Highlights

United States Olympic Team, 1996, 2000
U.S. Indoor National Team, 1993-2000
UCLA Hall of Fame 2007 Inductee
NCAA Champion with UCLA, 1993, 1995
NCAA Tournament MVP, 1993, 1995
4-Time NCAA All-American, 1992-1995
NCAA Freshman of the Year, 1992
Wisconsin State MVP, 1989
Player of the Year, 1994, 1995
AVP Tour Competitor, 2002-Present
Santa Barbara Open Champion, 2005
United States Olympic Team, 2004
Chicago Open Champion, 2004
AVP Tour MVP Award, 2003
AVP Tour Team of the Year Award, 2003
Las Vegas Tournament of Champions, 2003
AVP Chicago Open Champion, 2003
AVP San Diego Open Champion, 2003
FIVB Rhodes, Greece Champion, 2003
AVP Hermosa Beach Champion, 2002

Biography

For the past decade, Jeff Nygaard has consistently been one of the United States’ most dominating volleyball players. His career has been defined by tremendous success at the highest level of both indoor and beach volleyball. A three-time Olympian (two indoor, one beach), Jeff is one of just a handful of athletes from any sport to accomplish such a feat.

A four-time All-American at UCLA, he was also the first collegiate men’s player to receive Player of the Year Honors in two consecutive seasons. Through Jeff’s leadership, UCLA won two National Championships and made three Final Four appearances. In 2007, Jeff was inducted into the UCLA Hall of Fame.

Jeff was a member of the United States National Indoor Volleyball Team for eight seasons and represented the USA in indoor volleyball at two Olympics (Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000).

In 2000, Jeff made the full transition from indoor to beach volleyball. His beach career reflected his indoor success when he earned his first Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) victory in just his 10th event at the Hermosa Beach Open. The following year, Jeff was voted the AVP Most Valuable Player in only his second full time season on the AVP Tour, as well as leading his team to AVP Team of the Year recognition. He also took first place in three out of eight events. In 2004, Jeff made his beach volleyball Olympic debut.

Four of Jeff’s five victories have been televised live nationally on NBC.

TRANSCENDING SPORT

In 2007, Jeff’s dermatologist found a skin lesion on his back that was diagnosed as carcinoma, and another lesion on his left bicep that was diagnosed as melanoma--malignant skin cancer. At a crossroads in his life, Jeff immediately had the cancer surgically removed and was fortunate to have post-op clear margins...a clean bill of health.

This new chapter in his life brings with it fresh perspectives that transcend athletics, coupling a newly garnered knowledge of skin cancer from a personal point of view with a newfound importance of educating others about skin care and risk protection.