Meet the Coaches at Santa Monica Volleyball Club
Anthony Elizondo - Boys 18 Adidas & Girls 18 Adidas Premier, Head Coach
High School Attended: Santa Monica (Santa Monica, CA)
University Attended: University of Washington (Seattle, WA)
Cranston University (New York, NY)
USA Volleyball Coaching Experience: 13 Years
USA Teams/Programs Coached: GYA1, USA Continental Team (4 yrs.), GYA2, GSA2, GYA3, GSA3, National Skills Program, National Training Team Program, Holiday Camp - Regional Training Block
USAV Certifications: CAP III certified
College Coaching Experience: Santa Clara University (Santa Clara, CA)
Overall Years of Coaching Experience: 25
University Attended: University of Washington (Seattle, WA)
Cranston University (New York, NY)
USA Volleyball Coaching Experience: 13 Years
USA Teams/Programs Coached: GYA1, USA Continental Team (4 yrs.), GYA2, GSA2, GYA3, GSA3, National Skills Program, National Training Team Program, Holiday Camp - Regional Training Block
USAV Certifications: CAP III certified
College Coaching Experience: Santa Clara University (Santa Clara, CA)
Overall Years of Coaching Experience: 25
Rodney Smith - Boys 18 Adidas & Girls 14 Adidas Premier Associate Head Coach
High School Attended: Venice (Los Angeles, CA)
Awards: CIF All-City Selection, All-Western Division
Club Program: Santa Monica Volleyball Club (Santa Monica, CA)
College Attended: Santa Monica College (Santa Monica, CA)
Positions Played: Setter
USAV Certification: IMPACT
Years of Coaching Experience: 15
High School Attended: Venice (Los Angeles, CA)
Awards: CIF All-City Selection, All-Western Division
Club Program: Santa Monica Volleyball Club (Santa Monica, CA)
College Attended: Santa Monica College (Santa Monica, CA)
Positions Played: Setter
USAV Certification: IMPACT
Years of Coaching Experience: 15
Steve Hanna - Girls 17 Adidas Premier Associate Head Coach
High School Attended: Venice (Los Angeles, CA)
Awards: CIF All-City Selection, All-Western Division
Club Program: Santa Monica Beach Club (North Hollywood, CA)
College Attended: Belmont College (Clairsville, OH)
Positions Played: Setter
USAV Certification: IMPACT
Years of Coaching Experience: 10
"You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them"
High School Attended: Venice (Los Angeles, CA)
Awards: CIF All-City Selection, All-Western Division
Club Program: Santa Monica Beach Club (North Hollywood, CA)
College Attended: Belmont College (Clairsville, OH)
Positions Played: Setter
USAV Certification: IMPACT
Years of Coaching Experience: 10
"You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them"
Tarrah Beebe - Girls 15 Adidas Premier Head Coach
High School Attended: Notre Dame Academy (Hingham, MA)
Awards: All-Scholastic Volleyball Team - Patriot Ledger
Club Program: Mass Patriots Volleyball Club (Quincy, MA)
University Attended: Catholic University (Washington, DC)
Awards: Cardinal Leadership Award
University of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA)
USAV Certification: IMPACT
Years of Coaching Experience: 10
Awards: All-Scholastic Volleyball Team - Patriot Ledger
Club Program: Mass Patriots Volleyball Club (Quincy, MA)
University Attended: Catholic University (Washington, DC)
Awards: Cardinal Leadership Award
University of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA)
USAV Certification: IMPACT
Years of Coaching Experience: 10
Andres Castillo - Girls 16 Adidas Premier, Assistant
High School Attended: University (Los Angeles, CA)
Awards: All-Western Division
Club Program: Santa Monica Beach Club (North Hollywood, CA)
College Attended: Santa Monica College (Santa Monica, CA)
Positions Played: Defensive Specialist/Libero
USAV Certification: IMPACT
Years Coaching: 1st Season
High School Attended: University (Los Angeles, CA)
Awards: All-Western Division
Club Program: Santa Monica Beach Club (North Hollywood, CA)
College Attended: Santa Monica College (Santa Monica, CA)
Positions Played: Defensive Specialist/Libero
USAV Certification: IMPACT
Years Coaching: 1st Season
Brandon Fitzgerald - Girls 15 Adidas Premier, Head Coach
High School Attended:
Awards: All-CIF Selection, North Division All-League
Club Program: Santa Monica Volleyball Club (Santa Monica, CA)
College Attended: Cal State Northridge (Northridge, CA)
Positions Played: Outside Hitter & Middle Hitter, AAA Beach Rating
USAV Certification: IMPACT
Years of Coaching Experience: 4
High School Attended:
Awards: All-CIF Selection, North Division All-League
Club Program: Santa Monica Volleyball Club (Santa Monica, CA)
College Attended: Cal State Northridge (Northridge, CA)
Positions Played: Outside Hitter & Middle Hitter, AAA Beach Rating
USAV Certification: IMPACT
Years of Coaching Experience: 4
Ethan Smith - Boys 17 Adidas, Head Coach & Girls 14 Adidas Premier Assistant
High School Attended: Venice (Los Angeles, CA)
Awards: CIF All-City Selection, Western Division All-City
Club Program: Santa Monica Volleyball Club (Santa Monica, CA)
College Attended: Santa Monica College (Santa Monica, CA)
Positions Played: Outside Hitter & Opposite
USAV Certification: IMPACT
Years of Coaching Experience: 3
High School Attended: Venice (Los Angeles, CA)
Awards: CIF All-City Selection, Western Division All-City
Club Program: Santa Monica Volleyball Club (Santa Monica, CA)
