Coaching staff (indoor)

England national teams (Senior and Junior) are run by a dedicated and experienced team of volunteer coaches.

If you would like to coach in the national set-up and feel you have the right credentials, please email talent@volleyballengland.org for more information.

Indoor Performance Director

John Forman

John's coaching experience includes NCAA Divisions I, II, and III, Junior College, and Juniors levels in the US. In the UK, he's coached at the university and National Leagues levels. John also coached a professional team in Sweden.

He's spent time with teams and programmes from Juniors all the way up to the national team level in Argentina, England, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, and Switzerland.

In the US, John started and ran a Juniors programme that quickly became the largest and most influential in his home state, and continues to this day.

England Senior Head Coach, interim (Women)

Carol Gordon

Carol played in the National League in the 1990s and 2000s before tranisitioning into a coaching role, where she is now one of the most experienced and well respected in the country, helping Malory Eagles women to a Super League and National Cup double in 2024-25.

A qualified Referee and a Level 3 FIVB Coach, she has also held a number of different coaching roles in the England set-up, having served first as Men's Team Manager and then as Head Coach for the Cadet boys.

Carol's standing means that she has been inducted into the Volleyball England Hall of Fame after devoting much of her life to the sport.

England Senior Head Coach (Men)

Simon Loftus

Vastly-experienced coach Simon has coached at universities in the UK and USA and was coach of a professional volleyball team in Sweden.

At international level, he was part of the Great Britain volleyball coaching team for the London 2012 Olympics, has coached the Scottish national sides at junior and senior level and, in December 2023, led England’s Senior Men to their first every Novotel Cup victory.

Simon followed this up in January 2025 by leading England to victory in the Five Nations Championships, held at the National Volleyball centre, beating Scotland in the gold medal match.

Age Group Coaches

Below the Senior Head coaches, who also have responsibility for any U22 sides fielded, there are also coaches who lead England into action in NEVZA and CEV competitions, as well as on training camps at home and abroad.

The age categories are divided into U19/20 and U17/18, with each having a Head Coach, Team Manager and Assistant Coaches.

Volleyball England would like to thank all those who continue to contribute their time to help the development of the England Talent Pathway.