Coach Vanderboegh

Ryan Vanderboegh

Ryan Vanderboegh begins his first season with the Lady Eagles and his first as a college volleyball coach, ushering in a new chapter for the Pensacola Christian College volleyball program. Though new to the collegiate level, Vanderboegh brings with him a deep love for athletics, a strong competitive drive, and a Christ-centered coaching philosophy shaped by years of experience in Christian education and youth sports.

Coach Vanderboegh's passion for coaching is rooted in his own athletic journey. Growing up in a family deeply involved in Christian school ministry, he had the privilege of playing under several influential coaches across multiple states, from Illinois to Alabama to Pennsylvania to Florida. These mentors instilled in him not just a love for the game, but a desire to invest in the lives of others through sports.

Coach Vanderboegh has an extensive coaching background across multiple sports and age groups. He has coached middle school, junior varsity, and varsity boys’ basketball, golf, middle school girls’ soccer, and his favorite by far, junior varsity and varsity volleyball. His varsity volleyball teams won back-to-back NCCSA state championships in 2021 and 2022. He has also enjoyed coaching his sons’ Little League baseball teams, reinforcing his belief that effective coaching starts with caring about the person, not just the player.

His coaching philosophy is built on three core values:
  1. Love God and trust Him no matter what
  2. Develop the abilities God has given
  3. Be an example of a believer to those around you.
Coach Vanderboegh is a firm believer that excellence in athletics is not at odds with faith, it’s an opportunity to glorify God. “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” Coach emphasizes 1 Corinthians 10:31 as a foundation for his competitive mindset and team culture.

Team chemistry and leadership, according to Vanderboegh, begin with the coach. He believes in building genuine relationships with his players and fostering unity through off-court bonding experiences like game nights, trips, and service opportunities. These investments often translate into stronger communication, trust, and performance on the court.

As a student-athlete at PCC, Vanderboegh left a lasting legacy on the basketball court, scoring 1,502 career points in high school, including a school-record 46-point performance in his final game. He still holds the Berks County (PA) record for most three-pointers in a game (11) and the career record for three-pointers made for the PCC Eagles (285). His time as an Eagle taught him invaluable life lessons, including facing adversity (including recovering from a torn ACL), managing time, building relationships, and sharing his faith through sports.

His journey back to PCC is a testimony to God’s guidance. After 16 years in K-12 education, Ryan and his wife Laci began seeking new ministry opportunities following a medical missions trip to Honduras. Though initially exploring long-term missions, the Lord redirected their path and eventually opened the door to return to PCC. Now, Coach Vanderboegh views this role not only as a coaching opportunity but as a platform to encourage spiritual growth and character development in his players. He and Laci are also prayerfully exploring opportunities to lead short-term missions trips with students in the future.

Life Verse:
Psalm 90:12: "So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." This verse serves as a reminder to Coach Vanderboegh of life’s brevity and the importance of seeking God’s wisdom daily.