UCLA beach volleyball hasn’t known the sand without its leader.

But that all changes now.

Former coach Stein Metzger announced last week he will be departing the program after 11 years. For the second time in his career, Metzger will take on a newborn program in that of Texas, which just finished its opening campaign going 1-12.

Metzger’s decision will markedly change the landscape of beach volleyball going forward.

Since beach volleyball was only recognized by the NCAA in 2016, its reputation and dominance have been forged by the current era of coaches. In 2013, UCLA added the sport to its collection, appointing Metzger – a former Bruin volleyball player – to spearhead its trajectory.

Metzger quickly charted the team on the best course possible.

In his time with UCLA, he not only delivered back-to-back national championships in 2018 and 2019 but was also recognized as the Pac-12 Coach of the Year in 2017, 2018 and 2023 and the USMC/AVCA National Coach of the Year in 2017 and 2018.

Metzger knows how to lead a team. And there’s no doubt he will turn the Longhorns from a team with one victory to a national title-contending force. But, Metzger’s departure will alter the future panorama for his former squad.

UCLA and USC have dominated beach volleyball for as far back as its history goes. Every NCAA champion since the onset of the tournament has been one of the two crosstown rivals. Here and there, other miscellaneous schools like Florida State or Texas Christian University have cracked their way into the championship contest or the top of the rankings. But in the end, it’s always been either the Bruins or the Trojans dominating the conversation and title buzz. Metzger concocted that recipe of success in Westwood.

Now, with the announcement of Metzger’s commitment to building a championship program from the ground up, UCLA and USC will likely not be the only teams on top.

The Longhorns’ success won’t happen immediately. In Metzger’s first season with the Bruins, the squad only won three games. But with time, Texas will reveal itself to have some of the same winning mindsets UCLA has hailed for nearly a decade.

Where does this leave UCLA though?

Will the team be able to continue its dominance without Metzger’s leadership? Will his successor be able to recruit in the same way? Will his impacts continue to be ingrained in the Bruins?

Only time will truly answer that. But, as of now, it appears the answer is yes.

Metzger’s prime recruiting will have lasting effects for the coming years. It was his hiring decision that brought on now-interim head coach Jenny Johnson Jordan 10 years ago, who has helped build the legendary program. With freshman Maggie Boyd just beginning her time at UCLA and junior Peri Brennan and seniors Devon Newberry and Lexy Denaburg all likely staying in Westwood for another season, UCLA will probably be fine for the foreseeable future.

Consequently, the Bruins haven’t won a championship since 2019. That includes this year when the Bruins fell to the Trojans for the second time in the championship game. Despite Metzger’s absence, the desire for vengeance for this loss will live on and run deep for UCLA.

The Bruins will find another championship title eventually, maybe even next season. But, emerging from the shadows will be Metzger’s next up-and-coming success: the Longhorns.

And for the first time in NCAA beach volleyball history, UCLA and USC won’t rule the land.