2013 Champion Volleyball Club Coaching Staff
Doug Balser (Club Director and 12U)
Coach Balser is the current head coach at South Stokes High School. In his first season at South, the team went 14-13 and advanced to the third round of the state playoff, the schools deepest run in over 30 years. Previously, he has coached at High Point Christian Academy, where his team compiled a 25-6 record and a 5th place finish in the state. He spent 13 coaching at First Assembly, winning 12 conference titles in 13 years and compiling a record of 256-15. He has coached club ball for 9 years and is Impact certified.
Emily Lawson (Coach 13U)
Emily has been playing volleyball for almost seven years. Four of those years she played with Champion. She served as the team captain her senior year, at South Stokes high school. She was a versatile player, who can play all positions but was an outside hitter the majority of the time. She really wants to teach the basics but also expand the ability of every player on
team. This is her first year at UNCG as a Psychology major with hopes of getting her graduates degree in occupational therapy. Though this is her first year coaching with Champion, she is very excited about her team and cannot wait to get started and share her love for the game.
Emily has been playing volleyball for almost seven years. Four of those years she played with Champion. She served as the team captain her senior year, at South Stokes high school. She was a versatile player, who can play all positions but was an outside hitter the majority of the time. She really wants to teach the basics but also expand the ability of every player on
team. This is her first year at UNCG as a Psychology major with hopes of getting her graduates degree in occupational therapy. Though this is her first year coaching with Champion, she is very excited about her team and cannot wait to get started and share her love for the game.
Rick Zayas (Coach 14-1U)
Rick has over a decade of experience in coaching youth sports. A constant student of the game, he has attended numerous coaching courses, maintains a personal library of coaching materials, and spends much of his “free” time at other volleyball events and training sessions to stay abreast of the latest techniques and strategies.Rick was the Head Coach at First Assembly Christian School and has been with the Champion Volleyball Club for four years.He has coached at the 13U, 14U, and 16U levels.
Katie Tuttle (14U Coach)
Coach Tuttle is the former head coach at RJ Reynolds High School. Before moving to North Carolina in 2010, she was the freshman coach at Anchor Bay High School (Fair Haven, MI) for two seasons, as well as a 14U coach for Ultimate Volleyball Club in Macomb County, MI. This will be her 2nd season with the Champion Volleyball Club
Danny Coomer (14-2 Coach)
Coach Danny Coomer has been playing, coaching and officiating in volleyball for more than three decades. Growing up in Tampa, Florida, I was introduced to the sport at 10 years of age and have been a constant companion of the game ever since. From Florida to Minnesota to Arizona to North Carolina, volleyball has been a means to personal satisfaction. Currently, I am also the head of volleyball programs for Youths 8 - 18 as well as Adults at the William G. White, Jr. YMCA for the past 4 seasons, play adult co-ed indoor and compete
in national tournaments. My coaching philosophy is to reinforce fundamentals, encourage players to grow and develop more advanced game options in each player. This is my first year with Champion Volleyball Club. I am hoping to get my 6 year old son Aidan to love the game as much as I do.
Coach Danny Coomer has been playing, coaching and officiating in volleyball for more than three decades. Growing up in Tampa, Florida, I was introduced to the sport at 10 years of age and have been a constant companion of the game ever since. From Florida to Minnesota to Arizona to North Carolina, volleyball has been a means to personal satisfaction. Currently, I am also the head of volleyball programs for Youths 8 - 18 as well as Adults at the William G. White, Jr. YMCA for the past 4 seasons, play adult co-ed indoor and compete
in national tournaments. My coaching philosophy is to reinforce fundamentals, encourage players to grow and develop more advanced game options in each player. This is my first year with Champion Volleyball Club. I am hoping to get my 6 year old son Aidan to love the game as much as I do.
Maegan Kirby (14-3 South Coach)
Jordan Stevens (17-Stokes Coach)
First year as the head coach at West Stokes High School. In his first year, the team advanced to the third round of the state playoffs. This is the deepest run ever by a Wildcat team. Previously to coaching at West, Jordan was an assistant Varsity coach at North Stokes, during their state championship season. Next he served as the head JV coach at South Stokes and the Varsity assistant.
Jordan has coached with the Stokes Elite Volleyball club previously to joining the Champion coaching staff. This is Jordan's third year with Champion Volleyball Club.
Jordan has coached with the Stokes Elite Volleyball club previously to joining the Champion coaching staff. This is Jordan's third year with Champion Volleyball Club.
Hillary Prince (Coach 15-1)
Hillary played High School volleyball at Mt.Tabor and R.J. Reynolds. In high school she lettered in soccer, volleyball and basketball.
She was named All-Conference, All-County and All-Region in volleyball. She attended Methodist University, where as a sophomore libero was named USA South Defensive Player of the Week. Hillary coached the middle school and high school programs at Winston-Salem Christian School. Hillary also was the JV head and assistant Varsity volleyball coach at South Stokes High School. She also has worked with
the Jerry Long and William G. White Jr. YMCA's volleyball programs. This is Hillary's third year coaching with the Champion Club.
Kyle Smith (15-2 Coach)
Kyle worked with Champion last season as an assistant coach with the 14-2 team. This season he will take over the head coaching responsibilities. Kyle has been a certified volleyball official with the NCHSAA for the past three years, and is also a USAV certified official. He not only officiates at the high school level, but has been doing so at the collegiate level as a certified PAVO line judge. Kyle is also IMPACT certified.
