FAYETTEVILLE — Robert Pulliza can sense what he wants to bring to Arkansas.
Pulliza, the Razorbacks’ head volleyball coach, played in two NCAA men’s volleyball final fours with Ball State University in the mid-1990s. Even today, he has a hard time describing it; he just knows he wants torepeat it with Arkansas.
“It’s an unbelievable experience, one of the most gratifying I’ve had,” says Pulliza, who playedsetter and captained the Cardinals. “I get chills talking about it. You’re so excited about what you just achieved, but what you want to do in a moment like that is share it with people that are important to you.”
Originally from San Juan, Puerto Rico, Pulliza could barely reach the bottom of the net when he began playing volleyball. By the time he was in high school, he was coaching younger kids at his school, and he knew that was what he wanted to do with his life.
Pulliza came to America to play college volleyball at Ball State in Muncie, Ind., where he met his wife, Jamie, and also coached the junior-varsity team at a local high school.
From there, Pulliza wentto James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va., earning his master’s degree and beginning his college coaching career as an assistant. There were stops at Northern Illinois University, Wisconsin, Texas and Kentucky before being hired by Arkansas in 2008.
This is his first head-coaching position. As an assistant, Pulliza was well-regarded for his recruiting ability.
“I like people, man,” Pulliza says. “I like to build relationships. That’s what we do. I guess it’s recruiting, but for me it’s just natural. If there’s somebody that I think can be a Razorback, I like letting them know how ... special this place is and how much fun it is.”
Pulliza is involved with international volleyball. This year alone, he was on the staff of the Puerto Rico Junior National Team and the Puerto Rico Youth National Team,which took him to competitions in Peru and Guatemala.
Previously, he was involved with the USA National Team programs.
“I grew up on the international game,” Pulliza says. “In Puerto Rico we didn’t have much access to the college game. It’s always good to be involved with that kind of environment, just because it makes you think outside the box. It makes you look at volleyball different.” Notable Neighbor highlights the unusual accomplishments and contributions Northwest Arkansas residents make to the area. Suggestions can be e-mailed to
Northwest Profile, Pages 41 on 07/25/2010