White Tank Mountain Volleyball: Coaches

Coaching Staff Bios Under Construction!

2013 Coaching Staff Coming Soon!

Coaching Staff Information:

White Tank Mountain Volleyball Club (“WTMVC”) has again expanded its team offerings for the current year. Based on our philosophies and principles of providing our players with outstanding skills development and an exceptional overall experience, we would not have been able to do that without expanding our exceptional coaching staff. Finding the right coaches has been my focus as the club director since the conclusion of Volleyball Festival last season. All of our coaches have a common ingredient – a passion for the game of volleyball that they wish to share. Please take the time to review our coaches’ bios below as we believe, pound for pound, we have one of the best coaching staffs in the AZ Region.

Thank you for considering WTMVC!

Paul J. Vitola, Jr.
CAP I
Director
White Tank Mountain Volleyball Club

2013 WTMVC Coaching Staff:

Stephanie Parker: 18 National Coach

This is Coach Stephanie Parker’s third year with WTMVC.  In the previous two years, Coach Parker and Coach Weeg coached the 14N-1 team and this year they move to the 18’s level.  Coach Parker grew up in Minnesota where she played volleyball competitively for 7 years.  Upon college graduation, she returned to her hometown where she coached JV volleyball and substitute taught for two seasons.  Coach Parker moved to Arizona in 2005 to start her teaching career at Agua Fria High School.  She coached the freshman team for one season before taking over as the Head Varsity coach.  During her time at Agua Fria, Coach Parker has led the Owls to the first-round of the State tournament 4 of the 6 years.  This year the Owls, 36-5-1 overall, are undefeated in regular season play and look forward to the start of state playoffs.       

With a competitive spirit and passion for the game, Coach Parker loves teaching the fundamentals of volleyball, helping girls improve on their skills, and giving players the most positive volleyball experience.  Coach Parker believes that being part of a team develops many important life skills that players will take will them long after they leave the court such as teamwork, leadership, a good work ethic, and perseverance.  Coach Parker has a love for the game and is excited to have the opportunity to share that with the girls this season.   

Jenifer Weeg: 18 National Assistant Coach

Coach Weeg will be joining the WTMVC program for her third season. Volleyball has been a large part of Coach Weeg’s life since she started playing in her home state of South Dakota at the middle school level. She went on to play high school volleyball in which her Elk Point Volleyball team was very successful making it to the SD State Tournament for all four years. Jenifer received All State Tournament Player and still holds a state tournament record in blocking. After high school, Coach Weeg continued playing volleyball at the collegiate level for Simpson College at Indianola, IA. Jenifer received her bachelor’s degree in Sports Administration and Coaching. During her collegiate experience, Coach Weeg interned for a volleyball coach at O’Gorman High School in South Dakota. The internship gave her a great sense of her passion and love for the game of volleyball. She followed it up with coaching 1 year at the freshman level and then 2 years at the sophomore level at the same school. Coach Weeg inspired to move to a head varsity coach position for a Class A high school for 3 more years. Jenifer moved on to care for her family as an at home mom and to raise her own little volleyball team: Morgan, Carter, Camden, & Macklyn. In 2005, Coach’s husband, Gene, accepted a job position here in the Phoenix area where she spent time adjusting her family to Arizona.

Volleyball soon became a passion for Coach’s daughter, Morgan. Slowly, Coach Weeg saw herself back in volleyball not only as a coach but as a volleyball mom. She began to coach her eldest daughter’s recreational volleyball team for 3 years here in Arizona. After watching her daughter’s first year of club volleyball, Coach Jen joined the WTMVC as an Assistant Coach to the 14 National Team and the Developmental Coach last two years. This year Coach Jen will join Coach Stephanie Parker as the 18’s National Coach.  Jenifer looks forward to another year of coaching volleyball at the club level with a Great Team, Great Girls, and Great Opportunities like attending Volleyball Festival!! Jenifer can’t wait to start another year of developing sound fundamental volleyball players at White Tanks!

