Coaching Staff

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Coaching Philosophy:

“Commit to the process of becoming 1% better everyday, as a player and as a person. As you show up as the best version of yourself, others around you will be empowered to do the same. Be grateful for your opportunities, be fearless in your efforts, and always play with love for the game.”

AARON WEXLER

WESTCOAST VBC FOUNDER & BEACH DIRECTOR

  • BCAP 1 Certified 2018 (USA Volleyball Beach Coaching Accreditation Program)
  • Crossroads School Varsity Girls Head Coach 2013-2017
  • Crossroads 2016 CIF Champions, D3 State Regional Champions, D3 State Finalists
  • CIF 2016 D6 Coach of the Year
  • UCLA ’11 Volunteer Assistant for UCLA Women’s team under Mike Sealy WON D1 CHAMPIONSHIP
  • B. A. in Geography/Environmental Studies ’06
  • UCLA Libero for Mens team under Al Scates ’01-’05
  • SAMOHI ‘01, Setter/OH
  • Competitor on beach circuits: 20+ years of competing on the beach – 4 CBVA Open Titles, 2 AVP Main Draw appearances, 1 NVL Main Draw appearance
  • Gilberto Classic Champion x6, ’15, ’17, ’18, ’19, ’20, '23 (Venice CA)
  • Maccabiah Games 2005 Silver Medalist, (Israel)
  • 14 years of indoor girls club coaching: WestCoast VBC ’14-’17, Sunshine VBC ’10-’14, Sinjin Smith Volleyball Academy ’08-’09, Palisades VBC ’06-’08
  • National Academy of Sports Medicine Certified Personal Trainer. CPR/First Aid certified
  • 20+ years of private training for players 8-50 years old
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Coaching Philosophy:

“I believe in proper preparation. This starts with mindset training for our athletes. I run progression-based practices sessions that focus on proper technique, fundamentals, and game preparedness.”

Travis Schoonover

WestCoast VBC Founder & Beach Director

  • BCAP 1 Certified 2018 (USA Volleyball Beach Coaching Accreditation Program)
  • Crossroads School Girls Varsity Volunteer Assistant (2014-2018)
  • Crossroads 2016 CIF Champions, D3 State Regional Champions, D3 State Finalists
  • Thousand Oaks ’01, Setter
  • Pierce College, SMC college, B.A. – Business (In progress)
  • Competitor on AVP, NVL, & CBVA tours: NVL Competitor & SmackSportswear Sponsored Athlete, NVL top 10 player ’14 & BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER ’15
  • CBVA 10x Open Champion, Gilberto Classic Champ ’17 & '23, Moonlight Beach Champ ’17
  • 13 years of club coaching: WestCoast ’14-present, Sunshine VBC Head Coach ’11-’14, Gene’s Team Head Coach ’08-’11, Reef VBC Head Coach ’06-’08, Spectrum VBC Head Coach ’05-’07, Mustangs VBC Head Coach ’03-’05, Zuma Bay Head Coach ’01-’03
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Coaching Philosophy:

“With the right motivation, will power, and effort, anything can be achieved in this sport.”

Dylan Maarek

WC Beach Coach

  • First Open win Age 21 (2014), CBVA Open Champion x8
  • 2nd Place Finish NVL Long Beach 2017 (coming out of qualifier)
  • First FIVB Event Representing France 2018
  • 3 AVP Main Draws
  • P1440 Main Draw 2018
  • Coached Mens Beach Team to a Silver at 2017 USA U19 trials
  • Coached Women’s team to Gold 2017 USA  U19 trails
  • Coached Mens team to Silver in 2016 USA U21 trials
  • Head Coach Paul Revere boys and girls 2017 & 2018
  • Paul Revere Boys Delphic league Champions 2018
  • Head Coach at Pac6 2015: 16s team
  • Head coach  at Pac6 2016:16s team, 3 silver medals
  • Head coach at Pac6 2016: 14s team
  • Head coach at Pac6 2016: 14s team
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Coaching Philosophy:

“My goal is to pass on the experience I have gained through playing, and to pay forward the knowledge I have received through my past coaching experiences.”

