Meet the Coaches at Santa Monica Volleyball Club
Anthony Elizondo - Executive Director & Master Coach
High School Attended: Santa Monica (Santa Monica, CA)
University Attended: University of Washington (Seattle, WA)
Cranston University (New York, NY)
USA Volleyball National Team Development 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 IV certified, Master Coach Certified
College Coaching Experience: Santa Clara University (Santa Clara, CA), Loyola Marymount University (Los Angeles, CA)
Overall Years of Coaching Experience: 25
"If you got a dream, chase it, 'cause a dream won't chase you back" -- Cody Johnson, song 'Til You Can't
University Attended: University of Washington (Seattle, WA)
Cranston University (New York, NY)
USA Volleyball National Team Development 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 IV certified, Master Coach Certified
College Coaching Experience: Santa Clara University (Santa Clara, CA), Loyola Marymount University (Los Angeles, CA)
Overall Years of Coaching Experience: 25
"If you got a dream, chase it, 'cause a dream won't chase you back" -- Cody Johnson, song 'Til You Can't
Erik Pichel - Girls 18 Adidas Premier, Head Coach
High School Attended: Palisades High (Palisades, CA)
Awards: NCAA All-American
Club Program: Palisades Club (Palisades, CA)
College Attended: University of Hawaii (Manoa, HI)
Positions Played: Setter
USAV Certification: CAP I
Years Coaching: 2nd Season
High School Attended: Palisades High (Palisades, CA)
Awards: NCAA All-American
Club Program: Palisades Club (Palisades, CA)
College Attended: University of Hawaii (Manoa, HI)
Positions Played: Setter
USAV Certification: CAP I
Years Coaching: 2nd Season
Sebastien Iniguez - Girls 18 Adidas Premier, Assistant
High School Attended: Freedom High School (, CA)
Awards: All-Southern Division
Club Program: Jamba Volleyball Club (North Hollywood, CA)
College Attended: Santa Monica College (Santa Monica, CA)
Positions Played: Outside Hitter/Defensive Specialist
USAV Certification: IMPACT
Years Coaching: 2nd Season
High School Attended: Freedom High School (, CA)
Awards: All-Southern Division
Club Program: Jamba Volleyball Club (North Hollywood, CA)
College Attended: Santa Monica College (Santa Monica, CA)
Positions Played: Outside Hitter/Defensive Specialist
USAV Certification: IMPACT
Years Coaching: 2nd Season
Diego Uribe - Girls 17 Adidas Premier, Head Coach
High School Attended: Venice High School (Venice, CA)
Awards: All-Western Division
Club Program: Santa Monica Volleyball Club (North Hollywood, CA)
College Attended: Santa Monica College (Santa Monica, CA)
Positions Played: Outside Hitter/Setter
USAV Certification: CAP I
Years Coaching: 4th Season
High School Attended: Venice High School (Venice, CA)
Awards: All-Western Division
Club Program: Santa Monica Volleyball Club (North Hollywood, CA)
College Attended: Santa Monica College (Santa Monica, CA)
Positions Played: Outside Hitter/Setter
USAV Certification: CAP I
Years Coaching: 4th Season
Marina Alexander - Girls 17 Adidas Premier, Assistant
High School Attended: Freedom High School (, CA)
Awards: All-Southern Division
Club Program: Jamba Volleyball Club (North Hollywood, CA)
College Attended: Santa Monica College (Santa Monica, CA)
Positions Played: Outside Hitter/Defensive Specialist
USAV Certification: IMPACT
Years Coaching: 2nd Season
High School Attended: Freedom High School (, CA)
Awards: All-Southern Division
Club Program: Jamba Volleyball Club (North Hollywood, CA)
College Attended: Santa Monica College (Santa Monica, CA)
Positions Played: Outside Hitter/Defensive Specialist
USAV Certification: IMPACT
Years Coaching: 2nd Season
Rodney Smith - Director & Head Coach: Boys 18 Adidas Elite/Girls 16 Adidas Premier
High School Attended: Venice (Los Angeles, CA)
Awards: CIF All-City Selection, All-Western Division
Club Program: N/A
College Attended: Santa Monica College (Santa Monica, CA)
Positions Played: Setter
USAV Certification: CAP I
Years of Coaching Experience: 15
High School Attended: Venice (Los Angeles, CA)