Jenn Gonzalez: 17 National 1’s Coach

**Playing Experience: 

Agua Fria High School—State Champions 1988

Arizona State University-1988-1992

Northern Arizona University-Fall 1992

**High School Coaching Experience:

Shadow Mountain High School—Junior Varsity Coach

Maryvale High School—Varsity Coach

Millennium High School—Varsity Coach

Buckeye High School—Varsity Assistant Coach

**Club Coaching Experience:

Peaks Volleyball Club, North Valley Volleyball Club, Scottsdale Elite Volleyball Club, West Valley Volleyball Club, Azone Volleyball Club, White Tank Mountain Volleyball Club

Brian Weaver: 16 National Coach

Coach Brian continues his 2nd year with the White Tank program. Entering his 9^th year of coaching though organized club and high school programs in a wide variety of sports with age groups ranging from 8 year olds through 18 year olds.

· CAP Level 1 Certified through USA Volleyball

· Gold Medal Square Elite Volleyball Level 1.5 Certified

· 2010 Skyline Region Volleyball Coaching Staff of the Year

· 2-time State 4AII Runner-up Assistant Tennis Coach

Coaching Experiences:

Ø 2004 – 2011 West Valley Juniors Volleyball Club – Head and Assistant Coach for various teams ranging from 12’s to 18’s age groups (some years he coached multiple teams)

Ø 2010/2011 West Valley Juniors Volleyball Club – Head Coach, Girls 14-1 Championship Divisiono Finished ranked 26^th in Championship Division

Ø 2010 Youngker High School Girls Volleyball – Varsity Assistant Coacho Assisted in coaching Youngker to their first ever appearance in a state playoffo 2010 Skyline Region Volleyball Coaching Staff of the Year

Ø 2010 West Valley Juniors Volleyball Club – Head Coach, Girls 14-2 Club Divisiono Successful season climbing from an initial ranking of 62^nd to finish ranked 14^th in the 87 team divisiono Finished the season placed 44 positions higher than the 14-1 team

Ø 2008 - Current Buckeye Union High School Girls Tennis – Assistant Coacho 2008 and 2009 undefeated regular season ending with State 4A-II Runner-up Titles

Abby Harper: 16 National Assistant Coach

Rick Gordon: 16 Regional Coach

Coach Rick hails from Michigan where he coached at both the middle school and high school level. He also served as First Assistant Coach at Concordia University. Coach Rick also coached club ball in Michigan from 1993 through 2008. Coach Rick and his significant coaching experience return to the White Tanks’ program this year. He will continue the development of our high school age players. His coaching resume includes the following:

Middle School:
1993 South Lyon Middle School, 7^th grade.
1994 South  Lyon Middle School, 8^th grade.

High School:

1992 – 2005 South Lyon High School, Junior Varsity.
2006 Holly Area Schools, Varsity College:2000 – 2002 Concordia University, First Assistant, Ann Arbor, MI. Club / AAU:1993 – 1995 Competition Volleyball Club 16’s, Lakeland, MI.
1996 Washtenaw Area Volleyball Association 16’s, Ypsilanti, MI.
1997 – 1998 Victors Volleyball Club 16’s, University of Michigan at Dearborn, Dearborn, MI.
2000 – 2001 Kensington Valley Juniors 14’s, Brighton, MI. 2002 – 2003 Elite Area Volleyball Association 14’s, Pinckney, MI.
2004 – 2008 West Oakland Volleyball Association 15’s Lakeland, MI
2010- 2012 White Tank Mountain Volleyball Club 13’s, Litchfield Park, AZ

Alexis Meyer: 16 Regional Assistant Coach

Jamie Gordon: 15 National Coach

Coach Jamie brings her considerable coaching and playing experience to the White Tanks’ program again this year and will work with our 15 National Team. She was a Defensive Specialist at Concordia University where she played college volleyball and received her BA in Secondary Education with a major in English and Communication. Coach Jamie is currently the Varsity Volleyball Coach at Verrado High School. In her second year, she led Verrado to a 17-1 record and is on track for a third straight winning season. Her significant coaching resume includes the following:

*Verrado High School: 2009-Present Age: Freshman & Current Varsity Coach -Season Record 17-1 (2010-2011) & -Season Record 15-5 (2009-2010)