Miles Evans

WC Beach Coach

  • Hometown: Santa Barbara, Calif.
  • College: Santa Barbara City College/UC Santa Barbara, ’12 sociology
  • Team/Club: Santa Barbara Spikers
  • Avp 2019 placed 2nd in Hermosa Beach with Ryan Doherty
  • Have played in three 2019 FIVB season events, finished ninth at four-star in Yangzhou, China
  • Played in 15 2018 FIVB season events with Bill Kolinske. Placed 2nd at the one-star in Aalsmeer and 3rd at the two-star in Sydney
  • Placed third at the p1440 event in San Jose 2018 with Bill Kolinske
  • In 2017, played in two NORCECA tournaments and one FIVB Tournament, finishing with a gold, silver and ninth, respectively; all marked career bests
  • Posted a then career-best international finish of bronze at 2016 NORCECA Varadero with McLachlin
  • Finished fourth at 2016 NORCECA Tamarindo, Costa Rica with Spencer McLachlin in their first event together and in North Bay, Canada
  • Placed fourth at the 2015 NORCECA North Bay with Ian Satterfield, their first outing as a team in NORCECA
  • Played in 26 matches at UCSB in 2012 with a team-best 325 kills and second in blocks (56) and aces (15)
  • Won 1st place at the 2017 Punta Cana,  Norceca with Bill Kolinske
  • Placed 1st 3 different times at the Seaside Open in Oregon 2016, 17, and 19
  • Girls & Boys Indoor & Beach Club coaching 2008-present
  • Coached 3 high performance camps for USA in Chula Vista
  • Coached for Endless Summer girls club 2017-18
  • Coached Surfside girls club 2017-Now in Palos Verdes
  • Coached with Matt Fuerbringer for Team Rockstar 2015-17 and with Alfred Reft for Peak Volleyball Academy
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Coaching Philosophy:

“I never want to stop learning and growing in my knowledge of beach volleyball!  It’s all about learning how to be grateful for the journey. This is a sport where losing can happen a lot and you have to learn how to get 1% better everyday and become a better teammate and person to those around you. I am just so grateful for this sport and what it has taught me so far and I can’t wait to keep learning about myself as I continue to coach and play!"

Amanda Harnett

WC Beach Coach

Hi I am Amanda Harnett. I am a professional beach volleyball player and coach with Team Canada.

My journey has taken me to international tournaments like the U21 World Championships in Switzerland, the 2019 Pan American Games in Peru, and the Elite 16 events in Australia in 2022. I've competed on the Norececa tour, where I've been fortunate to earn some medals. This year, I started competing on the AVP tour, which has been a new and exciting experience!

In Canada, I have been one of the head coaches for the Team Ontario High-Performance Beach Volleyball program since 2017. My coaching focuses on guiding young athletes to make effective decisions under pressure and foster positive interactions with others. I've completed courses at Human Potential Plus, which have enhanced my skills in areas like team values, relationship building, conflict resolution, and leadership coaching. Additionally, I've completed the Volleyball Canada NCCP Advanced Development Coach Beach Certification.

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Coaching Philosophy:

"Teaching the love of the game through compassion and fun!"

Zac Pittard

WC Beach Coach

  • Played indoor at Santa Monica High School, Santa Barbara City College, and UC Santa Cruz
  • Played club at MB Surf and Palisades Volleyball Club where he won a bronze medal at Junior Olympics 15’s year
  • Been playing Beach Volleyball for 10 years, and first got AAA rating when he was 21
  • Selected for USA Beach High Performance team Summer 2016 and Summer 2017

Coaching Bio:

  • SB Coast head and assistant coach 2018-2020
  • Santa Cruz Beach Volleyball head and assistant coach 2022-2023
  • Current Assistant Coach at Sunshine Volleyball Club
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Coaching Philosophy:

“I believe sport is essential for the full development and actualization of all humans. The brain and the body are not separate entities, but are deeply connected and depended on each other.  A healthy brain requires a healthy body and vice versa, and that’s why I credit the sport of volleyball for helping me achieve success in all other aspects of my life.  Having benefitted greatly in my professional and personal worlds through the teachings of commitment, teamwork, and emotional regulation, my goal as a coach is to inspire a lifelong love of sport in the next generation and give back to the sport that has given me so much!”

