Coach Altenburg has just over a decade of boy's and girl's volleyball in both high school and club programs.

Currently in his 7th year as a member of the Downers Grove South coaching staff, he spent his first 2 years at DGS as the assistant varsity coach for the girls program, helping them secure their first regional title in over a decade during the 2019 season. During the last 5 years, Coach Altenburg has been on the boy's staff, serving most recently as the Varsity assistant coach, helping lead the boy's program at Downers Grove South to a 3rd place in state finish in 2022.

Before joining the Mustang family, Coach Altenburg gained four years of coaching experience at Bolingbrook High School, where he was on both the girl’s and boy’s staff. During his four years on the girls staff he served as head freshman coach for one year and the varsity assistant for 3 years. For the boy’s program, he was a 2 year varsity assistant before taking over the head coaching position for 2 years before stepping away to accept his current position at Downers Grove South.

Coach Altenburg also has 4+ years of club coaching experience with one year of 15U with Counter-attack out of Orland Park and 2 years coaching 16U at Ultimate Volleyball club in Mokena/Frankfort.

Coach Altenburg played 4 years of volleyball at Oak Lawn High school with sectional final experience. After graduating, he earned his CTE degree with a focus in industrial technology at Eastern Illinois University where he was a 4 year member of the Men’s Volleyball club team and practice player/team manager for 1 year with the Women’s NCAA team at Eastern Illinois University.

Skills: Serving, Serve Receive, Middle/Pin offense, Blocking
Positions: Middle, Pin Hitters
Ages: All
Genders: All
Club-Affiliations: None

My philosophy when it comes to coaching and training starts and ends with the individual behind the player. I want to get to know my players on a personal level first and foremost so I can design training programs that best meet their needs as a player and target the areas the athlete wants to most improve during their time with me in the gym.

In individual and small group environments, it is very important to me that the athletes have a voice in identifying the aspects of their game they feel they want to focus on throughout their training. Trust and communication are very important to developing a partnership between player and coach that is cohesive and collaborative.

The final piece of the puzzle involves the willingness to take risks and feel uncomfortable in an effort to improve. It is difficult to grow as a player and as a person without facing adversity or working through challenges. These challenges vary from intense drills to test an athlete physically to focusing on changes in technique, footwork, or form that might challenge an athlete to step out of their comfort zone.

Ultimately, trust and communication between player and coach coupled with a willingness to take risks and challenge oneself are essential to getting the most out of your training in an effort to grow both as a player and as a person.