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Those who elect to serve as a coach for a boys volleyball team in the Houston area have almost always done so as volunteers. They have been the ones to form the leagues, pull together the teams, put in the long hours behind the scenes and in most cases financially underwrite individual players who couldn’t participate otherwise. Through the years the club coaches in Houston have been the driving force behind the success of our programs.

Our coaches this year....

Sean Carter

Personal Info

Sean married his wife Jean in February 2000 and they have just had their first child, Jackson in July 02. They live in the Clear Lake area. Sean is works in youth and college ministry in the CL area.  Sean graduated with a degrees in Aerospace and Aeronautical Engineering from UT Austin in 1990 and he works at a NASA contractor as a Director of Engineering. After graduating and moving to Houston Sean set out to establish boys volleyball in the area. He has been involved with players that went on to various levels of success in the collegiate, Olympic, and international arena. 

Philosophy

"I believe that team sports are a microcosm of life, and that players can learn critical life skills as well as the lessons about themselves that will equip them for the road ahead. Coaching is a lofty and influential role in the life of a youngster that I covet. In the end, our players go on to be adults in a pretty tough world. I Intend to help them prepare for just that." 

Coaching Experience

2002-03                   HVA 181 Boys Head Coach
2001-02                   HVA 17s Boys Head Coach
2000-01                   HVA 18s Boys Head Coach
1999-2000               South Shore Boys 18s Asst. Coach
1998-99                   South Shore Boys 17s Head. Coach
1998                        Year off to get married ! :))))
1997                        South Shore Boys 18s Head Coach
1995-96                   Club Texas Jrs. Boys 18s Head Coach
1994                        Club Texas Boys 18s Asst.
1991-97                   Clear Lake High Boys Head Coach 

Other Certifications: 

USA Volleyball Junior National Referee rating acquired in 1996.
Professional Association of Volleyball Officials (PAVO) state level rating acquired in 2000 for NCAA and NAIA events.
USA Volleyball accredited as a Level 2 (college level) coach in their Coaching Accreditation Program (CAP) in 1995.  
USA Volleyball IMPACT Certified (1994)

Neal Craft  

Personal Info

Neal married his wife Linda 13 years ago in Lake Tahoe. He has 2 kids, a girl, Micah, who is 7 and boy; Logan, who is 4. He has recently moved to Baytown on the east side of Houston. Members of First Baptist Church Baytown. He serves on the recreational board and runs the sound board for services. Neal graduated High School from Bay City High, attended University of Houston on a track scholarship for two years and then transferred to Lamar University where he graduated with a BS in education in 1988. Neal played on several coed teams in college, started to play USAV after graduating but decided to play beach ball instead. He played on the local Texas Semi-pro circuit for 5 years.

Philosophy

"Go hard or go home" "Be willing to do what is right and suffer the consequences."

Coaching Experience 

2002-03                 HVA 16s Boys Head Coach
2001-02                 HVA 16s Boys Head Coach
1998-present         Baytown Lee HS Girls Head Coach
1997                      Baytown Lee HS Girls Asst. Coach
1995-96                 Mayde Creek HS Girls Asst. Coach
                              Houston Area Champs 2 yrs.
1992-94                         Alice Johnson Jr. High Boys Head Coach

Other Certifications 

USA Volleyball IMPACT Certified (2002 Louisville)
1988-89 YMCA youth sports director Baytown YMCA
Kaepa "gold metal" level certified coach
Texas girls coaching association, member
Great Lakes Volleyball" certified coach. 
"COPE" certified coach.

Rick Herrera

Personal Info

Rick Herrera has recently moved to the Houston area from San Antonio where he married his wife Michelle and had their first child Hope. Rick now lives in the west Houston area and is building a new home for his family. Rick graduated from Clear Lake High School and spent 2 years at University Of The Incarnate Word in San Antonio. Rick played for Coach Carter at Clear Lake high school up through 1994 where he ran the offense as the setter. Rick later played in some college and men's action in the same capacity. 

