American volleyball player David Lee is no stranger to success. Standing at a towering 6 feet 8 inches, Lee is an Olympic champion, having won gold at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and bronze at the 2016 Olympics in Rio.

David also won a gold medal in the 2015 Volleyball World Cup and two gold medals in the World League (2008 and 2014).

Currently, Lee serves as the head coach of RuPay Prime Volleyball League Powered by A23 club Bengaluru Torpedoes. As a player, Lee played for the Calicut Heroes in the inaugural season of the RuPay Prime Volleyball League Powered by A23 in 2022.

Lee, a bonafide legend of the game, brought his wealth of experience to the Indian subcontinent and delivered stellar performances for Calicut Heroes in the first season.. Despite suffering an injury, the American middle blocker managed to rack up 26 points at a success rate of 49.1%. He was one of the strongest blockers that season with nine blocks to his name.

In the second season, Lee made the transition from player to coach after taking over the reins at Bengaluru Torpedoes.

“Being a player in this league gives me unique insight into the challenges that our team face, taking into account that there are different rules when compared to traditional volleyball. Understanding the super point, super serve and short set score as a player, helped me devise a winning strategy as a coach.” David Lee said about how his familiarity with the league as a player gave him an advantage as a coach.

“Another plus is that I have played against most of these players and know their strengths and weaknesses," he added.

In his first season as the coach, Lee surpassed all expectations and guided the team to the final. The Bengaluru Torpedoes fell agonisingly short in the final, losing out 2-3 to the Ahmedabad Defenders in a thrilling finale.

Lee, with his vast insight of the sport, feels Indian volleyball still has a lot of room to grow but also pointed out that the league is a step in the right direction.

“I think India lacks perspective when it comes to the nuances of the game. I think RuPay Prime Volleyball has done a great job by adding their own flair to the game. They’ve created a product that is unmatched by any other league currently. They have also consulted with top professionals in the sport and have given foreign coaches a voice to teach the younger generation coming through.”

“I think RuPay Prime Volleyball League has produced the most entertaining product in volleyball", the Olympic champion added.

With his performances as a player and coach, David Lee has certainly proved his mettle in the RuPay Prime Volleyball League Powered by A23. The American remains committed to the development of volleyball in India and brings his valuable insight and experience to the league.