Began: 2019
Season: 2020 will be his second season at Webber
Overall Record At Webber Entering 2020 Season: 7-11 (1 season; .389 winning percentage)
Accolades: One Mid-South Conference Tournament appearance (2019)
Coach Eric Praetorius began his first year as the Head Men's Volleyball Coach at Webber International University during the 2019 season. He was announced as the Warriors' new head coach in December 2018.
During his first season leading the Warriors, Webber made the transition to the Mid-South Conference, tied for third in the MSC South Division and made the MSC Conference Tournament. The season also featured the Warriors' first victory over their Crooked Lake rival Warner University in program history, a 3-2 win at home on March 27, 2019.
Webber also had three all-conference picks during Praetorius' first year in Babson Park, Florida, as Luke Taffer was named First-Team All-Mid-South Conference while Liam Gilchrist and Steven Bartlett were each named to the second-team.
Coach Praetorius is no stranger to the Tampa area. Having been the owner and CEO of the Tampa Elite Sports Center and the Head Volleyball Coach with Tampa Elite Volleyball Club since 2011, Praetorius coached all age groups from U12 to U18 in indoor and beach volleyball. He also coached 10 AAU National Championship All-Tournament Team players and one AAU National Championship MVP during his tenure.
Coach Praetorius was named the American Volleyball Coaches Association Coach of the Year in 2013 and was the USA Volleyball Florida Region Outstanding Junior Coach in both 2012 and in 2014. In 2015, he earned the Tampa Tribune “Best of the Best” Coaching Award and the USA Volleyball Florida Region Director of the Year award. He coached his club teams to an AAU National Championship in 2014 and AAU National Championship runner-up finishes in 2015 and 2016. In 2017, he was an assistant coach for his club team that won the USA Volleyball Junior Olympic Championship in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Praetorius is also a very established High School Head Coach in Tampa. In 2017, Coach Praetorius was named Florida High School Athletic Association 3A Coach of the Year while leading Carrollwood Day School to a Florida High School Athletic Association State Championship.
Coach Praetorius finished his five-year tenure at Carrollwood Day with an overall record of 112-16, helping guide his team to four district championships, three regional championships and a Class 4A State Title in 2017, FHASS State Runner up in 2014 and FHSAA Final Four in 2015. Coach Praetorius was previously awarded the Florida High School Athletic Association 4A Coach of the Year and the Hillsborough County Coach of the Year. In 2015, Coach Praetorius was award the Tampa Tribune “Best of the Best” Award and earned the Hillsborough County Volleyball Coach of the Year award.
Praetorius was also a varsity volleyball coach at Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School (2017-Present). At Bishop McLaughlin, Coach Praetorius was the Co-Head Girls Varsity Volleyball Coach for Florida’s 3A Division State Finalists in 2018, helping lead his squad to a Class 3A District 4 Championship, Class 3A Regional Championship and a Class 3A State Runner-Up finish.
Coach Praetorius is a native of Syracuse, New York, who attended St. John Fisher College in Rochester, New York, where he was a four-year member of the varsity football team and graduated in 2004.
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Praetorius at Webber
|
| Year |
Season at WIU |
Record |
Conference Finish |
| 2019 |
1st |
7-11* |
MSC Tournament Quarterfinals
*Coach's Record for Wins
T-3rd MSC South Division |
| Overall |
7-11 (.389 winning percentage) |
