RENO, Nev. – Nevada volleyball head coach Lee Nelson announces Akiko Hatakeyama as the new assistant coach on Wednesday. 

"Akiko comes to us with a resume full of rich and diverse experiences." said head coach Lee Nelson. "All her successful years playing professionally and coaching collegiately, it is who Akiko is as a person that was the most compelling factor in her hire.  Her knowledge, work ethic and ability to connect with people is going to serve Nevada volleyball well and I can't wait to introduce her to the team and get to work." 

A native from Tokyo, Japan, Hatakeyama joins Nelson's coaching staff after spending a season at Saitama Ageo Medics volleyball team in Japan. Her responsibilities included interpreting and translating Japanese/English to foreign players as well as be a liaison of communication between players/coaching staff on and off the court. 
Hatakeyama played four years at collegiate level in the United States. She started her career at the University of Southern Mississippi for two years before transferring to Temple University to conclude her collegiate career. 

At Temple, she earned her bachelor's degree in sports management in 1999. Prior to start her coaching career, the Tokyo native played professional volleyball in Europe from 1999-2010. In 2011, Hatakeyama moved back to the United States, where she started her career as an associate head coach and recruiting coordinator for ten years in her alma mater.