under Armour and head coach for 15 HCI Black. The previous season (2016-2017), Rivera served as the head coach of 15 HCI Black, assistant coach for 17 Under Armour, and assistant coach for 14 HCI Grey. 17 Under Armour finished out their season with a top 25 finish at AAU Junior Nationals (Premier division).

Rivera came to Roots Volleyball with 4 years of collegiate coaching experience. He assisted on both the men and women’s volleyball teams at Baruch College (DIII) in New York City, New York. His teams won a collective 4 conference titles and advanced as far as the Elite Eight of the NCAA Division III Championship. Among Rivera’s former athletes are two All-Americans and a libero currently playing professional volleyball in Japan.

As an outside hitter/opposite, Rivera was a 3-year starter at Baruch College. His team reached the Division III Final Four in 2013. While at Baruch College he captured 3 conference titles, Regional and Conference All-Tournament Team awards, and was named team captain his senior year. He was coached by and worked closely with professional players from Puerto Rico, South America, France, Italy, and Russia. Rivera was a freshman redshirt for Mercy Hurst College (DII). Born and raised in New York, Rivera played 3 years of club with Long Island Volleyball Club (LIVBC). He is actively playing and continues to participate in USAV tournaments and the annual USAV Men’s National Championship.

Gabe served two seasons as the Director of Volleyball at Hill Country Indoor (HCI). He also provides private lesson training, which continues to strengthen our overall program. Gabe resides in Austin with his new wife, Rachel, and their dogs, Chunka and Bonnie. This is Gabe’s 6th season coaching with the Roots Volleyball family.