April Ross Nurtures the Next Wave of American Beach Volleyball Talent Ahead of LA28

TOKYO, JAPAN – AUGUST 06: April Ross #1 of Team United States celebrates after defeating Team Australia during the Women’s Gold Medal Match on day fourteen of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Shiokaze Park on August 06, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

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From Reluctant Volleyball Player to NCAA Champion to Olympic Champion, April Ross has been on a journey of winning as a player and hopes to pass on her winning ways as the Head Beach Coach for USA Volleyball.

This is part 1 of a 2-part story based on a Forbes exclusive interview with April Ross Wednesday August 13, 2026. Part 2 will be published Sunday August 23. 2026. All quotes are taken directly from a transcript of the interview.

Twenty-four months before Los Angeles welcomes the world for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, April Ross occupies a different role than the one that made her a household name in American beach volleyball. No longer pursuing an Olympic medal, she is now focused on guiding the next generation of American women toward theirs.

Ross, a three-time Olympic medalist who secured bronze, silver, and gold across three Games, now serves as head coach of the U.S. women’s beach volleyball team heading into LA28. Her unique transition from athlete to coach offers a rare perspective: she has navigated Olympic pressure, experienced heartbreak, stood atop the podium, and ultimately embraced the freedom of understanding that an athlete’s identity transcends the color of their medal.

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Ross’s journey began not as a determined athlete, but as a reluctant participant in sports. Her father, a former basketball and wrestling player who coached her in soccer and other activities, noticed her height and athleticism and encouraged her to try volleyball. Though initially disinterested, Ross was eventually drawn to the sport, crediting her parents for fostering an environment where effort—not outcomes—defined success. “My parents never put pressure on me to win,” she recalls. “They asked if I gave everything I had. That internal motivation became my driving force.”

Her mother served as an emotional anchor, offering support during struggles that built her resilience. This dual foundation of encouragement and emotional balance shaped Ross into both a formidable player and a coach prioritizing mental fortitude alongside physical skill.

Ross’s non-specialized youth—playing multiple sports until eighth grade—laid the groundwork for her elite career. At USC, her athletic versatility converged with rigorous training, propelling her to two NCAA championships. She describes the team’s cohesion as “values aligned in a way that’s not always natural.” Despite intense competition, teammates embraced their roles, including a B-side captain who championed the bench players, fostering a culture of collective excellence. “Everyone committed 100%,” Ross emphasizes, underscoring how talent and unity merged to create sustained success.

Ross learned early that culture determines whether talent translates into performance. Her Olympic journey culminated in Tokyo, where she and Alix Klineman claimed gold after years of refining their approach. Rejecting overanalysis of past losses, Ross embraced presence over pressure, recognizing that “the Olympics is one tournament” where countless variables converge. This mindset—prioritizing readiness and mental clarity—now defines her coaching philosophy as she prepares the U.S. team for LA28.

From her own Olympic highs and lows, Ross understands the razor-thin margins that define elite sport. Her ability to channel pressure into performance—both as a player and now a coach—positions her to cultivate the next generation of American beach volleyball stars poised to shine in her hometown Olympic Games.

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