Philosophy

 "You Give Me 100% and I'll Give You 100%. There Is No Such Word As Can't, Only Won't. Hard Work, Determination, Aggressiveness, And The Will To Win Can Not Be Taught. These Mental Skills Can Only Come From Within, And Represent 90% Of All Sports.  And That's All I Have To Say About That."

Coaching Experience 

2001-02           HVA 14 & Under Head Coach
Fall 2001          Kinkaid Varsity Boys Head Coach
1999 – 2000    University Of The Incarnate Word's Women Asst. Coach
1997                Club Texas Boy's 182 Team Head Coach
1996                CLHS Boy's Freshman Team

Steve Lovejoy

Personal Info

Steve is a northern transplant from New Hampshire/Massachusetts.  He married his wife Vickie in July of
1999.  They currently live in Humble, with their 2-year-old son, Andrew.  Steve has a B.S. and an M.Ed from Springfield College in Springfield, MA.  Both Steve and Vickie are teachers at Episcopal High School in Bellaire.

Philosophy

“Hard work, dedication, and perseverance will pay off down the road.  You must be willing to go the extra mile to succeed.  "

Coaching Experience 

2002-03                      HVA 14 & Under Head Coach
Fall 2002                    Boy’s Varsity Volleyball Coach – Episcopal High School
2000-2002                  Boy’s Asst. Varsity Volleyball Coach – St. John’s School
2000-2002                         7^th & 8^th grade boy’s volleyball coach – St. John’s School
1999-2000                      8^th grade girl’s volleyball coach – Grace School
1997-1998                  Junior Varsity girl’s volleyball coach – Northfield Mt. Hermon School (Ma.)

 
Thang Nguyen

Personal Info

Thang is single and living in League City. He spends most of his time officiating at major volleyball events all around the country. Thang has attended College of the Mainland 1987-1988 and Austin College 1988-1990. Thang has played mens volleyball for years and is known as one of the best setters in the Houston area. His team attended the 2000 USA Open Championships in Columbus, Ohio where his team finished 3rd in Bronze Division-Mens BB.

Coaching Experience

2002-03                   HVA Boys Skills Coach
2001-02                   HVA Boys Skills Coach
Summer 2001-2       Marv Dunphy Pepperdine Camp Coach
2000-1                     HVA 18s,16s Boys Asst. Coach
1999                        South Shore Girls 14 Black Co-Coach
1998-99                   South Shore Girls 16 Black Co-Coach
1998-99                   South Shore Boys 18s Asst. Coach
1998                        South Shore Boys 17s Head Coach
1997                        South Shore Boys 16s Asst. Coach

Other Certifications

USA Volleyball International Scorekeeper
USA Volleyball Junior National Referee
USA Volleyball Beach National Referee
USA Volleyball Beach National Scorekeeper
PAVO/NAGWS/NCAA National Referee

Mike Sellen

Personal Info

Mike is currently a Junior at the University of Houston.  He plans on graduating in two years with bachelor degrees in Marketing and Management with a focus in international business. Over the course of his playing career Mike was a standout player for the South Shore Volleyball Club.  Although he had the option to play collegiate ball, he decided instead to pursue a music scholarship.  Mike currently assists with the Episcopal High School Volleyball program as a consultant for both the boys and girls teams.

Philosophy

‘The greatest good a coach can do is help a player reach his potential, not only as an athlete, but as a person.  I think that volleyball is a great vehicle for equipping players with the skills and processes that will enable them to be successful leaders both on and off the court..’  

Coaching Experience

2002-03                   HVA 182 Head Coach
Fall 2002                  Episcopal HS Volleyball Consultant
Summer 2002          Coach Willowbrook Skills Camp 

Roy Stinnett

Personal Info

Roy bettered himself 24 years ago with a bride named Debi.  Now with 2 children: Cassi - 20 - is attending Houston Baptist University and is presently planning her wedding to her college sweetheart in June 2003, and Roy III (former HVA player) - 17 - is also on scholarship (partial) at New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell, NM where he is presently a candidate for the United States Navel Academy in Annapolis Maryland . Roy has played USAV for over 15 years and coached in JH, JV, Varsity, and JO levels of play.  As a player he has won the Lone Star Division as well as played at the US Open Volleyball Championship finishing as high as 5th in the nation at B level.      

