Cliff Barany

Cliff Barany is a Nike Volleyball Camp Director.

With more than 15 years of experience as a player, coach, and program director, Coach Cliff brings a lifelong passion for volleyball and athlete development to Nike Volleyball Camps. He is the co-founder of Greater Metro Area Volleyball , an advanced adult league based in Metuchen, New Jersey, which he continues to run and compete in weekly as a middle blocker. In addition to volleyball, Cliff is a current member of Team USA Fistball, a volleyball-adjacent international sport widely played in Europe and South America, and continues to travel internationally representing the United States in competition. His ongoing involvement as an athlete provides him with a unique, modern understanding of high-level play, longevity, and skill development.
As a coach and director, Coach Cliff has spent many years working with athletes ages 10–15, as well as leading adult clinics and training programs. For his full time job, he is Co-Founder of Rec It Volleyball, a Middlesex County–based youth training organization that serves more than 2,000 athletes annually. In this role, he oversees curriculum development, creates detailed lesson plans for staff, and manages a team of 30 coaches year-round. Rec It Volleyball also operates its own tournament series at multiple levels, intentionally structuring rules and formats to emphasize skill growth, confidence, and appreciation for the game rather than pressure solely focused on winning.
Coach Cliff believes the first two years of an athlete’s volleyball development are the most critical. During this foundational stage, his focus is on teaching correct technique, building strong habits, preventing injury, and fostering a genuine love for the sport. While competition has its place, he emphasizes long-term skill development and personal growth over short-term results. Volleyball, in his view, is also a powerful vehicle for building social confidence, teamwork, and lifelong relationships—values he has experienced firsthand through decades in the game. As Nike Camp Director for summer programs in Union County, Coach Cliff is committed to creating a positive, engaging environment where athletes develop skills that will support them both on and off the court for years to come.