Assistant Athletic Director Erik Eastman is celebrating his 21st year coaching the boys’ and girls’ volleyball teams at Saint Ignatius. Since 2005, Eastman has guided both programs, combining more than 34 seasons of coaching experience. 

Eastman grew up in Beverly on the South Side of Chicago. He attended Marist High School where he competed in wrestling and baseball. He was first introduced to volleyball at Quincy University when a friend encouraged him to play since men’s volleyball was not yet offered at the high school level. 

“That moment sparked a passion that would later define my career,”  Eastman said. He spent the next four years of college building lifelong relationships and a strong passion for the sport.

After graduating from the business management program at Quincy, Eastman worked in construction. Six weeks into the job, he survived a serious accident when a 750-pound gas pump fell on him. 

“This event shaped my resilience and outlook on life. It strengthened my passion to begin coaching.” Eastman said. 

His coaching career began in the fall of 2002 at Marist, where he began the girls’ volleyball program and eventually took over the boys’ team. When Saint Ignatius hired him in the spring of 2005, Eastman took on the challenge of coaching both programs. Since then, he has balanced year-round seasons, building a program that is respected across Chicago after multiple playoff runs and high finishes in the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference. 

Current volleyball player Skylar Greene said “We would not have been able to place third at state without him.” She emphasized how he left a legacy of discipline and community through his coaching that connected to the success of the program.

Beyond coaching volleyball, Eastman served as Assistant Athletic Director at Saint Ignatius which helped guide the athletic community. His role allowed him to not only shape volleyball, but also the culture of the school’s sports programs.

After decades of coaching and serving as Assistant Athletic Director at Saint Ignatius, Eastman built a long record of leadership within the school’s athletic programs. He played a central role in developing both the boys’ and girls’ volleyball teams contributing to the growth of Saint Ignatius athletics.