In 11 years at Wisconsin, Kelly Sheffield has put the Badger volleyball program among the nation’s elite.
• 2021 NCAA Championship
• 2013, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2023 NCAA Final Fours
• 11-straight NCAA Sweet 16-or-better tournament finishes
• 2014, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 Big Ten Champions
• Ended the last 11 seasons ranked in the top 12 nationally
• 42 All-America honors
• 43 All-Big Ten honors
• Ranked second nationally in attendance in 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023
• Two Olympians (Lauren Carlini, Dana Rettke)
• Two AVCA National Players of the Year (Sarah Franklin, 2023; Dana Rettke, 2021)

Under Sheffield, Wisconsin has won on the NCAA level unrivaled by any other team. The Badgers are one of only three teams to compete in the Sweet 16 the last 11 years in a row, including four final four appearance

The Badgers won the 2021 NCAA Championship, the first in program history. UW also finished as the NCAA runner-up in 2019 and 2013 while advancing to the final four in 2020 and 2023. Wisconsin qualified for the Elite Eight in 2022, 2018, 2016 and 2014 and the Sweet 16 in 2017 and 2015.

Wisconsin is 39-10 in the last 11 years of NCAA play.

Mike Lingenfelter is the Co-Director of Munciana Volleyball Club, with over 40 years of coaching experience. He has led Munciana Samurai teams to 9 national championships.  His Munciana Samurai teams have placed in the top 3 (JVA, AAU, and USA) since 2004. Lingenfelter is one of only two coaches to reach the 18 Open Championship match in all three major volleyball organizations (JVA, AAU, and USAV).

In high school volleyball, he led Wapahani High School to three state championships and was named State Coach of the Year three times.

At the collegiate level, Lingenfelter was a three-time Conference USA/Metro Conference Coach of the Year and earned over 200 career victories. He has also been honored with the prestigious Don Shondell Lifetime Achievement Award and was named AVCA 18’s Coach of the Year.

Lingenfelter is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati and Ball State University. He is a proud father of five children—Krew, Kaleb, Kody, Kory, and Kiley—and in his own words, “the best-paying job is being a father to my five children.”

Maggie has an extensive volleyball background, competing 9 years for SPVB out of Aurora, IL. At the club level, Maggie won 2 Junior Olympic titles, was a 4-time AAU All-American, and 2-time JO MVP.

Rodrigo Gomes is a former professional volleyball player from Brazil who has transformed his passion for the game into a career as one of the leading voices in youth sports business management. As the CEO of Volleyball Brands, Rodrigo has spent over two decades helping volleyball organizations improve their operations through data-driven decision-making, automation, and best management practices. He founded Volleyball Academy, a structured training system to enhance player development while ensuring sustainable business growth for volleyball clubs.

Rodrigo’s expertise extends to facility management, financial strategy, and franchise-based volleyball programming, making him a sought-after consultant and speaker in the industry. His innovative approach bridges the gap between sports performance and business intelligence, helping clubs maximize their impact and profitability.

When he’s not reshaping the volleyball industry, Rodrigo is dedicated to his family and mission of making volleyball more accessible and sustainable worldwide.

Ivan Tchatchouwo is the CEO & Co-Founder of The Zone, a digital health platform helping youth and college sports programs strengthen athlete mental wellness and performance. A former collegiate athlete, Ivan understands the mental pressures of competition and created The Zone to provide real-time insights, preventative tools, and on-demand support for athletes, coaches, and teams.

Under his leadership, The Zone has partnered with 200+ college teams and top youth organizations.

Roy Collins, M.D. is a Board-Certified Attending Sports Psychiatrist & Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance Clinician-Scientist at the Stanford University School of Medicine.

Dr. Roy Collins practices Sports Psychiatry and conducts research in Human Performance. He works with elite collegiate, professional, and Olympic athletes at the Sports Psychiatry & Psychology Program at Stanford University and in private practice. Dr. Collins employs a holistic approach to assist individuals in reaching their highest potential.

A former Yale Varsity Football Letterman and All-Ivy award winner, Dr. Collins now combines both his experience as a collegiate athlete and as a mental health professional in the arena of sports psychiatry and the intersection of mental wellness and performance.

Dr. Collins works on diversity and social justice initiatives in order to recruit more future physicians of underrepresented backgrounds into medicine.  As a resident physician he serves as the Chair of the GME Diversity Committee at Stanford Health Care.

Kara Pratt is the Houston Juniors VBC Full-Time Recruiting Director and was named in the 2019-2020 Season AVCA 18’s Club Coach of the Year. As the Recruiting Director, she has developed relationships and gained knowledge of the wants and needs for college athletic programs from all levels. Her passion and drive to make sure both the athletes/parents and college coaches are put in the best positions to be successful, both in the classroom and on the court. Previous successes are securing 100% of the last 4 senior classes into the next level of their volleyball careers either athletically and or academically. She assists our HJV members throughout the process and keeps them informed with the ever-changing recruiting rules.

The Junior Volleyball Recruiting Association (JVRA) was formed in the Fall of 2018. Kara Pratt was asked to be a part of the Executive Board as Vice President. In the Spring of 2022, she was asked to take the roll of President on the Executive Board. The JVRA was formed with vast experience of its Executive Board Members. With members providing experience over 50 years of college coaching and recruiting experience, 30 plus years of club coaching, programming, and recruiting plus over 20 years of club, collegiate, national team, and professional volleyball experience. Houston Juniors VBC is one of the founding clubs of the JVRA.

Terry Liskevych has been a top coach in the collegiate and international game for more than 40 years as well as a leader and innovator in volleyball education. 

