Florida Gators

Skylar Lopas was hired as the new Volunteer Assistant Coach for the Gators in July of 2019. Lopas comes to Florida after three years at the University of North Florida, where he served as both assistant coach and recruiting coordinator.

During the 2021 campaign, Lopas helped lead the Gators to their 28th Regional Semifinal after grabbing the No. 16 seed in the NCAA Tournament. It was Florida’s 31st consecutive NCAA Tournament, the third-longest active streak in the nation. In his third season with the team, the Gators finished the year 22-9, with a 14-4 record in the SEC. Lopas tutored three All-Americans, including Second Team honoree Marlie Monserez, along with six SEC selections. Florida finished the 2021 season ranked in the Top-10 in both assists per set (7th | 13.22) and hitting percentage (8th | .290), while sitting in the Top-20 in both kills per set (14th | 14.08) and blocks per set (19th | 2.63).  

During the unprecedented COVID year where volleyball was the first high-risk indoor sport to start its fall season, the Gators finished the 2020-21 campaign with a stellar 21-4 record – the 30th consecutive season the team has won at least 21 matches. Lopas continued to work primarily with the middle blockers. The SEC settled on a conference-only regular season, split into both a fall and spring. The format consisted of back-to-back matches against the same opponent and Florida finished the regular season 19-3 in the league, good for second overall. The Gators ranked first in the conference and 13th in the nation in blocks per set (2.75), led by Lauren Dooley’s league-leading 1.40 blocks per set. During the season, Dooley and earned back-to-back-to-back SEC Defensive Player of the Week awards – becoming just the second person to achieve that feat (Rhamat Alhassan). Lauren Forte led the league in hitting percentage (.463) and was 12th in the conference in blocks per set (0.90). In total, five Gators – T’ara Ceasar (2nd), Lauren Forte (3rd), Holly Carlton (HM), Thayer Hall (HM) and Marlie Monserez (HM) – earned AVCA All-America honors, while Carlton, Ceasar, Forte and Hall were all named to the All-SEC Team. McKissock rounded out the conference awards, finding a spot on the All-Freshman Team.  
 
In his first season with the Gators, he worked primarily with the middle blockers. During the 2019 season, Florida advanced to the program’s 26th Regional Semifinal, going 27-5 overall. With a league record of 16-2, Florida clinched its 24th SEC Championship – the third-best total in the entire conference among all sports since volleyball’s inception into the SEC in 1979. The Gators ranked first in the conference and eighth in the nation in hitting percentage (.287), led by Kramer, who’s .410 clip put her first in the league and eighth in the conference overall. Defensively, Florida ranked first in the conference in blocks per set with 2.49. The squad sat second in the conference in opponent hitting percentage, limiting teams to a .183 clip. In total, two Gators – Thayer Hall and Rachael Kramer – earned AVCA All-America honors, while Hall, Kramer and Paige Hammons were named to the All-SEC Team.  
 
Lopas boasts a plethora of Division I experience and will make a direct impact with the Gators this season.
While with the Ospreys, Lopas mainly worked with the middle blockers. During the 2016 and 2017 seasons, the team led the ASUN in total blocks. In the 2017 season, UNF had a pair of middle blockers finish in the top 10 in the ASUN in blocks per set as Alana Shoff finished in third and Taryn Griffey finished in 10th. 
During the 2016 season, UNF had another pair of middle blockers finish in the top 10 in blocks per set in the league as Morgan Van Alstine led the league and Erin Edwards finished in fifth.

Under his tutelage, four Ospreys earned All-Conference honors and one player was named ASUN Freshman of the Year.

Prior to UNF, Lopas served as the volunteer assistant coach at the University of Michigan. His duties included working with the middle blockers, as well as breaking down opponents and scouting reports.

He helped the Wolverines improve their RPI by 17 points and boost their win total by seven. During his 2015 campaign with the Wolverines he coached AVCA second team All-American Abby Cole and helped lead the Wolverines to an NCAA tournament appearance which included regular season wins over three top 20 schools, including at #4 Penn State. 
Prior to working with Michigan, Lopas spent time at Bishop Moore Catholic High School in Orlando, where he was the assistant coach of the varsity men's volleyball team. He also coached the Orlando Gold Volleyball club team since October 2013. Lopas was the head coach of the 18-year-old squad and the assistant to the 14U team.

The Orlando native was also a varsity assistant coach for the women's team and a substitute teacher at Freedom High School in Orlando in the fall of 2013.