bio
Coach Austin is a graduate student at Sacred Heart University, where he also competes on the Men’s Volleyball team. Originally from Moscow, Idaho, Austin comes from a volleyball-centric family; his mother, Debbie Buchanan, was the head coach of the University of Idaho women’s volleyball team for over two decades. Austin, who is pursuing a degree in business administration, has a deep passion for the sport, having played for top club teams like NCVC, Pac Rim VC, and Bay to Bay VC. He was also named to the VolleyballMag.com Fab 50 as one of the top setters in his class.
Before coming to Sacred Heart, Austin played for the University of Hawaii, where he spent three seasons with the Men’s Volleyball team. As a sophomore in 2023, he appeared in five matches, making two starts and recording a career-high 31 assists and five digs in a match against Belmont Abbey. Known for his strong setting ability, Austin averaged 7.88 assists per set that season and was named to the Big West Commissioner’s Honor Roll. His performances at Hawaii followed an impressive high school career at Monte Vista High in Danville, California, where he helped lead his team to its first conference championship and regional runner-up finish.
In addition to his athletic achievements, Austin has been recognized for his leadership and work ethic both on and off the court. At Monte Vista, he was a first-team all-league selection and recorded 570 assists and 49 aces during his junior year. Throughout his volleyball career, Austin has been invited to prestigious camps and played on Northern California High Performance teams for three years.