Accomplished in both the collegiate and international realms, Erin Virtue enters her third year as the associate head coach for Northwestern’s women’s volleyball program.
She is also currently a consultant assistant coach for the U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team for the 2020 quadrennial, working with head coach Karch Kiraly. She previously helmed the U.S. Girls’ Youth National Team that captured silver at the 2016 NORCECA Women’s U18 Continental Championship.
In the summer of 2017, Virtue helped lead the U.S. Women’s National Team to the 16th Pan American Cup championship in Canete, Peru. Team USA finished the tournament with a 7-0 record en route to its record fifth Pan American Cup title. The team also finished fifth in the prestigious FIVB World Grand Prix in the same summer.
In total, Virtue has spent 11 seasons coaching in USA Volleyball’s High Performance program, mentoring athletes in the Select (U16), Youth (U18), and Junior (U20) age groups.
Virtue, a native of St. Charles, Illinois, previously spent after five years as an assistant at Michigan and worked at Cincinnati from 2007-10.
Virtue is a three-time recipient of the "30 Under 30" award, presented annually by the American Volleyball Coaches Association to honor up-and-coming coaching talents at all levels. She is one of only three coaches to earn the honor three times.
A standout setter at Illinois from 2001-05, Virtue has helped lead Taylor Tashima to cement herself as one of the most accomplished setters in Northwestern history. She also mentored Lexi Dannemiller at Michigan and Annie Fesl at Cincinnati, both of whom finished second in their respective program histories in career assists. Virtue helped Dannemiller to six Big Ten setter of the week awards and an All-Big Ten Freshman selection in 2011. At Cincinnati, Fesl earned three All-Big East selections.
Virtue served as the recruiting coordinator at both of her previous stops and consistently pulled in some of the nation's best classes. In her very first season at Michigan in 2012, she helped recruit the 12th-ranked class in the country, according to PrepVolleyball.com. In 2008 and 2009, she brought top-30 classes to Cincinnati and helped the Bearcats earn "Highest Honorable Mention" for their class from PrepVolleyball in 2010.
Both Michigan and Cincinnati enjoyed tremendous success with Virtue on staff. The Wolverines advanced to the national semifinals in 2012, while Cincinnati posted a 101-36 record during Virtue's four years there.
Virtue began her coaching career at Loyola (Chicago) in 2006, where she handled recruiting and worked with the setters.
She earned All-Big Ten and Honorable Mention All-America accolades while leading the Fighting Illini to the NCAA Round of 16 in 2003.
Virtue holds a degree in kinesiology.
She is also currently a consultant assistant coach for the U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team for the 2020 quadrennial, working with head coach Karch Kiraly. She previously helmed the U.S. Girls’ Youth National Team that captured silver at the 2016 NORCECA Women’s U18 Continental Championship.
In the summer of 2017, Virtue helped lead the U.S. Women’s National Team to the 16th Pan American Cup championship in Canete, Peru. Team USA finished the tournament with a 7-0 record en route to its record fifth Pan American Cup title. The team also finished fifth in the prestigious FIVB World Grand Prix in the same summer.
In total, Virtue has spent 11 seasons coaching in USA Volleyball’s High Performance program, mentoring athletes in the Select (U16), Youth (U18), and Junior (U20) age groups.
Virtue, a native of St. Charles, Illinois, previously spent after five years as an assistant at Michigan and worked at Cincinnati from 2007-10.
Virtue is a three-time recipient of the "30 Under 30" award, presented annually by the American Volleyball Coaches Association to honor up-and-coming coaching talents at all levels. She is one of only three coaches to earn the honor three times.
A standout setter at Illinois from 2001-05, Virtue has helped lead Taylor Tashima to cement herself as one of the most accomplished setters in Northwestern history. She also mentored Lexi Dannemiller at Michigan and Annie Fesl at Cincinnati, both of whom finished second in their respective program histories in career assists. Virtue helped Dannemiller to six Big Ten setter of the week awards and an All-Big Ten Freshman selection in 2011. At Cincinnati, Fesl earned three All-Big East selections.
Virtue served as the recruiting coordinator at both of her previous stops and consistently pulled in some of the nation's best classes. In her very first season at Michigan in 2012, she helped recruit the 12th-ranked class in the country, according to PrepVolleyball.com. In 2008 and 2009, she brought top-30 classes to Cincinnati and helped the Bearcats earn "Highest Honorable Mention" for their class from PrepVolleyball in 2010.
Both Michigan and Cincinnati enjoyed tremendous success with Virtue on staff. The Wolverines advanced to the national semifinals in 2012, while Cincinnati posted a 101-36 record during Virtue's four years there.
Virtue began her coaching career at Loyola (Chicago) in 2006, where she handled recruiting and worked with the setters.
She earned All-Big Ten and Honorable Mention All-America accolades while leading the Fighting Illini to the NCAA Round of 16 in 2003.
Virtue holds a degree in kinesiology.