The American Volleyball Coaches Association’s Diversity Development Team is pleased to announce the 20 recipients of this year’s Diversity Awards. The coach development program, which originated in 2015, will bring these volleyball leaders to the 2023 AVCA Convention in Tampa, Florida.
During this year’s event, recipients will participate in a series of educational seminars—many of which focus on professional and personal development for coaches—and take part in additional relationship-building experiences during the Convention.
“The Diversity Awards program demonstrates the Development Team’s commitment to advancing equity and inclusion in our sport as well as our community,” said Nickie Sanlin, McKendree University head men’s and women’s volleyball coach and chair of the AVCA Diversity Development Team. “We are grateful for the contributions of many generous supporters—from universities and industry partners to individual coaches—who continue to assist with our efforts to advance the sport of volleyball.”
2023 AVCA Diversity Award Recipients:
Gary Aromin
Emory University
Marvin Battle, Jr.
Rocket City Volleyball Club
[Sponsored by Southern Region of USAV]
Julia Borges
A-Level Elite
[Sponsored by Junior Volleyball Association (JVA)]
Jacquese Brooks
LeFlore High School
Mobile (AL) Starlings Volleyball Club
[Sponsored by Gulf Coast Region of USAV]
Marquis Clark
Tri Cities Extreme VBC
[Sponsored by Southern Region of USAV]
Chey Cooper
Fort Valley State University
Nicholas (Nick) Costello
Multnomah Athletic Club
[Sponsored by Columbia Empire Region of USAV]
Raunak Doshi
Arcadia University/Moravian University
Micaela Encarnacion
University of Wisconsin-Parkside
Antonio (Coach Tony) Gaetan
Water Spring Middle School
[Sponsored by Florida Region of USAV]
Meika Gardner
Williamson High School & Middle Grades Academy/Mobile County Public Schools
Mobile (AL) Starlings Volleyball Club
[Sponsored by Gulf Coast Region of USAV]
Kiyla Glasper
Tenacity Volleyball Club
[Sponsored by Delta Region of USAV]
Nathalia Gouveia
Thunder Bay Volleyball Academy
[Sponsored by Florida Region of USAV]
Joel Herrera
Central State University
DeMarcus Lewis
Lexington High Risers VBC
[Sponsored by Junior Volleyball Association (JVA)]
Lilith (Lil) Puckett
Missouri Volleyball Academy (MOVA)
[Sponsored by Gateway Region of USAV]
Angel Robinson
Xavier University
[Sponsored by Big East Conference]
Amaya Smith
Ohio Wesleyan University
[Sponsored by NCAC/OAC/UAA]
Jason Wheelock
FVP Volleyball Club
[Sponsored by Badger Region of USAV]
Liran Zamir
Santa Monica College
[MIVA Conference Designee]
The Diversity Award program is a key component of the AVCA Diversity Development Team’s efforts to advance the sport and continue to move forward with initiatives that lead to substantive change for society and the volleyball community. Including this year’s 20 members, the total number of coaches who have received this honor is 151.
This year’s AVCA Convention, to be held Dec. 13–17, will feature over 140 educational sessions, a Volleyball Marketplace, and activities such as a silent auction that raises funds for the AVCA Diversity Awards program.