Kyle worked with Champion last season as an assistant coach with the 14-2 team. This season he will take over the head coaching responsibilities. Kyle has been a certified volleyball official with the NCHSAA for the past three years, and is also a USAV certified official. He not only officiates at the high school level, but has been doing so at the collegiate level as a certified PAVO line judge. Kyle is also IMPACT certified.
Kevin Troup (Coach 16-1U)
Kevin Troup is coming off his second season as a coach with the Champion Volleyball Club. He has also served as an assistant coach for Caldwell Academy. Prior to coaching at Caldwell, Kevin spent 3 years as an assistant coach at Winston Salem State University under then head coach Douglas Hunter.
He is the new head coach of the RJ Reynolds volleyball program. Living in Florida, my passion for volleyball started in the sand. From there it
has grown into a passion on all surfaces. I still compete in the adult Carolina Region as well as a few outdoor tournaments during the summer months. I have a loving wife and 2 wonderful daughters.
He is the new head coach of the RJ Reynolds volleyball program. Living in Florida, my passion for volleyball started in the sand. From there it
has grown into a passion on all surfaces. I still compete in the adult Carolina Region as well as a few outdoor tournaments during the summer months. I have a loving wife and 2 wonderful daughters.
Kevin Anderson (Coach 16-2)
Meghan Schmal (17U Coach)
Meghan has been playing club ball since the fifth grade. Meghan played High School volleyball at Mt. Tabor High. During her four years at Mt. Tabor, Meghan has played defensive specialist, libero, outside hitter, and right side hitter.
While playing for Mt. Tabor the Spartans reached the quarterfinals in 2010 and the elite eight in 2009 and 2008.
Meghan attends Pfeiffer University where she is a defensive specialist for the Falcons.
Meghan has attended the AAU National Volleyball Championships the last two years under the direction of Coach Balser.
This is Meghan’s third year coaching for the Champion Club.
While playing for Mt. Tabor the Spartans reached the quarterfinals in 2010 and the elite eight in 2009 and 2008.
Meghan attends Pfeiffer University where she is a defensive specialist for the Falcons.
Meghan has attended the AAU National Volleyball Championships the last two years under the direction of Coach Balser.
This is Meghan’s third year coaching for the Champion Club.
Katy Lusetti (18U Coach)
Katy starts her first year as a Champion coach but is very familiar with the sport of volleyball. Coming from Ohio, played for the Central Ohio Volleyball Club, which led her to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga where she played right side and defensive specialist. (Yes, this is way before the Libero) She also spent four years coaching at the collegiate levels of Division I and II as an Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator. Still competitive in the sport, she plays all year round.
Katy starts her first year as a Champion coach but is very familiar with the sport of volleyball. Coming from Ohio, played for the Central Ohio Volleyball Club, which led her to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga where she played right side and defensive specialist. (Yes, this is way before the Libero) She also spent four years coaching at the collegiate levels of Division I and II as an Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator. Still competitive in the sport, she plays all year round.
Gary Humphreys (13U)
Gary comes to us with nearly two decades of coaching experience. After playing collegiate football and rugby Gary found joy in developing
young players and guiding them to the next level. He has coached football, wrestling and track at the high school level and basketball and softball on the middle school levels. When his daughters (he has 3) began playing volleyball he became a student of the game and after a couple years began to coach on the club and middle school level. Gary classifies himself as a "fundamentalist" and holds a strong belief that a team with strong fundamentals will prevail, while athletes with strong fundamentals will have a shot at the next level.
Gary comes to us with nearly two decades of coaching experience. After playing collegiate football and rugby Gary found joy in developing
young players and guiding them to the next level. He has coached football, wrestling and track at the high school level and basketball and softball on the middle school levels. When his daughters (he has 3) began playing volleyball he became a student of the game and after a couple years began to coach on the club and middle school level. Gary classifies himself as a "fundamentalist" and holds a strong belief that a team with strong fundamentals will prevail, while athletes with strong fundamentals will have a shot at the next level.
Ashlyn Woodruff (13U)
Ashlyn is a first time coach this year and she is coaching the 13's team. She has been playing volleyball since the 5th grade. She started off on a small community team and then played club for 6 years; 3 of which were played with Champion. She played volleyball all throughout high school. Ashlyn is currently a freshman at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and she is majoring in Nursing. However, she is not currently playing volleyball due to the fact that she is trying to keep her grades up to apply to the school of nursing next year. Because Ashlyn is not playing volleyball she says she misses it so much and had to do something to stay involved which is why she is coaching for Champion. She looks forward to a great season with her team!
Ashlyn is a first time coach this year and she is coaching the 13's team. She has been playing volleyball since the 5th grade. She started off on a small community team and then played club for 6 years; 3 of which were played with Champion. She played volleyball all throughout high school. Ashlyn is currently a freshman at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and she is majoring in Nursing. However, she is not currently playing volleyball due to the fact that she is trying to keep her grades up to apply to the school of nursing next year. Because Ashlyn is not playing volleyball she says she misses it so much and had to do something to stay involved which is why she is coaching for Champion. She looks forward to a great season with her team!
Jennifer Adam (12-2 Coach)