Edgard da Gama e Silva Filho enters his third season with the Auburn volleyball program after being promoted to assistant coach in 2009. Silva spent his first season with the team as a volunteer assistant coach.

Silva, who goes by the name Dega, is originally from Curitiba, Brazil. He was an assistant coach to Bernardo Rezende for the Rexona Volleyball Club, a professional women[apos]s team in Brazil, from 2001-2004. Before that, he served as an intern with the same team from 1997-2000. He also served as an intern for the Brazilian National Team (1998-2000) and worked in his native country with several other volleyball club programs, including serving as the tournament coordinator of the 1989 South America Youth Volleyball Cup.

Dega earned his bachelor[apos]s degree in physical education from State University of Paraná, Brazil. He also completed a specialization of physical education with an emphasis on coaching from the same university.In 2007, Dega served as a volunteer assistant coach with the Washington State volleyball team. WSU marked his third stint in the college ranks, which included a stop at Eastern Washington under current Auburn head coach Wade Benson.

During his season at EWU, the Eagles earned BigSky Conference runner-up honors.

Following his season under Benson, Dega accepted an assistant coaching position with the North Idaho Women[apos]s College volleyball team.

The Cardinals went on to win the conference championship and finish fourth at NJCAA Nationals.

From 2004-06, he was the technical director and coach of the Skagit Volleyball Club, serving also as head coach during the 2005 season. He has also conducted Brazil Gold Volleyball Camps in the Washington for the past six years.