Magbitang Excited for Role on Husker Volleyball Staff

Before Nebraska athletics competitions were canceled for the rest of the academic year on March 12, Nebraska volleyball's newest coaching staff member Brian Magbitang had just dipped his toes in the water - or more accurately, sand - of the Nebraska volleyball world. 

Magbitang started his role as the Huskers' new video and administrative coordinator in mid-February. He replaced Beau Lawler, who became an assistant coach at Mississippi on Kayla Banwarth's staff. In his role, Magbitang handles all aspects of coordinating game film and inputting Data Volley statistics, as well as assisting director of operations Lindsay Peterson with day-to-day administrative duties.

Magbitang was previously at Oral Roberts as an assistant coach for the 2018 and 2019 seasons. After the contract of head coach Sheera Sirola was not renewed following the 2019 season, Magbitang was named the interim head coach for the Golden Eagles. But when the video coordinator position at Nebraska came open, it was too good of an opportunity for Magbitang to pass up. 

"I'm extremely impressed with the organization of everything, and getting to know everybody and the system has been interesting and fun," Magbitang said. "I'm just trying to get settled in and making sure I can keep up on my stuff to get ready for the indoor side. I would say 90 percent of my job is the stat and video coordination, making sure everything is accurate to devise what's important and what wins games. And then the administrative side is helping Lindsay with the logistics of getting meals and making sure the team and recruits and everything involved with the volleyball program is up to par."

A Wichita State alum, Magbitang is married to Grand Island native McKenzie Fyfe, the sister of former Husker quarterback Ryker Fyfe and a volleyball letterwinner at Wichita State (2014-15) and Central Oklahoma (2017-18). The couple met at Wichita State, where Magbitang spent six years, including two years as a graduate assistant. While at WSU, the Shockers made five NCAA Tournament appearances, reaching the program's first-ever NCAA Regional Semifinal with six AVCA All-America players. 

A California native, Magbitang arrived in Wichita for a United States Air Force assignment. He spent eight years in the Air Force as a technical sergeant, serving two overseas tours of duty in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. As an electrical and environmental systems mechanic, he earned two Air Force Achievement medals and was awarded an accelerated promotion given to less than five percent of all USAF members. With the Air Force, Magbitang was responsible for testing, troubleshooting, repairing and maintenance of assigned aircraft, primarily the KC-135. He also was a hands-on supervisor and resource manager in developing new Airman training programs.

Naturally, Magbitang aced his interview with Nebraska Head Coach John Cook, who himself is a licensed pilot and has flown in planes with the Nebraska National Guard and the Blue Angels. 

"That was part of our conversation. I'm hoping there was more that impressed him than just that," joked Magbitang.

While in Wichita with the USAF, Magbitang got into coaching on the club circuit and was eventually picked up by Wichita State as a volunteer assistant, where he learned the video and statistical side of coaching that he will use in his new role with the Huskers.

"That was my role in my last three years at Wichita State, helping the director of operations and doing the video coordination. I took a little break and did some coaching at Oral Roberts and now I'm back into it. I think I provide a good balance of the coach/technical coordinator where I can relay the information that matters."