*White Tank Mountain Volleyball Club:  2010- Present Age: 13U

*West Oakland Volleyball Association: 2/2008-6/2008 Age: 17U-Overall season record 25-5, Asics Junior National Volleyball Championships 17U 5th place silver division, MJVBA association championships 17-2 Gold Division State Champions, University of Michigan Dearborn 18U Gold Division tournament champions, Saginaw Valley State University 17U Gold Division tournament champions 3/2007-6/2007 Age: 16U, AAU National Championships in Orlando, FL 42nd place, MJVBA association championships 16-2 Silver division state champions, University of Michigan Dearborn gold division tournament champions, Mt Morris Tournament Gold division champions; 2/2005-6/2005 Age: 16U MJVBA association championships Gold division state champions 2/2005-6/2005;Age: 14U-University of Michigan Dearborn Gold division tournament champions; 3/2004-6/2004 Age: 15U-MJVBA association championships 3rd place open division

*Southern Lakes Parks & Recreation: 4/2008-5/2008 Age: 12U instructional

*Lake Fenton Middle School: 11/2007-12/2007 Age: 8th Grade-Record of 10-1

*Lake Fenton High School:8/2007-11/2007Age: JV-Overall season record of 18-16; 11/2006-3/2007 Age: 9th Grade-Record of 16-14

*Holly High School: 10/2005-3/2006 Age: Varsity, Flint Central tournament champions, broke school records for assists in season, aces per game, digs per season, digs per match

*Elite Area Volleyball Association: 3/2003-6/2003 Age: 15U-EAVA tournament champions; 03/2001-06/2003; Age: 14U-MJVBA association championships Bronze division state championship

*Premier Volleyball Academy: 12/2002-3/2003-Age: 13U Instructional

*South Lyon High School: 10/2000-3/2002--Age: JV Record wins 01-02; 2nd best season record 02-03

Miranda Groth: 15 National Assistant Coach

• played at Cortez High School
• Graduated from Cortez in 2007
• recruited to play volleyball for Arizona Western College
• recruited to play volleyball at Missouri Valley College
• currently coaching at Cortez High School as assistant Varsity coach

Stephanie Schultz: 15 Regional Coach

My name is Stephanie Schultz and I am extremely excited about this up in coming season. I started playing volleyball when I was in the 6th grade and that is when I started playing club. I played for Phoenix North Valley every season until my Senior year of high school. I attended Westview High School where I played all four years on varsity. I owe my club coaches the credit for the skills they taught me and the passion they displayed that caused me to fall in love with the sport and be successful. Like I said, I did not play club my senior year of high school and I ran track. I will have to admit, I absolutely loved track and wish I had started when I was a Freshman. After I graduated, I took another year off from playing and focused on serving in my church. I realized I missed playing and being a part of a team and I contacted Glendale Community College. I played there for two years and in those two years, we were region champions and went to Nationals back to back. Those were the best two years of my life and I am thankful that the coaching staff at GCC gave me the opportunity to play. During those years of playing I started coaching. I first was an assistant at Club Zia for a 16-1 team. After that I coached two seasons of 14's and then I coached a season of 18's at Club View. I also have coached one season of Freshmen at Westview.  I am IMPACT certified and also Gold Medal Squared certified.

I am also a full time student at Grand Canyon University majoring in Early Childhood Education. This is my last semester of classes and then I will be student teaching in the spring! I am definitely excited about finishing my education, but at the same time starting a whole new education growing and learning from my students. I have a wonderful husband that supports me in all aspects of life. We will be celebrating our second wedding anniversary in January! I am blessed to have the life I do and I am excited to see what God has in store for me!

Troy Meador: 15 Regional Assistant Coach

I first started playing volleyball in the fifth grade where I started out as a setter for our team. My 7th grade year we won the tournament championship. I started to play high school boys volleyball at Barry Goldwater in my sophomore year and again I started off as a setter, and on the side learning how to hit and play outside. My sophomore year my team went undefeated. During my Junior and Senior year I played at a open draw at Kingdom Courts where I started to put my hitting and teamwork skills to work.  It was very difficult learning how to adapt to all different types of players and learning how to step up my skill set to match my teammates in open draw.  This experience taught me how to work with others and work as a team with people I did not even really knows.  My senior year in high school I ran cross country to get an early start on the season.  I had never run before and I fell that cross country taught me self-discipline.  It taught me how to structure my time and work with in deadlines.   My senior year I transitioned to outside hitter and that is where I finished my senior year in high school. After high school I then went into college not having anywhere to play I continued to play at the Friday night draw where I kept growing as a player and learning the advanced fundamentals on being a team player and learning to mesh with people who had a certain skill set.  While playing in tournaments for Arizona and getting ranked to play, I then turned to trying to coach volleyball where I want to see myself. I coached for an 8th grade team as a asst. coach and we went undefeated. Still wanting to grow as a player I have turned to outdoor volleyball learning the biggest part of volleyball, Defense. After all said and done that is where I am at now, still growing and still learning.

