While Nels Rydberg is just his second year with Wright State, having joined the staff in February 2007, he brings to WSU extensive experience as an assistant, having served in that role at several Division I schools including Arkansas State, Oregon and Cal Poly.

A police officer in Pismo Beach, California for three years before coming to WSU, Rydberg was most recently at Arkansas State as an assistant to current head coach Craig Cummings from March 2000-February 2002. He was involved in all areas of the program including skill development, practice planning, monitoring the academic progress of student-athletes, scouting, video analysis and camp administration.

Prior to ASU, Rydberg was also an assistant at Oregon for four seasons, Portland State for one and Cal Poly for three.

Rydberg also has head coaching experience as he led the Athletes in Action men's team on its tour of southeast Asia in 1998 and has been a club head coach on several occasions. He is certified as a Level I and II Volleyball Coach by the USA Volleyball Coaching Accreditation Program.

Along with his coaching experience, Rydberg has also contributed to the sport in writing. His article "Basic Motor Learning Principles for Coaching Volleyball" appeared in the August/September 1994 edition of Coaching Volleyball and he was a contributing author to the 1995 book Mental Training and Performance Enhancement Guide for Volleyball Coaches and Players.

Rydberg earned a bachelor's degree in kinesiology from Cal Poly in 1993.