The AVCA is pleased to announce its 15th class of Coaches 4 Coaches Scholarship recipients. This program’s funds cover registration and hotel costs to bring a group of 14 up-and-coming volleyball coaches to their first AVCA Convention.
“On behalf of the committee I would like to congratulate the 2023 scholarship recipients,” says Jaime Gordon, AVCA CEO and Coaches 4 Coaches Committee Chair. “There was a tremendous pool of applicants this year which made the committee’s work challenging.
“We are confident that this group of 14 represents the passion and commitment of their peers and that they will be outstanding ambassadors for the Coaches 4 Coaches program. I am grateful for the time and commitment that the committee has dedicated to these applicants, as well as the many individuals that give so generously to make this program possible.”
During the Convention, which will take place Dec. 13-17 in Tampa, Florida, scholarship recipients will have the opportunity to network with successful coaches from all levels and take part in a diverse group of educational opportunities that make this an annual can’t-miss event.
Here is more information on this year’s 14 Coaches 4 Coaches recipients:
Shai Bloom
University of Virginia
Volunteer Technical Coordinator
“Shai gave up a chance to attend med school because of his love for volleyball, and our sport is better with him in it! What I value about Shai the most is that he’s a relentless learner. He is constantly asking questions about our sport, how we manage our program, and where he can improve. He is proactive in finding ways to improve as a coach and as a person.” —Shannon Wells, University of Virginia Head Volleyball Coach
Adam Campbell
Marquette University
Volunteer Technical Coordinator
“Adam is one the finest young men I have had the pleasure of working with in my 25 years of Division I coaching. His goal is to become a collegiate volleyball coach, and everyone could understand his passion and aspirations from his first day in our office. His willingness to go above and beyond to learn all parts of varying jobs within the program is exemplary.” —Ryan Theis, Marquette Head Volleyball Coach
Jordan Childs
Emory University
Assistant Volleyball Coach
“Jordan is one of the most talented young coaches and people I have met in a very long time. She is bright, has a tremendous work ethic, and is relentlessly committed to pursuing excellence on and off the court. As a coach, Jordan is the same person every day—present, engaged, and always contributing to her team.” —Bob Westbrook, Founder of A5 Volleyball Club
Ben Cutrone
Purdue University
Graduate Manager
“Ben is always studying the game. If he is not in the gym assisting player workouts, he is watching video of college and the international competition to continually improve his knowledge. He is a very caring and genuine coach who is also very competitive, and his energy and desire to help others is remarkable.” —Dave Shondell, Purdue Head Volleyball Coach
Lauren Deaton
University of Houston
Graduate Assistant
“In her short time with us at Houston, Lauren has made an impact with her commitment and work ethic. She loves the game, I like her energy, and she shows a healthy eagerness to learn and develop her coaching skills. It is clear that she possesses the raw qualities of a promising coach.” —TJ Meagher, Houston Senior Associate Athletics Director
Josh Dewitt
The Ohio State University
Practice Player
“While still completing his degree, Josh practices with the women’s volleyball team multiple days per week, plays on the men’s club team, and coaches club volleyball locally. He is constantly asking me questions about coaching decisions, purposes of drills, and all the behind-the-scenes work, the things that it takes to excel as a coach at the highest level.” —Brian Wright, Ohio State University Women’s Volleyball Assistant Coach
Emma Minnick
William and Mary
College Volleyball Player
“Emma’s dedication to her development as a coach is commendable. She is not only passionate about the game of volleyball but also possesses the qualities necessary to excel as a coach—she is a great communicator, a strategic thinker, and a strong motivator. I have no doubt that she will continue to excel in her coaching career and contribute positively to the volleyball community.” —Ryan Adams, William and Mary Head Volleyball Coach
Regan Nickol
Ohio Dominican University
Graduate Assistant Coach
“Regan grew up with a volleyball in hand, as her father has coached at the elite club level for over 20 years. In my first conversation with Regan regarding our graduate assistant position, she stated being a college volleyball coach is all she has ever wanted to do. I instantly wanted to help mentor and guide her to achieve her goals.” —Amy Bambenek, Ohio Dominican Head Volleyball Coach
ShaLi Niu
St. Mary’s (TX) University
Graduate Assistant Coach
“We hired ShaLi this past summer and, in just a few short months, she has already demonstrated her ability to go above and beyond in all facets of her coaching responsibilities. She takes her work seriously, understands the game at a high level, and is truly helping elevate our program. More than anything else, she is hungry to learn, and I can’t think of a better place for a young coach to learn than at the AVCA Convention.” —Laura Ulrich, St. Mary’s (TX) University Head Volleyball Coach
Allison Post
Daemen University
Graduate Assistant
“Since the first day she started as the G.A., Allison has been striving to be a great coach. She is trustworthy and reliable, and holds herself to a high standard. She has been an integral part of the success of our program and continues to take on bigger duties within the program that will help prepare her for her next chapter in coaching.” —Eli Irizarry, Daemen University Women’s Volleyball Head Coach
Kasey Price
Rice University
Assistant Volleyball Coach/Volunteer
“Kasey quit his very comfortable high school coaching position to take a chance on starting a new path in college coaching here. And, since then, he has shown up every single day ready to work and ready to learn. He has made such a positive influence on not only our players, but our coaching staff.” —Genny Volpe, Rice Head Volleyball Coach
Samuel Sorsky
Volleyball England
England U17 Girls Assistant Coach
“After being involved with volleyball, most recently at the University of Durham, Sam is looking to start his career in education, and teaching volleyball will inevitably take a prominent role in his activities. We believe Sam will develop as a leader of the small, dedicated group of teachers attempting to move volleyball into the mainstream of grassroots elementary and secondary school, which is critical to the sport’s development in England.” —Bob Pickens, Volleyball Development Camp Director
Colleen Stengel
SUNY Cortland
Associate Head Coach
“Colleen is authentic in her care for our student-athletes, their well-being, and their personal growth. She can also laugh with our players and challenge them to raise the expectations they have for themselves. I can always count on her to do the little things the team needs to operate smoothly, as well as to bring excitement and joy to training and competition.” —Erin Glickert, SUNY Cortland Head Volleyball Coach
Lexi Uhrhan
Georgia Southern
Graduate Assistant Coach
“I enjoyed coaching Lexi because she is dedicated, works hard, and carries herself in a polite and respectful manner—those things made me think she would end up in coaching. She has a love and passion for the game, along with a personality that fits the coaching profession. Everyone that I come across that knows Lexi has wonderful things to say about her!” —Alicia Roth, Pittsburgh Assistant Volleyball Coach
Lauren Deaton of the University of Houston, part of the C4C Class of 2023, also is being recognized as the recipient of the Vong Family Endowment. The Endowment, which was started by Sandy Vong and his children in 2021, is a continuation of their love for the sport. Sandy was the first women’s volleyball coach at the University of Michigan, served as an advisor to the U.S. Women’s National Team for a decade, and is a member of the AVCA Hall of Fame.
To qualify for the C4C Scholarship, applicants must be active AVCA members who have never attended an AVCA Convention before. The selection committee reviewed the applications and makes their decisions based on many factors.
These scholarships are funded through the generous donations of AVCA-member coaches and other advocates for up-and-coming coaches including the AAU, which hosts a social event at the AVCA Convention benefitting the fund. To help continue the Coaches 4 Coaches program, please donate today.
To learn what the scholarship meant to each recipient and the impact your future donation can have please check out the 2023 Coaches 4 Coaches Thank You!
Award Type
- Coaches 4 Coaches
- Scholarships
AVCA Staff Member