Volleyball | 8/16/2024 10:00:00 AM

BALTIMORE, Md. (August 16, 2024) -- Morgan State head volleyball head coach Xiomara Ortiz has named Michael Rainbow as assistant coach for the upcoming 2024 volleyball season.

"I am excited to add an experienced and local coach, such as Mike to our staff," said Ortiz. "One of my goals is to build our program so adding staff members is part of that!" 

"Mike has 20 years of experience in all levels," added Ortiz. "He knows how to get the best out of his athletes while still challenging them to do more. He has prepared athletes to become DI,DII, and DIII collegiate ready athletes and now it's exciting to have him be a part of the collegiate side of the game! He will be responsible for setter training and assisting with practices."

Michael brings a wealth of experience to Morgan State, having coached at the collegiate, high school, and USAV club levels for the past two decades. Michael is currently the Head Coach, Technical Director, and Recruiting Coordinator for Columbia Volleyball Academy in Columbia, Maryland. Previously he served as the Setting Technical Lead and 17U National Head Coach with Virginia Elite. 

Michael, a native of Wilmington, Delaware, has a deep-rooted passion for volleyball that began during his formative years as a player in both high school and college. His journey as a coach commenced in the year 2000 at the club level, where he honed his skills and developed a keen understanding of the game. Michael's coaching career has since expanded to encompass high school and collegiate levels, where he has consistently guided his players to remarkable achievements. His ability to identify and nurture talent has led to his players being recruited by prestigious universities such as Towson, Lafayette, Tennessee, UMBC, Quinnipiac, Bucknell, UMES, University of Delaware, Liberty, Loyola, Morgan State, and Holy Family, among others.

Prior to joining Morgan State, he taught and lives in Carroll County Maryland where he also served as the Head Coach at Liberty High School in Eldersburg, MD from 2013-2018 where his exceptional leadership guided the team to remarkable achievements. In recognition of his outstanding contributions, he was honored with the prestigious Carroll County Times Coach of the Year Award in both 2014 and 2015. Under his guidance, Liberty High School secured consecutive conference championships and an unforgettable Regional Championship in 2015. Before his time at Liberty High School, the coach made a notable impact at Mount de Sales Academy in Catonsville.

He is also the founder and Head Coach of M2 Volleyball Training based in Columbia, Maryland and continues to be a guest coach at collegiate camps and clinics around the country. Michael is an AVCA member, CAP 1 Certified, IMPACT, and First Aid & CPR/AED certified. 

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ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering nearly 140 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu