Northwest Volleyball

NW Juniors Elite Volleyball Club is proud to announce it has assembled one of the best coaching staffs in the region! This staff includes collegiate coaches and collegiate players, several local respected  high school coaches, and multiple former NWJRS players who competed for us, went on to play collegiately and now are back.  As a group, we have some of the top volleyball minds on staff!

Our entire staff is IMPACT and Safe Sport certified and our coaches annually attend the NW Juniors Elite Coaches Clinic led by Club Director, Tony Miranda. Several coaches have their CAP certification; high school coaches have their CPR certification and regularly attend WIAA Coaching Clinics. Our experienced staff guides our new coaches to ensure that all of our coaches find success.

All of our coaches share a love of the game of volleyball, and a love and passion for NW Juniors Elite and all the players that pass through our doors. Several coaches compete indoors and on the beach -- our coaches have a passion for the game of volleyball and that passion shows when they coach our athletes. We could not be more excited about the upcoming season and the staff that you will all get to know. If you would like to join our incredible staff, please fill out the application below.

For the 2023-24 Season, we are still looking to hire head and assistant coaches. We have openings at most age groups on our non-travel teams. If you are interested looking to get started out in coaching this would be a great opportunity to you. Or if you have a lot of experience, but cannot commit to a traveling team. Either way, we would love to have you on our staff!

Key to Team Names: 
All of our teams are Under Armour (UA) Teams. They vary based on length of season and number of tournaments played. Most #1 teams 

VETTIAR CHUP: Head Coach 

"V" started coaching with NW Juniors VBC in 2009 when he was also the Graduate Assistant Coach at Edmonds College. He is currently an assistant at the University of Puget Sound.

Aside from one seson at Lake Tapps, V has coached his entire club career at NW Juniors. He has served as a coach at Everett High School for the 2010 & 2011 seasons.  "V" has coached all ages while at NW Juniors, is one of our more popular coaches and has done a great job in training athletes. He plays indoor and outdoor volleyball and brings great youth and enthusiasm to the staff.  He is a patient and knowledgeable coach with a great understanding of the game.

Chris has been with NW Juniors since 2016. Aside from one season as a head coach, he has primarily served as an assistant coach for Vettiar Chup (including his one season with Lake Tapps). He started his club coaching career in 2015 at Lake Tapps VBC. Chris has also worked with our Beach program as a program assistant and staff coach. Chris plays adult leagues indoors and also plays outdoors during the summer.

He is IMPACT and Safe Sport certified.

Kasey enters her first year with NW Juniors. She recently moved from Minnesota and is in Marketing. As a coach in Minnesota, she coached seven seasons with Vital Volleyball Club and started her coaching career at Minnesota Select while in college. Originally from Wisconsin, she played 4 seasons at Concordia St. Paul University (D2) where she was a three-time National Champion and three-time All-American setter. She was on the Dean's list all four years at Concordia St. Paul.

 Shay's first season with NW Juniors as 17 UA Blue Head Coach/ Assistant Director. She recently moved here from Texas to be closer to family, also to continue her coaching career. As a coach in Texas, she coached seasons of Club Volleyball as Head coach, Head Coach at All Saints Episcopal, and Assistant Coach at Dallas Christian College to name a few from her 6+ year coaching background. Shay started playing Volleyball at the early age of 9, and continued her passion for the game all through middle school up to her collegiate season where she played as OH, OPP at Rust College where she earned " Freshman MVP" and other accolades.

Fun Fact: Coach Shay played in the 2019 & 2023 USAV ADULT NATIONAL  CHAMPIONSHIPS  as Libero/DS.

HEIDI SHRADER: Head Coach 

Heidi grew up around volleyball as her family started Rain City Volleyball club when she was growing up. Whether as a player or as a coach, Heidi has been part of Rain City nearly her entire life. Heidi has also been on staff for Juanita High School.  

HEATHER GOODMAN: Head Coach

Heather Goodman is currently an assistant at Edmonds College after two seasons as the head High School and Middle School Coach at Sound Christian Academy in Tacoma.

Heather grew up in Florida where she played volleyball all through middle school and high school. During her high school career she won numerous athletic awards, including region player of the year her senior season.