Philosophy

"Volleyball players are individuals with different strengths, weaknesses, experiences, goals, levels of commitment, and life situations.  I believe that a coach should challenge individuals to better themselves from day to day and to strive to be the best that they can be.  Through volleyball, players can learn discipline, commitment, and perseverance.  These key ingredients are essential to becoming a successful adult.  I believe that young people are our leaders of tomorrow.  I want to help them get there."

Coaching Experience 

2002                         La Porte Boys Head Coach (Var)
2002-03                   HVA 17 & Under Asst. Coach
2001-02                   HVA 16 & Under Head Coach
1999 – 2001             Agape Christian Girls Head Coach (JV/Var)
1996-98                   Harvest Christian Girls (JV/V) Head Coach
1986-88                   Men's B and BB USAV Head Coach 

Other Certifications

USAV Regional Referee
USAV Regional Scorekeeper
USA Volleyball's Coaching Accreditation Program CAP I (high school) certified.
USA Volleyball IMPACT Certified (2002 Louisville)

Matt Storm

Personal Info 

Matt is single and living in Clear Lake. He has been dating his girlfriend for a some time now. He is the director at Vector Marketing in the Clear Lake Area. Matt recently graduated from the University of Houston with a business management degree. He is now pursuing a masters degree in Humanities and Human Performance.  Matt played volleyball for Coach Carter at Clear lake High through 1994. He was recognized as the most improved player and given the team leadership award. Later he was named to the all city JO team that went to nationals in 1995. He later played at the University of Illinois as a right side hitter.

Philosophy

"Any player has the capability to be great. Most of the time they don't realize how great they can be. I like the challenge to bring that out in them. My philosophy is to have new players break out of their shell and grow into a leader. Establish players need to test their limits. I want them to feel confident and feel like they are bulletproof. That confidence in themselves will take them to new limits!" 

Coaching Experience

2002-03   HVA Strength and Conditioning Coach
2001        HVA 17s Boys Asst. Coach
1999        South Shore Boys 16s Asst. coach

Other Certifications 

USA Volleyball IMPACT Certified (2002 Houston)
USA Volleyball Provisional Referee and Scorekeeper.

Andy Strickler

Personal Info

Andy was married on October 26^th, 2002 to his longtime girlfriend Amber and continues his work for Texas Heart Institute.

Andy has attended the University of Houston at Clear Lake and earned the following degrees Bachelor of Biological Science-2000, Master of Biological Science-2001, and is currently attending classes at the University of Houston working towards his PhD. in Muscular Physiology. Andy played volleyball for Coach Carter at Clear lake High through 1995. He led his team to nationals on the Club Texas 18 and under team in 1995. He was given a scholarship to play at Park College where he was a starting and dominant middle blocker. As we've seen in a few men's tourneys recently, he still has the ability to take over tourneys. Today he plays occasionally in beach tourneys.

Philosophy

"I believe the fundamental principles that are necessary to succeed in life are best instilled into young adults though organized team sport. Teamwork, communication, respect for your peers as well as yourself, and achievement through success and failure are lessons that are crucial to prosper in one's life. Organized volleyball allows a platform in which kids today can experience many different levels of these key lessons in a "controlled" environment, helping them to prepare for the life that awaits them."

Coaching Experience

2002-03           HVA 17s Head Coach
2002                    Head Coach Clear Lake High School                                                                                                  
2001                HVA 18s Boys Head Coach
2000                HVA 18s,16s  Asst. Coach
1998                Sam Houston College Men's Head Coach

Other Certifications

USA Volleyball IMPACT Certified (2002 Houston)
USA Volleyball Regional Referee and Provisional Scorekeeper.