STANFORD, Calif. – Taylor Hammond and Spencer Wickens have been named assistant coaches for the Stanford men's volleyball program, as announced by The Birkhofer Family Men's Volleyball Head Coach John Kosty.
Hammond will serve as The Kawika and Erik Shoji Assistant Men's Volleyball Coach and the program's Recruiting Coordinator, while Wickens will be The Al Roderigues Assistant Men's Volleyball Coach.
"I am excited to welcome both Taylor and Spencer to the Stanford family," said Kosty, who completed his 17th season at the helm of the program in 2023.
Hammond comes to The Farm after spending the 2023 season as an assistant at UC San Diego. Prior to his stint with the Tritons, he was the top assistant and recruiting coordinator at Orange Coast College, leading the Pirates to a state championship in 2022.
"Taylor is a great volleyball coach and has a wealth of recruiting experience. He is a very hard worker and incredibly diligent and professional," said Kosty.
In June, Hammond served as an assistant coach for the United States U21 National Team, featuring current Cardinal outside hitter Alex Rottman. The pair earned a silver medal at the NORCECA Pan American Cup in Havana, Cuba.
"I am grateful for the opportunity to join Coach Kosty and Stanford men's volleyball," said Hammond. "Stanford has always upheld a strong tradition of academic and athletic excellence. I look forward to working with our student-athletes, coaching staff, and support staff to continue and help elevate that tradition. Go Cardinal!"
In 2021, Hammond was the volunteer assistant coach for the women's team at Auburn University. He has also coached at several clubs and high schools in Orange County, including Balboa Bay and 949 Athletics as well as Dana Hills High School (2017-20), El Toro High School (2019-20), and Santa Margarita High School (2018).
A four-year starting setter for Penn State, Hammond was a four-time All-Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA) selection and was the conference Newcomer of the Year in 2013. The Nittany Lions won four EIVA titles and advanced to the national semifinals three times.
A native of Mission Viejo, Hammond earned his bachelor's degree in communication arts and sciences from Penn State in 2016. Following graduation, he played professionally in Germany. With Netzhoppers of Königs Wusterhausen, he reached the semifinals of the German Cup and was twice honored as a match MVP.
Wickens makes his way to The Farm after serving as a graduate manager with the Nebraska women's volleyball team in 2022. Wickens was also the Volleyball Club Nebraska (VCN) 16 Elite head coach this spring.
"Spencer is going to bring great energy and passion to our program while enriching our student-athlete experience," said Kosty.
Wickens played collegiately at Pepperdine from 2018-22. An outside hitter who also spent time at libero, he played in 114 matches and totaled 470 kills and 384 digs in five season with the Waves.
Wickens was named an AVCA Second Team All-American and All-MPSF First Team selection in 2021. A five-time Pepperdine Scholar-Athlete and four-time MPSF All-Academic pick, he helped lead the Waves to the 2022 MPSF Tournament title and appearance in their third NCAA Tournament during his time with the program.
"I am excited for this opportunity to work for a historic institution and volleyball program," said Wickens. "I cannot thank Coach Kosty enough for giving me the chance to learn from him and to help lead an incredible group of young men."
An Irondequoit, New York native, Wickens earned his degree in sport administration from Pepperdine in 2021. He is the son of Cal Wickens, the head men's and women's volleyball coach at Nazareth University in Rochester, New York.
"I look forward to watching both of our new coaches build upon the successes of our volleyball program," added Kosty.