[2] He also played beach volleyball at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens with partner Dain Blanton.

[2][1] Nygaard attended La Follette High School in Madison, Wisconsin, where he played volleyball and was MVP of his state in 1991.

[3][4] Nygaard played college volleyball at UCLA and was named National Player of the Year in 1994 and 1995.

[2] Nygaard was an assistant coach for the Whittier College women's volleyball team in 2009.

[4] Nygaard is currently the head coach of the USC Trojans men's volleyball team.