Laurent Tillie


Laurent Tillie is a former French male volleyball player and coach.

Volleyball player

Tillie was part of the France men's national volleyball team between 1982 and 1995, playing in total 407 international matches. He served as team captain from 1991 to 1992. France won a bronze medal at the 1985 European Championship and a silver medal two years later. His team qualified for World Championships in 1982, 1986, and 1990 and represented their country at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul and 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. Tillie played professionally for AS Cannes, Paris, Nice and Falconara in Italy.

Coach

After his playing career Tillie went into volleyball coaching, returning to Cannes in 2001. His team became French champions in 2005, and French Cup winner in 2007. In 2005, Tillie assumed more responsibility serving as the head coach for the Czech Republic men's national volleyball team. He led this team to 9th place at the 2005 European Championship and qualification for the 2006 World Championships. He remained with AS Cannes until he accepted the position as the head coach of the France men's national volleyball team in July 2012. In 2013 and 2014 the French team finished 10th at World League and just a few months later, France finished 4th at the 2014 Men’s World Championship in Poland. He coached the French men's national volleyball team to the 2015 World League Championship in Rio.

Personal

Tillie earned a Bachelor of Science in Movement and Education in 1984, as well as a Diploma of Physiotherapy and Kinesiology in 1991, from the University of Nice. Tillie is a father of three: Kevin, Kim, and Killian, as well as the husband to the former Netherlands women’s national volleyball team captain, Caroline Keulen. Kim graduated from the University of Utah where he played for the Utah Utes men's basketball team. He went on to make the Men’s French National team, winning a bronze medal at the 2014 World Cup. Kevin attended the University of California, Irvine, where he became a 2-time NCAA Volleyball Champion with the UC Irvine Anteaters men's volleyball team, and is currently a member of the France men’s national team. The youngest, Killian, played for the Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball team at Gonzaga University. Killian is also in the France national team developmental system, winning a gold medal with France at the 2014 FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship and being named MVP of that competition.