From the sand to the Budapest sidelines: Paolo Nicolai’s New Chapter

Ten years ago, Italy’s Paolo Nicolai was defined by the sand beneath his feet and the sheer physics of his presence at the net. His towering blocks and relentless spikes propelled Italy to a historic silver medal together with Daniele Lupo at the Rio 2016 Olympics, cementing his legacy as one of the most dominant forces the sport had ever seen.

Today, at the CEV Beach Volley Nations Cup Final in Budapest, Nicolai is still one of the tallest, if not the tallest man, in the Italian box, but his feet are firmly planted on the concrete side of the advertising boards. Clad in coaching gear rather than a playing jersey, he watches the action with a sharp, analytical eye. There are no sudden bursts of adrenaline to finish a spike, no immediate physical outlet for the tension of a tight match.

Yet, as Italy secured a dramatic spot in the semifinals after a grueling Golden Set against Portugal, Nicolai’s joy was unmistakable. For the giant from Ortona, the transition from legendary athlete to coach of the senior team - and Technical Director of the entire Beach Volleyball programme at the Italian Volleyball Federation - has been seamless, fuelled by a grander vision for the sport in his home country.

Building a national identity

"It is something that I really wanted to do even before I stopped playing. I have no regrets about not being on the court. It’s completely different because when you play, you deliver. Now, I am close to the sport in a way that allows me to help the players and develop the entire programme."

That programme is undergoing a profound cultural shift. Beach Volleyball has traditionally been a sport of isolated duos - two players against the world, managing their own micro-teams. Nicolai, backed heavily by the Italian Federation, is tearing down those walls to build a genuine national team culture.

"We are trying to build something bigger than just two players," Nicolai explains, emphasising the collective effort. "Everybody in the group knows exactly what their role is. When you have the federation behind you, the goal must be to expand the pool of players, not just manage separate teams. I am incredibly proud of how we approached the Golden Set against Portugal. It is never easy to mix partners and play under that kind of pressure, but we showed real development and working as a whole team paid off."

The strength within the sandbox

That development is as much psychological as it is tactical. The tournament in Budapest has tested Italy's resilience, forcing the squad to navigate tight moments. For Nicolai, watching his players display mental fortitude from the sidelines is really rewarding.

He points specifically to Gianluca Dal Corso as the embodiment of the mentality he wants to instill. "I am so proud of Dal Corso. Physically, he is not at 100% right now, but he keeps fighting and showing up on the court every single time. Before the Golden Set, he looked at me and told me he was ready. That is the exact kind of mentality that defines a successful group."

A continuous education

Transitioning from a world-class player to a world-class coach requires a healthy dose of humility, a trait Nicolai possesses in abundance. He openly admits that knowing how to play the game is entirely different from knowing how to teach it.

"But I have to be aware that this is a completely new challenge. I have to study. I have to steal secrets from the best in the game. I have a lot of knowledge to share, but you also have to be prepared on how to share it. Fortunately, I have excellent first coaches in my staff who help me improve every day."

This philosophy of continuous education defines the current Italian camp: a shared environment where coaches and players constantly learn from one another, establishing a standard of behaviour both on and off the sand.

The ultimate dream

Nicolai isn't just looking at the scoreboard, nor is he merely focusing on the next Olympic cycle. He is playing the long game, aiming to restructure the entire sport in Italy.

"Together with the Federation, we are trying to build something that is sustainable over time," Nicolai says. "We aren't just hoping for one superstar player to come along and carry the weight of the entire movement. We have medium-term goals, of course, and we have players capable of winning big tournaments right now. But the ultimate goal? It is to bring Beach Volleyball in the Italian Federation to the exact same level of culture, structure, and success as Indoor Volleyball."

When asked just how big he is allowing himself to dream in this new chapter, the Olympic silver medallist doesn't hesitate.

"The biggest possible," Nicolai smiles.