Rachel Nieto

Rachel Nieto is in her second year as an assistant coach in 2021-22 after serving as the Bears' volunteer assistant coach for the 2020 season.

Nieto was named as a 2021 American Volleyball Coaches Association Thirty Under 30 Award Winner for her work coaching the Bears in her first season as a full-time assistant. Nieto helped the Bears to a 16-13 record as Cal claimed five ranked wins and four wins over top-10 teams. The four top-10 wins in 2021 equaled the amount Cal had in program history prior to 2021. The Bears defeated No. 6 Hawaii, No. 8 Arizona and twice defeated Stanford while they were ranked in the top 10. Cal also claimed a win over No. 11 Pepperdine to round out their ranked wins. Cal moved up to No. 8 in the AVCA Poll early in the 2021 season, the highest the Bears have been ranked in school history.

Nieto helped guide the Bears to a 9-1 record before the season was canceled due to COVID-19 in the spring. Cal finished the year ranked No. 9 in the final AVCA Poll, the highest-ever ranking in school history. The team was on a nine-game winning streak and their last match was a 3-2 victory over no. 5 USC when the season was canceled.

Prior to Cal, Nieto has coached with Los Alamitos High School, working with the indoor team. She has also worked with SandSoul Beach Volleyball Club and Kleos Volleyball Club.

Nieto has a long history as a successful beach volleyball player. As a collegiate player at Long Beach State, she earned a first-team AVCA All-America honors and was a three-time first-team Big West selection. She holds the record for most wins in Long Beach State school history, playing as part of the school's top pair for her final three seasons.

Nieto helped Long Beach State to a runner-up finish at the 2015 AVCA Beach Volleyball Championships and helped the team qualify for the 2017 NCAA Championship. She also served as a defensive specialist on the 49ers' indoor team throughout her collegiate career.

Nieto graduated from Long Beach State in 2017 with a degree in psychology and obtained a master's degree in sport and exercise psychology from Long Beach State in 2019. She is a native of Walnut Creek and attended Las Lomas High School.