Heather moved to Washington where she attended and played for Edmonds College. She was captain both years at Edmonds and helped lead her teammates through very successful seasons - including a 4th place finish at the NWAC tournament.

Heather started coaching for NW Juniors during the 2018-19 season while playing at Edmonds. She also has spends her summers on staff with NW Juniors Volleyball Camps.

Maria is a freshman Libero on the Edmonds College Volleyball team. She went to Shorecrest High School.

TRACIE FENTON - Head Coach

Tracie started coaching with NW Juniors in 2015 and has coached all ages from U13 to U18 for the club. She has been coaching for over 20 yrs. Her first stint as a club coach was with Club Wahine in South Seattle where she was a coach and club administrator. She stayed at Club Wahine for a few years and then moved to Northwest Juniors. She continued coaching off and on mainly coached CYO volleyball while her kids were younger and then came back to coaching once they were old enough to play club. Tracie is also a mainstay with our Fall Academy and Beach club programs. 

She started playing volleyball when she was in 4th grade and continued through high school and played 3 years of club volleyball. After high school, she continued on to play at Bellevue College. She continued to play recreationally after Bellevue and still enjoys playing indoor and outdoor volleyball. 

Tracie is Impact and Safe Sport certified. 

Jocie is a Freshman DS on the Bellevue College Volleyball team and went to Evergreen HS in Vancouver, WA.

Mike joined our staff in 2021 after running his own club for several seasons. He is the head coach at Sammamish High School. Mike was the director of Mukilteo Volleyball Association for 6 years and has coached the U13, U14, U15, U16, U17 and U18 teams. The U18 team his last year did very well getting a Bid to the Top 16 Bid Tournament for the fourth year in a row in the Puget Sound Region and finished 12th in U18 Championships. Finished in flight 3 of power league for the season.

Mike has coached 6 season with MVA and over 11 years with Boys & Girls club volleyball.

Abby is a freshman Setter & Opposite on the Edmonds College Volleyball team. She went to White River HS in Buckley, WA.

SABRY HEFNY: Head Coach

Sabry started with NW Juniors in 2015. He is currently the head volleyball coach at Forest Ridge in Bellevue and has over 15 years coaching experience.  He has coached in Egypt, Minnesota, and Seattle. Over the years, he has done a fantastic job developing our younger teams and focuses on fundamentals and teamwork. He has proven to be a fantastic technical coach and is able to coach players of varying ages and skill levels.

Previous to coaching with NW Juniors, he was an area director and coach for Sabotage VBC. With Sabotage, he coached 12's, 15's, 16's and 18's.  His versatility as a coach and trainer allows him to be successful at varying age groups.  He has also served as assistant and JV coach at Jackson and Bellevue High Schools.  He also brings 10 years of professional playing experience.

His coaching training includes several clinics:

• FIVB Technical Seminars
• USAV CAP I Certification
• Gold Medal Squared
• The Art of Coaching Volleyball
• Bill Neville's Coaching Seminar
• Athletes and Children Psychology clinics

TONY MIRANDA - Head Coach 

Tony has experience playing and coaching indoors and outdoors. He has been involved on the indoor part of the club since 1989 and has been involved in the growth of junior beach volleyball here in the Northwest since before the very first USA Beach Tour "Western Open". His NW Juniors-sponsored beach tournaments at Alki Beach are where the junior beach movement here in the area started. 

In addition to regular indoor coaching duties, Tony offer his assistance to players in preparing for college and act as a liaison between the players and recruiters as the club’s recruiting coordinator.  He also oversees the direction and growth of our junior and adult beach programs and runs a Junior College beach championship event every May.

Tony is currently the head coach at Edmonds College and enters his fifth season back. He has extensive college coaching experience, having spent the 2005-2009 seasons at  Edmonds Community College (3 NWAACC Tournament appearances and a 3rd place in 2008); four years at Bellevue College (finished his career there with a record of 39-9 in the North Division and 124 – 76 overall, was voted coach of the year in the Northern Division in 2001 & 2002, and in 2002 was voted all-NWAACC coach of the year); and two years as assistant coach at Seattle Pacific University in 1999 & 2000.

