You BELONG

 

LIVE IT –

I began my volleyball journey in a small, tight knit community, Hawaiian Gardens, California. It is a Hispanic rooted city where I was raised by my single mother, Judy Vega, whose strength and sacrifice laid the foundation for everything I have become.

I was first introduced to volleyball by Coach Juan Serrano, and from that moment on, the game became a part of me. I started at Amazon Volleyball Club, a Polynesian based girls club out of Artesia High School, where I first experienced the importance of culture and community within the sport. I later continued my development at Mizuno Rockstar Volleyball Club under Joy Fuerbringer, where I was exposed to a more elite and diverse level of competition, which truly changed the trajectory of my career.

I attended Lakewood High School, where I played outside hitter under Coach Mike Wadley. With the support of my coaches and family, I earned a scholarship to compete in both indoor and beach volleyball at Long Beach State under Coach Brian Gimmillaro and became a first-generation college graduate.

As a student athlete, our indoor team finished in the top 20 at the NCAA Tournament and during my sophomore year, I was blessed to win a Division I Beach Volleyball National Championship in Gulf Shores in 2013. Those experiences helped shape not only my career, but who I am today.

LOVE IT –

I share my journey not to boast, but to highlight the culture and diversity that shaped my purpose and deepened my love for the game.

As a Hispanic and African American woman in a predominantly white sport, there were moments where I struggled with belonging. I constantly found myself asking, “Why am I one of the few colored athletes?” “Why am I playing and involved in a sport where I feel so different?”

Those questions led to doubt and at times made me feel isolated. But over time, I began to understand that those experiences were preparing me for something greater.

I realized that what once made me feel like I did not belong was part of God’s plan to position me to create spaces where others would. My early experiences gave me a clear vision. If I ever had the opportunity to lead or be a head coach, I would build a program rooted in inclusion, representation, and belonging.

That vision has not always been easy to execute. Doing things differently challenges the norm and not everyone welcomes change. But my love for the game and for the people in it has always been bigger than the discomfort.

COACH IT –

Today, I serve as the Director of Volleyball Operations at Long Beach City College and the head coach for both the women’s indoor and beach volleyball programs, while also overseeing men’s volleyball.

I take pride in building programs that reflect diversity in every sense, backgrounds, cultures, experiences, and perspectives. My mission is simple. Every athlete and staff member who walks into our program should feel seen, valued, and included.

When I stepped into this role, it came with challenges. I quickly realized that not only was I navigating leadership as a woman, but also as a woman of color. There were moments of resistance, lost relationships and friendships, and difficult transitions. At times, I questioned why.

But I leaned into my faith and stayed grounded in my purpose. I found my voice and began speaking up in rooms where I once stayed quiet, understanding that silence was not serving my athletes, my programs, or myself.

The reality is, as women of color, we are often held to a higher standard. We are expected to be perfect, to prove ourselves constantly, and to exceed expectations just to rarely be acknowledged. Despite that, we kept building.

Our program went from a 3-16 team to conference champions in both indoor and beach volleyball, with multiple state playoff appearances and a top three finish in California. Beyond wins, we have built a culture of success in every area. We consistently graduate and transfer our student athletes to four-year programs, maintain a team GPA above a 3.0, and recruit nationally to continue elevating our programs.

Yes, wins are important, but so is community. We would not have the success we do without everyone who pours into our program. Our equipment staff, athletic trainers, administrators, counselors, the support from the Long Beach community.

True inclusion comes from valuing and seeing everyone. No role is more important than another. Every person contributes to the experience and the environment we create. It is my duty as a head coach to make sure of that.

I did not do it alone.

I was blessed with an incredibly diverse coaching staff, Litara Keil, Kaitlin Noel, Herman Scanlan, and Devon Taylor along with athletes who fully bought into the vision. I also had a few trusted colleagues who poured into me along the way, and the unwavering support of my family, especially my mom and my brother, Alfred Mireles.

Through it all, I have learned that shrinking myself or dimming my light serves no one. The more I show up fully and confidently as who I am, the better I can lead, and ultimately the better I can serve my team and my community.

This game has given me so much. Now it is my responsibility to give back by creating something bigger than volleyball, a space and community where everyone belongs.

We started at 3-16. That season was one of the hardest years of my journey, but also one of the most meaningful. It was the beginning of purpose, growth, and belief.

John 3:16
“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

—-

Tyler Jackson serves as the Director of Volleyball Operations and leads the beach volleyball and women’s indoor volleyball programs at Long Beach City College since 2022.  She took over the program on an interim basis in 2020 after having served as an assistant coach to Misty May Treanor for four years.

Click to view other stories in the LIVE IT! LOVE IT! COACH IT! Stories From Volleyball Series.

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