Michael Larko

Michael is a seasoned boys and girls volleyball coach with over fifteen years of experience at the high school and club levels. A 2007 graduate of Plum Borough Senior High School, Michael was a four-year varsity starter and captain, earning numerous accolades including three-time 1st Team All-Section, two-time 2nd Team All-WPIAL, 1st Team All-WPIAL, and PA Finest 40 honors. He also competed in Junior Olympic volleyball for six years, competing at nationals each year and finishing tied for 5th in 2007 with a 9-1 record while playing for Pittsburgh Elite and Renaissance volleyball clubs.

Following high school, Michael attended Duquesne University, where he played on the men's club volleyball team for two years. As a sophomore, his team was nationally ranked in the Top 20. In addition to playing, he held leadership roles as team captain, president, and treasurer. He earned his Bachelor's Degree in Secondary Education – Mathematics in 2011 and a Master’s Degree in Instructional Technology in 2012.

Michael began coaching immediately after high school, serving as a boys' varsity assistant coach at Plum from 2008 to 2011 and head junior varsity coach in 2009. He was promoted to boys' varsity head coach in 2012, a position he held for three seasons. On the girls’ side, he served as assistant and JV head coach at Plum from 2008–2009, took over as varsity head coach at Burrell High School from 2011–2012, and returned to Plum as varsity head coach in 2013.

From 2010 to 2013, Michael coached various age groups (15s to 18s) for Pittsburgh Volleyball Club and spent the 2010 summer season as head coach for Pittsburgh Elite’s 17-2 boys team. He also coached at Premier Girls Volleyball Club during the 2012–2013 season, leading the 16-Royal team and assisting with the 13s and 17s.

In 2013, Michael co-founded Allegheny Volleyball Club with Scott Smithley, a program dedicated to making Junior Olympic volleyball accessible to girls regardless of economic background.

Outside of volleyball, Michael works as a Project Coordinator at Workscape and resides in Shaler with his wife, Chelsey, and their dog, Stella.