College Attended: Santa Monica College (Santa Monica, CA)
Positions Played: Outside Hitter & Opposite
USAV Certification: IMPACT
Years of Coaching Experience: 3
Gus Bernota - Boys 15 Adidas & Girls 13 Adidas Premier Assistant
High School Attended: Santa Monica (Santa Monica, CA)
Awards: All-CIF Honorable Mention, All-Ocean League Selection
Club Program: Santa Monica Volleyball Club (Santa Monica, CA)
College Attended: Santa Monica College (Santa Monica, CA)
Positions Played: Outside Hitter & Opposite
USAV Certification: IMPACT
Years Coaching: 2nd Season
High School Attended: Santa Monica (Santa Monica, CA)
Awards: All-CIF Honorable Mention, All-Ocean League Selection
Club Program: Santa Monica Volleyball Club (Santa Monica, CA)
College Attended: Santa Monica College (Santa Monica, CA)
Positions Played: Outside Hitter & Opposite
USAV Certification: IMPACT
Years Coaching: 2nd Season
Meghan Middleton - Girls 13 Adidas Premier Head Coach
High School Attended: Pacific Palisades (Palisades, CA)
Awards: All-CIF L.A. City Section, 1st Team - All Western League
Club Program: Santa Monica Beach Club (North Hollywood, CA)
College Attended: Santa Monica College (Santa Monica, CA)
Positions Played: Setter, Outside Hitter & Opposite
USAV Certification: IMPACT
Years Coaching: 5
"The only way to develop as an athlete is by learning to embrace uncomfortability, this will push you to achieve and grow to higher levels"
Awards: All-CIF L.A. City Section, 1st Team - All Western League
Club Program: Santa Monica Beach Club (North Hollywood, CA)
College Attended: Santa Monica College (Santa Monica, CA)
Positions Played: Setter, Outside Hitter & Opposite
USAV Certification: IMPACT
Years Coaching: 5
"The only way to develop as an athlete is by learning to embrace uncomfortability, this will push you to achieve and grow to higher levels"
Lindsay Castagnola - Girls 13 Adidas Premier Head Coach
High School Attended: Presentation (San Jose, CA)
Awards: All-CIF Honorable Mention, All-STAL Team
Club Program: City Beach (Santa Clara, CA)
College Attended: University of Kentucky (Lexington, KY)
Positions Played: Setter, Opposite
USAV Certification: IMPACT
Years Coaching: 4
"Never say never because limits, like fears, are often just an illusion"
Awards: All-CIF Honorable Mention, All-STAL Team
Club Program: City Beach (Santa Clara, CA)
College Attended: University of Kentucky (Lexington, KY)
Positions Played: Setter, Opposite
USAV Certification: IMPACT
Years Coaching: 4
"Never say never because limits, like fears, are often just an illusion"
Amanda Greenfield - Girls 13 Adidas Premier Associate Head Coach
High School Attended: Presentation (San Jose, CA)
Awards: All-CIF Central Coast Section, All-STAL
Club Program: City Beach (Santa Clara, CA)
College Attended: UC Santa Barbara (Santa Barbara, CA)
Positions Played: Opposite
USAV Certification: IMPACT
Years of Coaching Experience: 4
"Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard"
Awards: All-CIF Central Coast Section, All-STAL
Club Program: City Beach (Santa Clara, CA)
College Attended: UC Santa Barbara (Santa Barbara, CA)
Positions Played: Opposite
USAV Certification: IMPACT
Years of Coaching Experience: 4
"Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard"
Kelsi Pich - Girls 12 Adidas Premier Head Coach
High School Attended: Durango (Las Vegas, NV)
Awards:
Club Program: Nevada Juniors (Las Vegas, NV)
University Attended: San Diego State (San Diego, CA)
Positions Played: Setter, Defensive Specialist. Libero
USAV Certification: IMPACT
Years Coaching: 3
"If something stands between you and your success, move it. Never be denied!"
Awards:
Club Program: Nevada Juniors (Las Vegas, NV)
University Attended: San Diego State (San Diego, CA)
Positions Played: Setter, Defensive Specialist. Libero
USAV Certification: IMPACT
Years Coaching: 3
"If something stands between you and your success, move it. Never be denied!"
Peter Luong - Mentor Coach
High School Attended:
Awards:
Club Program: Peninsula Volleyball Club (Quincy, WA)
University Attended: University of Washington (Seattle, WA)
Awards:
Years Coaching: 16
“Grow the game and allow opportunity for the athletes to be successful with volleyball and to instill lifelong skills".
Awards:
Club Program: Peninsula Volleyball Club (Quincy, WA)
University Attended: University of Washington (Seattle, WA)
Awards:
Years Coaching: 16
“Grow the game and allow opportunity for the athletes to be successful with volleyball and to instill lifelong skills".
Taylor Burks - Coach, Tower 24 Beach Team
High School: Culver City (Culver City, CA)
Awards: Most Valuable Player - CIF State Volleyball Championships
Club Program: Santa Monica Volleyball Club (Santa Monica, CA)
University Attended: University of Hawaii - Hilo
Beach Awards: 2016 USAV Jr. Beach Championships - Gold Medal
AAA Beach rating
"Don't be afraid of failure. This is the way to succeed"
High School: Culver City (Culver City, CA)
Awards: Most Valuable Player - CIF State Volleyball Championships
Club Program: Santa Monica Volleyball Club (Santa Monica, CA)
University Attended: University of Hawaii - Hilo
Beach Awards: 2016 USAV Jr. Beach Championships - Gold Medal
AAA Beach rating
"Don't be afraid of failure. This is the way to succeed"