Allison Griffith

WC Beach Coach

Coach Allison has 17 years of playing experience and 3 years of coaching experience in indoor and beach volleyball.  Allison received her BS in Civil Engineering from the University of Notre Dame in 2016 and MS from UCLA in 2019, and she believes playing the sport of volleyball has been critical in improving work ethic and enhancing team and life skills, leading to success on and off the court. Allison is also passionate about learning about total health and wellness because training extends past the sidelines.
 
Playing Experience and Achievements:
  • 2008 - 2010 DeWitt High School Varsity Volleyball (MB)
  • 2011 Aquinas College Varsity Volleyball (OP, OH) WHAC Freshman of the year
  • 2012 University of Toledo Varsity Volleyball (OP)
  • 2015 - 2016 University of Notre Dame Club Volleyball (OP)
  • 2019 - 2020 P1440 Development team (beach)
 
Coaching Experience
  • 2012 Saint’s Juniors volleyball club
  • 2018 - 2019 Westcoast Beach Volleyball Club
  • 2022 USYVL
  • 2022 - 2023 Surfside Volleyball Club
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Coaching Philosophy:

“My players inspire me to coach and I hope to inspire my players to love volleyball!”

Daria Kim-Percy

WC Beach Coach

I fell in love with volleyball at the age of 9. I began playing in my elementary school’s after-school volleyball program and continued to play indoor and beach for 11 years. With the goal of playing in college, I went to Amherst College to play indoor and get my BA in Biology. At Amherst, I was a starting outside hitter for two years before the pandemic and injuries halted my career. Volleyball built a foundation for discipline, teamwork, and confidence that continue to guide my studies and work in the sciences. Although after many years I miss the sport and have found my way back as a coach at West Coast VC and playing beach volleyball for fun.

Playing Experience:

  • 2014 Santa Monica HS Varsity Volleyball (OH)
  • 2014 SCVA HP Global Team (OH)
  • 2014 USA HP A2 Sand Training Program
  • 2015-2017 Windward Varsity Volleyball (OH)
  • Played at Mizuno Long Beach (16 and 17’s Rockstar 1’s teams)
  • Played at Actyve Volleyball (18’s)
  • 2017-2019 Amherst College Starting OH
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Coaching Philosophy:

“Determination: Be mindful of your objective and goals.
Discipline: Apply your mindset into repeated actions that will achieve consistency and reach your goals.
Dignity: Be humbled by your accomplishments. Enjoy the victories and learn from your defeats."

“Success only comes before work in a dictionary.” ~ Pat Riley

Sergio Lira

WC Beach Coach

  • AVP Player 1989-1998
  • Top 48 player 1996
  • HS Volleyball Coach 1996-2004: MaryMount, St. Monica’s, Brentwood, SAMO
  • Amateur Athletic Foundation - Director/Head Coach 1996-2000
  • Taught inner city kids the game of beach VB at their respective inner city parks & recreation.
  • Club VB 2008-2020: Pacific Palisades, Sports Shack, Sunshine, Vintage Beach, LAVA/LAVA Shack
  • Crescent Beach VB/Sinjin Beach VB Club 2012-2022
  • Pacific Palisades HS Boys Beach Coach 2022
  • Association of Beach VB Clinics (ABVC) 1998-Present
  • City of Santa Monica (In memory of Greg Venturi)
  • Adult Lessons at Ocean Park, SM Pier
  • Santa Monica Beach VB (SMBV)
  • Adult Lessons at Ocean Park 2021-Present