Utah State Coach Neilson Reflects on BYU’s Home-Court Advantage
Rob Neilson, former BYU national champion and current Utah State Aggies coach, spoke about the significant home-court advantage at BYU's Smith Fieldhouse during a recent volleyball match. Neilson, who will return to BYU as the new head women's volleyball coach…
Salt Lake City, UT, August 7, 2026 —
Rob Neilson, a former BYU national champion and the current coach of the Utah State Aggies, recently commented on the formidable home-court advantage experienced at BYU’s Smith Fieldhouse. Neilson’s remarks came during a recent volleyball match.
Neilson, who is slated to return to BYU as the new head women’s volleyball coach in December 2025, emphasized the unique and powerful atmosphere generated by the BYU student section, affectionately known as The ROC. He noted the significant impact this energetic crowd has on the dynamic of the game.
The Smith Fieldhouse has long been recognized as a challenging venue for visiting teams, partly due to the vocal and engaged student body that consistently fills the stands. The ROC is known for its creative chants and enthusiastic support, which can create an intense environment for opposing players and coaches.
Neilson’s familiarity with the Smith Fieldhouse is deep, stemming from his time as a player at BYU where he was part of championship-winning teams. His upcoming transition back to BYU in a coaching capacity will place him on the opposite side of this well-known home-court advantage, now leading the Cougars.
Story summarized from the original created by Dave McCann on www.deseret.com, see more information here.
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