Tony has been involved with Northwest Juniors VBC since 1989 and has been the director of the club since 2000.  Over the years, Tony has taken several teams to YJOV National Championship events.  Tony’s responsibilities also include coaches education and beach programming.

DEBBIE MIRANDA - Assistant Coach

Years coaching volleyball: 18 years, 12 seasons with NW Juniors. 

Other Duties: Off-and-on Club Administrator since 2014. 2018 - Assistant Coach at Edmonds CC. Also coaches at NW Juniors Summer Camps, NW Juniors Beach Camps, and Fall Academy. Tournament Director.

Your coaching philosophy: My goal is to always bring out the best from these student athletes, whether it be on the court or off. To teach the skills it takes to be the very best volleyball player you can be as an individual and as a team. I believe hard work pays off in everything you to do in life.

Why do you coach? I love teaching this game, and watching these young girls grow as volleyball players and into young ladies.  

Any coaching accomplishments? 2012 & 2013,  led my NW Jrs teams to  the Junior National Championships.

Coaching education & training: Gold Medal Squared Clinics; NW Juniors VBC Coaching Clinics, Impact Certified, First Aid Certified.

CAITLYN JAMES - Head Coach

Caitlin is a Senior Libero at Northwest University in Kirkland; in 2023 she will continue playing in the innaugural season for the Northwest University Beach program. Previous to NW University, she played two seasons at Spokane Falls CC. 2022 marks her second season coaching with NW Juniors, she is also on the NW Beach Club staff in the Spring and Summer. She is a graduate of Kentwood High School.

Lauren started coaching during the 2022-23 season. 

ANDREW BARLOS - Head Coach

Andrew Joined us during the 2023-24 Season. He comes to us from Chicago where he has extensive experience as a player and coach. 

Andrew played 2 years of Men's Basketball at Lake Forest College, after he ended his career, he became a Student Coach/Assistant for the Women's Volleyball Team. He has also coached clinics, camps, and individual sessions throughout his career.

High School Coaching Experience: Walter Payton College Prep Junior Varsity Head Coach & Varsity Assistant Coach: 2015-2017
College Coaching Experience: Lake Forest College Women's Volleyball Assistant: 2012-2014
Club Coaching Experience: Illinois Juniors Volleyball Club Head Coach: 2012-2018 (Girls National 14U, 15U, 16U)
Playing Experience: Oak Lawn Community High School:

• Boys Varsity Volleyball 3-Year All-Region & Team Captain
• Boys Varsity Basketball 2-Year All-Region & Team Captain.
• Chicago Volleyball Club: 1-Year Team Captain
• Ultimate Volleyball Club: 1-Year Team Captain

SABRY HEFNY: Head Coach

Sabry started with NW Juniors in 2015. He is currently the head volleyball coach at Forest Ridge in Bellevue and has over 15 years coaching experience.  He has coached in Egypt, Minnesota, and Seattle. Over the years, he has done a fantastic job developing our younger teams and focuses on fundamentals and teamwork. He has proven to be a fantastic technical coach and is able to coach players of varying ages and skill levels.

Previous to coaching with NW Juniors, he was an area director and coach for Sabotage VBC. With Sabotage, he coached 12's, 15's, 16's and 18's.  His versatility as a coach and trainer allows him to be successful at varying age groups.  He has also served as assistant and JV coach at Jackson and Bellevue High Schools.  He also brings 10 years of professional playing experience.

His coaching training includes several clinics:

• FIVB Technical Seminars
• USAV CAP I Certification
• Gold Medal Squared
• The Art of Coaching Volleyball
• Bill Neville's Coaching Seminar
• Athletes and Children Psychology clinics

ALISON COMPTON: Assitant Coach

Ali is now a senior Defensive Specialist at nearby Northwet University in Kirkland. Prior to NWU, she was a setter & DS at Edmonds College. She is a local athlete from Marysville-Pilchuck High School. She is also a NW Juniors alumni giving back to the sport in many ways. This marks her fifth season coaching club, and she has also spent the last four summers coaching with our indoor and beach camp programs. 