Awards: CIF All-City Selection, All-Western Division
Club Program: N/A
College Attended: Santa Monica College (Santa Monica, CA)
Positions Played: Setter
USAV Certification: CAP I
Years of Coaching Experience: 15
Maliki Farrell- Boys 18 Adidas Elite & Girls 16 Adidas Premier Assistant Coach
High School Attended: Kealakehe (Kailua Kona, HI)
Awards: All-Western Division
Club Program: Club (Kailua Kona, HI)
College Attended: Santa Monica College (Santa Monica, CA)
Positions Played: Opposite Hitter
USAV Certification: IMPACT
Years Coaching: 3rd Season
High School Attended: Kealakehe (Kailua Kona, HI)
Awards: All-Western Division
Club Program: Club (Kailua Kona, HI)
College Attended: Santa Monica College (Santa Monica, CA)
Positions Played: Opposite Hitter
USAV Certification: IMPACT
Years Coaching: 3rd Season
John Baker- Girls 15 Adidas Premier Head Coach
High School Attended: (Salt Lake City, UT)
Awards: All-Western Division
Club Program: Club (Salt Lake City, UT)
College Attended: Utah State University (Provo, UT)
Positions Played: Outside Hitter
USAV Certification: IMPACT
Years Coaching: 4th Season
High School Attended: (Salt Lake City, UT)
Awards: All-Western Division
Club Program: Club (Salt Lake City, UT)
College Attended: Utah State University (Provo, UT)
Positions Played: Outside Hitter
USAV Certification: IMPACT
Years Coaching: 4th Season
Mylie Baker - Girls 15 Adidas Premier, Assistant
High School Attended: Santa Monica (Santa Monica, CA)
Awards: All-Ocean League Honorable Mention
Club Program: Santa Monica Volleyball Club (Santa Monica, CA)
College Attended: Santa Monica College (Santa Monica, CA)
Positions Played: Defensive Specialist/Libero
USAV Certification: IMPACT
Years Coaching: 1st Season
High School Attended: Santa Monica (Santa Monica, CA)
Awards: All-Ocean League Honorable Mention
Club Program: Santa Monica Volleyball Club (Santa Monica, CA)
College Attended: Santa Monica College (Santa Monica, CA)
Positions Played: Defensive Specialist/Libero
USAV Certification: IMPACT
Years Coaching: 1st Season
Madison Mimoun - Girls 14 Adidas Premier, Head Coach
High School Attended: Santa Monica (Santa Monica, CA)
Awards: All-Ocean League Honorable Mention
Club Program: Actyve Volleyball Club (Santa Monica, CA)
College Attended: Loyola Marymount University (Los Angeles, CA)
Positions Played: Opposite/Outside Hitter
USAV Certification: IMPACT
Years Coaching: 4th Season
High School Attended: Santa Monica (Santa Monica, CA)
Awards: All-Ocean League Honorable Mention
Club Program: Actyve Volleyball Club (Santa Monica, CA)
College Attended: Loyola Marymount University (Los Angeles, CA)
Positions Played: Opposite/Outside Hitter
USAV Certification: IMPACT
Years Coaching: 4th Season
Justin Justice - Girls 14 Adidas Premier, Assistant
High School Attended: Santa Monica (Santa Monica, CA)
Awards: All-Ocean League Honorable Mention
Club Program: Santa Monica Volleyball Club (Santa Monica, CA)
College Attended: Santa Monica College (Santa Monica, CA)
Positions Played: Defensive Specialist/Libero
USAV Certification: IMPACT
Years Coaching: 1st Season
High School Attended: Santa Monica (Santa Monica, CA)
Awards: All-Ocean League Honorable Mention
Club Program: Santa Monica Volleyball Club (Santa Monica, CA)
College Attended: Santa Monica College (Santa Monica, CA)
Positions Played: Defensive Specialist/Libero
USAV Certification: IMPACT
Years Coaching: 1st Season
Cameron Taylor - 13 Adidas Premier Head Coch
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: 3rd 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: 3rd Season
Ethan Smith - 13 Adidas Elite, Head Coach
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: 6
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: 6
Brandon Fitzgerald - Girls 12 Adidas Elite, 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: 5
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: 5
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: 19
“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: 19
“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"