Coaching experience: I began my coaching career 17 years ago on the same court in Bridgeport, Pennsylvania where, at nine years old, I first fell in love with volleyball. Since then I’ve led successful club, high school, and middle school teams in the Philadelphia area, western Montana, and most recently Pittsburgh, PA, including multiple playoff appearances and a 2018 second place finish at the North East Qualifier at the 16s level. In 2019 I presented an educational session on coaching beginning volleyball at the American Volleyball Coaches’ Association Conference.
2020 marked the inaugural year for EC Power Allegheny. I am proud of our growth heading into the 2023 season and am grateful to be surrounded by a quality staff. Having worked over the past decade to growth both competitive travel and local volleyball in the Pittsburgh area, I couldn’t ask for more from the dedicated coaches and families who have made their mark with EC Power Allegheny.
Coaching philosophy: I believe that all athletes, regardless of where they are in their career, can learn and improve with focused skill development and an enhanced understanding of volleyball strategy and game theory. My teams train the physical along with the mental in an effort to become better students of the game.
Best volleyball moment: Coaching Frenchtown High School to a marathon 5-set on-the-road victory over Polson High School ending Polson’s two year, 18 match, at-home winning streak.
My life in sports...has been narrowly focused. I dabbled in a variety of activities from soccer to gymnastics as a youngster, and volleyball was the sport that stuck. Competing in high school and college, I transitioned to coaching after graduation. Since then, I’ve been increasingly involved in providing quality opportunities for positive sporting experiences for youth athletes.
When I am not coaching volleyball…I’m enjoying time outside with my family
My favorite subject in school: digital cartography for combining art and math to tell the story of the world around us
Last book I read: Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell
Favorite movie: Die Hard
Favorite quote: “You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete” -R. Buckminster Fuller
Person I’d like to have dinner with: Annie Smith Peck (1850-1935) for her likely engaging stories of mountaineering adventures, conquered adversities, and shattered expectations
Something you don’t know about me: I’m a professionally trained field archaeologist and cartographer.