Brent Crouch begins his fifth season at the helm of the Auburn Volleyball program in 2024. Crouch and the Tigers continue to reset the bar for what's possible on the Plains, coming off back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time since 1991-92.

The 2023 campaign saw Crouch and the Tigers reach new heights once that improbable at Auburn. A 20-10 overall mark with a 10-8 record in SEC play gave the Tigers a second straight trip to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history. Not only did the orange and blue earn a berth to the big dance but the Tigers claimed a seeded spot (No. 7) for the first time. 

Crouch's fourth year at the wheel brought a number of signature moments, including Auburn's first win in Gainesville over then-No.9 Florida to signal the programs first top 10 victory as well. Combined with the win over the Gators, Auburn knocked off South Carolina two days later as sophomore Maddie Scheer hit north of .400 and averaged above 4.0 kills per set across both matches to pick up AVCA National Player of the Week. It was just the second time in school history a Tiger had collected the honor. 

Two more milestones were crossed off during the 2023 season for crouch. He became the fastest coach in the rally scoring era to 50 wins at Auburn and picked up his 150th career win. 

In 2022, Auburn earned a berth into the NCAA Tournament for just the second time in school history and the first since 2010. A first-round victory over host and No. 14 Creighton provided the program with its second postseason win and first triumph over a nationally-ranked opponent since 2017.

The feat came on the heels of a historic season that saw the Tigers begin the season with a record mark of 14-0 and a record start to SEC play at 3-0. The 22 total victories on the season were the most in the 25-point rally-scoring era and the most since 1998. The Tigers also picked up its first win in Columbia, Missouri.

Under Crouch’s guidance, Akasha Anderson, Madison Scheer and Kendal Kemp each garnered All-Conference Honors. Anderson and Kemp also picked up AVCA postseason accolades with Anderson grabbing South Region Freshman of the Year and All-Region. Meanwhile, Kemp solidified Honorable Mention. Auburn Volleyball student-athletes also picked up a record 10 SEC weekly awards.

Crouch wasn’t left out of the postseason awards season, securing AVCA South Region Coach of the Year, the first such award for the Tiger Volleyball program.

Fans on the Plains saw Auburn become one of the most potent blocking teams in the Southeastern Conference in 2022. Crouch’s guidance helped the Tigers break records for most block assists in a single season (520), total blocks (312.0) and tie for the most blocks in a four-set match (17 vs. Troy).

The Orange and Blue wall’s foundation was laid by then-freshman Kendal Kemp. The Eagan, Minnesota product shattered single-season records for solo blocks (26), block assists (154), total blocks (180) and blocks per set (1.48).

During his first full season leading the Auburn program in 2021, Crouch’s leadership had an immediate effect. The Tigers opened the season winning 17 consecutive sets to tie the program record for most sweeps to begin a season (5), matching the 1974 Auburn team. Crouch led the team to a 13-15 record with a 5-13 mark in the SEC, picking up a season sweep over Alabama, the first Auburn win over Missouri since 1996 and the program’s first victory in College State with a win over Texas A&M.

Crouch’s expertise led to six total SEC weekly honors, splitting three on offense and three on defense. Individually, the Tigers also set nine individual records during the 2021 campaign. 

Individually, it was Rebakah Rath and Tatum Shipes who benefited the most from Crouch’s development. Shipes led the SEC in blocking and set records in blocks, block assists and blocks per set. Meanwhile, Rath led the SEC in five offensive categories, setting records in kills and kills per set.

Crouch made his Auburn coaching debut against No. 4 Florida on Oct. 21, 2020, to open the shortened fall volleyball schedule. Crouch led the Tigers on the court for eight total matches and his impact on the Plains was noticeable almost immediately, tying the record for most blocks in a four-set with 17 at South Carolina.

Prior to Auburn, Crouch served as the head coach at the University of South California, compiling a 40-25 record. He would lead the Trojans to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in both years in Los Angeles. In 2018, Crouch’s Trojans earned the No. 11 overall seed in the Tournament and the No. 21 ranking in the final AVCA Coaches poll of the year.

Along with numerous Pac-12 accolades, Crouch helped Raquel Lazaro, Brooke Botkin and Khalia Lanier to AVCA All-American honors while with the Trojans. Lanier, a two-time All-American, became just the fifth player in Pac-12 history to record 2,000 kills and 1,000 digs in her career.

Before leading the Trojans, Crouch spent four seasons as head coach of the University of Portland. The 2016 West Coach Conference Coach of the Year inherited a winless program and guided the Pilots to its winningest season in 25 years just two seasons later. His 48 victories in his final three years in the Rose City was the best three-season total since 1984-86. He put Portland on the WCC map, earning wins over top-10, top-15 and top-25 opponents while in charge of the Pilots. Crouch coached three All-WCC First Team selections, a WCC All-Freshman Team honoree and three WCC All-Academic First Teamers. He also established Beach Volleyball as a varsity sport at Portland in 2016.

Crouch arrived at Portland after four seasons (2010-13) at Saint Mary's College, where he was an assistant with the indoor program and head coach of the beach team.

During his time with the Gaels, Saint Mary’s went 73-40, finished top-3 in the WCC standings in each season and earned a berth into the NCAA Tournament in 2012. Off the court, Crouch also mentored several WCC All-Academic honorees and helped the team to the department’s highest GPA, an NCAA Public Recognition Award and an AVCA Academic Award.

Crouch also coached the inaugural Saint Mary's Beach team in 2013, guiding the Gaels to an 8-2 record, the best mark among all Northern California teams as well as a No. 9 national ranking and a bid to the AVCA national championship for the program's top pairs team.

The Texas native also has coaching experience with the USA Volleyball program, including working with U.S. Women's National Team head coach Karch Kiraly, acting as an assistant with the U.S. Collegiate National Team that captured a gold medal at the 2016 U22 Global Challenge and serving as both an indoor and beach coach in the USA Volleyball High Performance program.

A graduate of Texas A&M University in 1998, he also holds a Master’s Degree in Philosophy (2000) from A&M and a Doctorate in Philosophy from the University of Oregon (2006). Crouch has held various teaching positions in philosophy at Oregon, San Diego City College and Saint Mary’s.

Crouch led the Texas A&M Club Volleyball Team from 1993 -97. His beach career included AVP and CBVA events from 2005-07, highlighted by a second-place finish at the 2005 California Cup State Championship.

Brent and his wife Marcy have two sons, Jonathan and William.