RIO GRANDE VALLEY – A move several years in the making goes into effect today as longtime assistant volleyball coach Vini Baigan gets promoted to associate head coach of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley volleyball team.
 
Baigan was hired by head coach Todd Lowery in May 2015 as his first assistant coach at UTRGV. Lowery first started talking about promoting his assistant in their third year as a duo, but Baigan's immigration status delayed the move.
 
Today, the years of passion and knowledge Baigan has brought to make the Vaqueros successful culminate as he begins this new role.
 
"I got my green card back in June, so it made this possible. Todd asked if I was interested, and I said yes," Baigan said. "It's more of just a title change, but it's still exciting to see that you get recognized. I feel we're at a point where we're completely comfortable with each other. Honestly, I think it was meant to be because it was perfect timing."
 
Baigan spent three seasons as an assistant at Park University, each becoming the most successful in program history, and became acquainted with Lowery while he led the legacy institution University of Texas at Brownsville program. In 2014, Baigan helped Park defeat Lowery and UTB in the NAIA national championship match to cap a 40-0 season. Shortly after, Lowery convinced Baigan to join him at UTRGV.
 
"I saw the things he was doing with that university and how he was contributing to the success of the program," Lowery said. "He was helping out with recruiting and they recruited some quality athletes. I saw the way he interacted with the student-athletes and that he had a good knowledge of the game. Those are the things that first drew me to him."
 
Lowery and Baigan admit to having very different personalities, but they have built an incredible trust over the years that allows them "to be completely honest with each other and challenge each other without being offended."
 
"His strengths are different than my strengths. I think that was probably one of the biggest things that made me feel we had the makings of a good partnership," Lowery said. "We've learned each other and how to push each other forward to be better coaches."
 
Despite seemingly being a natural at coaching volleyball, Baigan didn't expect to be in this position while he was playing the sport at Park. He has a bachelor's degree in business marketing and a master's in international business, and he was sure he'd be returning to his home country of Brazil when his collegiate career was over.
 
"It never crossed my mind to be a coach, even though volleyball's been a big part of my life since I was nine years old," Baigan said. "But absolutely it was the right decision."
 
Lowery said he can trust Baigan with any task and know he'll complete it at the same level that Lowery would have. Whether it's running practice or hitting the road to recruit, and especially when it comes to keeping the program's budget in order thanks to his love of spreadsheets, Baigan has shown he is a vital asset to UTRGV.
 
Paulina Ramirez played for Lowery and Baigan from 2016-19, then joined the staff as an assistant coach after graduation. She said the connection between them was evident right off the bat.
 
"Todd never made it seem like Vini had less of a voice than him. I've always seen them as a team, so for me it's no surprise that Vini's becoming the associate head coach," Ramirez said. "Todd needs Vini as much as Vini needs Todd. They have the perfect balance."
 
Ramirez said what Baigan brings to the program is "unique." One example is how he heightens the family dynamic with his passion for cooking. For part of Ramirez's career, UTRGV would stay in an AirBNB instead of a hotel during road trips. Baigan would go grocery shopping and cook meals for the team while the student-athletes split the chores of helping and cleaning. Sitting around a table sharing a home-cooked meal helped the team bond on another level. 
 
Along with his delicious food and "insane" truffles, Ramirez lauded the way Baigan can read and push his players, like he did with her. She called him straight-forward, highly competitive, and very technical – all characteristics that make him a stellar coach.
 
"He doesn't care about who you were before you came into this program. He treats everyone the same when you get here and he's going to give everyone the same opportunities," Ramirez said. "As a player, he would tell me my truths, then he would say, 'I can see your potential, but it's going to be up to you.' And it was a lot of motivation. He's really good at making people want to play not just for him, but for each other."
 
In order to continue connecting with and inspiring each new and changing generation of student-athlete, Baigan is committed to learning and adjusting for the better of the program. 
 
"You always have to adapt," Baigan said. "I feel a lot of coaches think, 'I've always done it this way and I'm not going to change it.' But I'm open to listening to players because I was that kind of athlete. I didn't believe there was one right way to play volleyball, so I feel like in life, there are so many different ways to accomplish things and we have to be open to new ideas and new concepts."
 
The dedication Baigan has shown to progress and the UTRGV program is why he has earned his new position and why Lowery has always known he was the right person for the job. 
 
"This move is about Vini's growth as a coach," Lowery said. "Any time a program has long-term success, there's consistency within the staff. Vini and I have been that consistency at UTRGV. Promoting him to associate head coach is recognizing him for the work he has put in, will put in, and what we've built."

Support UTRGV Volleyball | Become a Fan on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter | Follow us on Instagram | Follow us on YouTube