Lisa Ramirez: 14 National Coach

Coaching Experience: Impact Certified

2011-2012 Arizona Storm Assistant Coach for 16 Lightning

2010-2011 Arizona Storm Assistant Coach for 16 Lightning

2009-2010 Arizona Storm Assistant Coach for 16 Thunder

*Attended Nationals in Reno (2009); Finished 3rd in 16 Open Regionals (2009)

2008-2009 Club Arrowhead Assistant Coach for 14-2's

Playing Experience:

Coach Ramirez played Volleyball since 9. She started playing club volleyball at 11. Lisa attended Nationals on 14's club team in Austin. She is a 3 year lettermen on Varsity at Peoria High School (Graduated 2008) and she earned 1st team all-conference (12th)  and 2nd team all-conference (11th).  She continued her volleyball career at GCU Women's Volleyball Program 2008- 2012 as a Setter/DS and attended Nationals; Finished 2nd in Pac West Conference (2011).

College-

Graduating this December from GCU. Studying to receive a BS in Communications degree.

Leah Orth: 14 National Assistant Coach

Don Touvell: 14 Regional Coach

Don has coached with the City of Peoria for a number of years working with girls 12-14 years old.  He has attended numerous coaching clinics through the Arizona Region. Coach Touvell has run developmental training teams for ages 8-14 for about 5 years.  He is a CAP I Certified Coach and  is the current Oasis Elementary School Volleyball coach.  Coach Touvell also has a daughter who is a Senior at Centennial High School and has played 3 years on the Varsity Volleyball team.

Steffanie Llewellyn: 14 Regional Assistant Coach

- Impact Certified

- 2010-2011 Assistant Coach for Zia's 12 & Under

- Played for 6 years, including club seasons at Zia and Litchfield Park; also a varsity letterman at Mountain Ridge High School (graduated 2010).

Dave Hamm: 13 National Coach

Coach Hamm has been involved in the sport of volleyball as a coach, club director, and athletic director at the high school level for the past 26 years. He founded the Yosemite Volleyball Club in 1986 and has had several teams finish in the Top 20 at the USVBA national championships. His teams have traveled to Hawaii several times for competitions as well as various tournaments across the United States. Coach Hamm was the Athletic Director and Varsity coach at Minarets High in California and delivered the first league championship for the school in only its third year as a school playing with underclassman. He was the founder and Director of the Yosemite Volleyball Club and the Vista Volleyball Club. He was also a history teacher for 35 years as well. He has coached various sports from football to basketball to tennis. He has two children who are also teachers and volleyball coaches. His daughter, Jody, was an All-League selection as a setter in high school and now teaches high school math and coaches volleyball. Son, Richard, is a Special Ed teacher and is also a volleyball coach. A daughter, Kelly, is also a teacher and son, Dave, is a hospital administrator. Coach Hamm has had numerous players sign Division 1 full ride scholarships as well during his coaching tenure.  Coach Hamm joined the WTMVC coaching staff last year and will be returning for second year with the 13 National team.

Melinda Espinoza: 12 Regional Coach

Coach Espinoza begins her 2nd year WTMVC. She has coached High School volleyball for 12 seasons and is currently the Head Varsity Coach at Bourgade Catholic High School. She has also coached at the club level in Arizona for many years, including coaching positions with Arizona Juniors and Arizona Storm. Last Year, Coach Espinoza ran our skills-specific setting practices. She holds a teaching degree and a Master’s in Education from NAU. She leverages her teaching background to coach and work with players and develop her practices. Home life keeps Coach Espinoza busy with 4 children under the age of 10 and a husband that coaches High School baseball. She will be coaching our youngest club players this year.

Erik McCollum: 12 Regional Assistant Coach