Lubbock Christian University Women's Volleyball

Tyler Neal was named the eighth head coach in Lubbock Christian University volleyball history in February 2026, bringing more than 20 years of coaching, leadership and championship experience to the Lady Chaparrals program. Neal arrives at LCU following an accomplished career in both athletics and education, highlighted by elite-level playing experience and a highly successful high school coaching tenure in Texas. A former standout at Stanford University, Neal helped the Cardinal capture the 1997 NCAA men’s volleyball national championship — the program’s first — defeating UCLA in a dramatic five-set final in Columbus, Ohio. Following his collegiate playing career, Neal earned his law degree from Pepperdine University School of Law and briefly worked in Los Angeles before transitioning into education and coaching. He began his coaching career as the head boys volleyball coach at Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, California, before relocating to Lubbock in 2006. Neal has spent the past two decades at Trinity Christian School, where he served in multiple leadership roles while guiding one of the most successful volleyball programs in the state. Under his direction, Trinity Christian captured five TAPPS state championships (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019), advanced to at least the state semifinals in six consecutive seasons, and earned multiple Lone Star Varsity Volleyball Coach of the Year honors. He was also named TAPPS Class 4A Coach of the Year following a fourth consecutive state title. Neal takes over an LCU program coming off a historic 2025 season, as the Lady Chaparrals shared their first Lone Star Conference regular-season championship and earned the program’s first NCAA postseason appearance. A native of California, Neal and his wife, Brooke, have four children: Emerson, Griffin, Sawyer and Collins.  

Levi Savage joined the Lubbock Christian University volleyball program as an assistant coach in 2026, reuniting with head coach Tyler Neal after the pair previously worked together during a championship run at Trinity Christian School. Savage brings more than a decade of coaching experience at the high school and middle school levels, along with a proven track record of building championship-caliber programs. Prior to arriving at LCU, he served as head volleyball coach at Shallowater High School beginning in 2022, where he also worked in physical education and administration. Under his leadership, Shallowater earned a No. 1 state ranking in 2025 and advanced to a regional final in 2024 while establishing a culture centered on accountability, competitive excellence and player development. Before Shallowater, Savage spent three seasons as head coach at All Saints Episcopal School in Lubbock. There, he maintained consecutive winning seasons and implemented a unified volleyball system spanning middle school through high school. His efforts culminated in leading the 2021 team to a TAPPS 2A State Championship. Savage earned Avalanche-Journal Coach of the Year honors in 2021 and Hub City Preps Coach of the Year recognition in 2020. From 2013 to 2018, Savage and Neal coached together at Trinity Christian School, guiding the program to four consecutive TAPPS state championships (2014–17) across 4A and 5A classifications. During that span, the duo helped establish Trinity Christian as one of the premier programs in Texas while assisting numerous student-athletes through the collegiate recruiting process. A graduate of Texas Tech University with a bachelor’s degree in human sciences, Savage also holds an associate degree in general studies from South Plains College. He was named to the academic dean’s list at both institutions. Savage’s connection to LCU extends beyond the court. His wife, Haley (Fowler) Savage, is a former Lady Chaps women’s basketball standout and member of LCU’s 2015–16 NCAA Division II National Championship team. The couple have two sons, Brooks and Trent.