CIARA FORTIER - Head Coach

Ciara is a recent graduate from Glacier Peak HS and currently attends Everett Community College. While at Glacier Peak, Ciara played indoor and beach for NW Juniors VBC and has worked spring and summer as a coach in our beach and camp programs.

KELCI STEWART: Head Coach

Kelci is a graduate of Kentwood HS and has played volleyball for 8 years, Five of those seasons she played club including her last three seasons with NW JRS. She did not play in college, but stayed active as a player after graduating high school. 

She joined the NW Juniors staff for the 2013-14 season and has been fantastic with our younger athletes. Her coaching career started in the Kent parks recreational league in 2009-2010 where her teams went undefeated for two seasons.

Her coaching philosophy: She believes that how you practice, is how you play. She teaches the game with a positive attitude and works hard on building a team who can come together to accomplish goals that they set.

Why does she coach? "Volleyball is my passion and I have had amazing coaches who have impacted who I am today. I want to give back!"

Her other interests & hobbies include photography, traveling, and hanging around the city.

CAROLINA PAGAN - Head Coach

Carolina started coaching for NW Juniors in the Fall of 2021 with the Fall Academy. In the Fall of 2022, she was the JV coach at Kamiak High School, in Mukilteo. This is her second season coaching with NW Juniors and her first season as a head caoch.

ANJA GRANT - Assistant Coach

Anja is a senior at Jackson High School and played several seasons with NW Juniors. Beginning the fall of 2021, Anja began coaching as a volunteer with our Fall Academy program. 

KENNA FENTON - HEAD COACH

Kenna is a 2021 graduate of Liberty High School and has played for NW Juniors for several seasons. She began her coaching career as a Junior as an Assistant Coach.

JOE TASSIA

Joe has coached for our indoor club for 9 seasons and has been around volleyball all his life. His true love is for the beach game.  He's been one of the top rated beach players in the Northwest for almost two decades. Whether he is coaching indoors or on the beach, he consistently works to improve as a coach and to improve his athlete's overall volleyball IQ and technique. As an experienced player and coach, Joe will lead our beach staff and help to continuously strive to improve as well.  He's an AVP certified coach and has his USAV Beach CAP certification. His roots may be on the beach, but his overall knowledge of the game, his experience, and his passion for teaching give him the tools to be a successful coach on any surface. 

"Players will do what they’re told by a coach but they will only truly follow someone whom they believe in and who believes in them. Coaching is all about relationships. It doesn’t happen on chalkboards, with titles, or in newspaper articles. Transformational coaching occurs only when people believe in you and choose to follow  because they know that you believe in them, too."

-InsideOut Coaching

CARLEE ROWELL: Head Coach

Carlee has been coaching indoor and beach volleyball with NW Juniors since the 2017-18 season.  In spring 2021, she will graduate from UW with a Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering.  Last season, she played on the UW club volleyball team.  Before transferring to UW, she attended and played at Bellevue College where she made second all-tournament team at the NWAC championships and her team took second in their league.

Carlee grew up in Tri-Cities, Washington playing for Kamiakin HS and Shockwave VBC.  She played at five different Nationals with her club team. 

RICK FARRELL

Rick Farrell started coaching with NW Juniors in 2017 and joined the Edmonds College staff in the Fall of 2019. His coaching experience started over 15 years ago with the Mukilteo Boys and Girls Club. From there, he joined Mukilteo Volleyball Association (MVA), first as an assistant coach and then head coach. 

Rick is dedicated to player development and the learning process. He earned his CAP I Certification through USAV to further his education and expand his knowledge of the game. He has been employed with the City of Mountlake Terrace for 31 years and is married with two daughters.  

GEN KNOPPI: Head Coach

Gen is a NW Juniors alimni and played High School volleyball at Mt. Si High School. She went on to play at Colby Community College in Kansas and at Missouri Valley College. After graduation, she stayed in Missouri and coach High School and Club. Upon returning to the Seattle area, Gen rejoined the club as a coach. 

Beginning the Fall of 2022, Gen will be on staff at Edmonds College with director Tony Miranda (her former club coach).