Head Coach

Eric Sato

One of the most recognizable personalities in American volleyball, Eric Sato leads Parker's volleyball program as Girl's Head Coach. Appointed as girl's head coach in the summer of 2001, Sato provides Lancer volleyball teams with a wealth of knowledge and experience gained from a stellar playing career, and has continued Parker's storied success in the sport. In his seven seasons at the helm, Sato has guided Lancer girls' varsity squads to the 2004 and 2005 CIF Division IV state championships and four CIF-San Diego Section D-IV titles ('02, '04, '05 '06), while making six straight CIF Finals appearances. His teams have also captured seven consecutive Coastal League South championships. He was named San Diego County and California State Coach of the Year for the 2004 girls' season, and repeated as SD CountyCoach of the Year in 2005. Sato's first boys' team as head coach captured CIF D-IV and Western League championships in 2006, and as an assistant coach he also contributed to the previous six consecutive CIF & Western League titles earned by Parker boys' volleyball teams since 2000. He also led the Parker boys' JV squad to an undefeated season in his first season with the Lancers.

Known as the best defensive specialist in the world in the late '80's and early '90's while playing for the USA National Team, Sato is a two-time Olympic medallist (Gold '88, Bronze '92), and also owns gold medals from the 1986 World Championships and the 1987 Pan-Am Games, and bronze medals from the 1991 World Cup and the 1994 World Championships. Sato was also a member of two USA Volleyball Open national championship teams, and was also named Defensive Player of the Year on the 4-man pro beach tour in 1997. The head women's coach at Grossmont College from 1998-2000, Sato led the Griffins to Pacific Coast Conference championships in 1999 and 2000, earning conference Coach of the Year honors both seasons. In 2003, he was honored by USA Volleyball as one of the members of USAV's 75th Anniversary All-Era (1978-2002) Team. Also a highly sought clinician, Sato is an assistant coach for the girls' 18-1 team at Epic Volleyball Club, and has previously coached for Starlings, San Diego, and Seaside Volleyball Clubs. Sato joined the coaching staff of Karch Kiraly Volleyball Academy in 2007.

The CIF San Diego Section named Sato 2005-2006 CIFSDS Coach of the Year.