USA NATIONAL TEAM COACHING HIGHLIGHTS 

• USA National Women’s Volleyball Team – Head coach for three Olympics (1988, 1992, 1996). During his tenure, U.S. won a bronze medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, a bronze medal at the 1990 FIVB World Championship and a gold medal at the 1995 World Grand Prix.
• FIVB International Coach of the Year (1995)
• Won more than 300 international matches in 12 years as head coach.

COLLEGIATE COACHING HIGHLIGHTS

• Ohio State – Head coach of the men’s team (1975-1976). Guided the Buckeyes to a record of 45-7 (.865) and two consecutive Final Fours.
• University of Pacific – Head coach of the women’s team (1976-1985). Led team to six top-five finishes nationally (including the NCAA finals in 1980) and an overall record of 267-85 (.759). Named the Collegiate Volleyball Coaches Association’s National Coach of the Year (1983).
• Oregon State – Head coach of the women’s team (2005-2016). Guided the Beavers to the first NCAA volleyball tournament Sweet 16 appearance in the school’s history (2014) and was named PAC-12 Coach of the Year (2014).

NOTABLE FACTS

• Co-founder of The Art of Coaching Volleyball (2011), an international leader in coaching education via clinics and online tutorials.
• Founder of marketing companies Sports Associates, Inc., Paragon Marketing, Inc., and Total Sports, Inc. and a technology company – ARK Digital Technologies, Inc. – that was the first to use a portable digital platform (1997).
• Co-founder of the American Volleyball Coaches Association (1981, with former UCLA coach Andy Banachowski.) 

EDUCATION

• Loyola University (Illinois), bachelor’s degree in biology, 1970
• George Williams College (Illinois), Master of Science in Physical Education, 1973
• The Ohio State University, Ph.D in Physical Education, 1976

Dennis Yu is the Chief Technology Officer of BlitzMetrics, where he combines a passion for mentorship with cutting-edge technology to empower young adults and organizations. His mission is to create one million jobs by training students and professionals in practical, hands-on digital marketing skills that drive real-world impact.

As a leader in the digital marketing space, Dennis has worked with global brands like the Golden State Warriors, Nike, and Rosetta Stone, managing over a billion dollars in Facebook ad spend. He’s also the co-author of the Amazon #1 best-seller The Definitive Guide to TikTok Ads. His expertise has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, NPR, and Fox News, but his greatest passion lies in helping organizations and communities thrive.

Dennis is deeply invested in leveraging AI and data-driven solutions to help amateur sports organizations manage memberships, grow their programs, and engage with their communities. He sees technology as a powerful tool for connecting people and creating sustainable systems that support youth development.

A globally recognized speaker, Dennis has delivered keynotes in 17 countries, sharing strategies to empower individuals and organizations with technology and education. His articles appear in top industry publications like Adweek and Social Media Examiner, where he provides actionable insights for driving growth through AI and digital marketing.

Dennis bridges the gap between data, technology, and education. He’s particularly excited to connect with organizations like the Junior Volleyball Association, whose mission to support youth development aligns with his own commitment to inspiring the next generation—on and off the court.

Chad is dedicated professional passionate about leadership, community building, and athlete development, currently serving as General Manager with a vision of growing our programs and offerings to the community they serve. He oversees league operations, fosters partnerships with schools and recreational leagues, and leads initiatives to grow participation, revenue, and accessibility. A cornerstone of his work is launching a scholarship initiative to support players from all backgrounds.

As Boys Club Director and head coach for the 18-Red team, as well as the head coach for the girls’ 18-Antare team, Chad takes pride in mentoring athletes and driving player development. His full-time focus is on sustainable growth, securing partnerships, and leading fundraising efforts to shape the future of the organization.

Previously, he served as Senior Development Officer at United Way of Greater Toledo, specializing in non-profit management, relationship building, and donor retention. With a strong background in operations, event management, and public speaking, Chad brings a blend of strategic leadership and hands-on experience. He holds a Master’s Degree in Sport and Fitness Administration/Management from Bowling Green State University.

Michael Garcia is the Senior Director of Austin Junior Volleyball overseeing operations of the club as well as volleyball programming.  He is also involved with the operations of multiple convention center events across the country including the adidas Lone Star Classic.  Michael has been working with Austin Juniors for over 25 years and has won two USA Junior Olympic National Championships.

Michael Garcia began his volleyball career playing on the University of Texas Men’s Club team in the early 1990’s as an outside hitter and defensive specialist. After college, he continued with beach volleyball. In 1998, Michael was hired by Austin Junior Volleyball to coach the 14 Red team. As the Head Coach for St. Stephen’s Episcopal he won 2 Southwest Preparatory Conference Division II titles in 3 years. Michael trained Marie Bruce Putman and Jena Pierson McFadden in sand volleyball. They became the 2002 USA Volleyball Junior Olympic Beach National Champions. It was the first National Championship for Austin Junior Volleyball. In 2007, he was the Head Coach for a group of AJV athletes selected to participate in the international Global Challenge event in Croatia. The extremely athletic team competed against professional clubs and and the A1 and A2 USA Junior National teams. They finished in the Gold division of the event. The following year, Michael won his first indoor National Championship in the 17 Open Division after going undefeated at Nationals. In 2010, his team finished 3rd overall in the 16 Open of the USA Junior Nationals.

16 Mizuno won the 2015 Junior National Championship in 16 American,  2013 16 Mizuno finished 3rd in the 16 USA division, Had teams Finish 5th in the Open division 3 times.

In 2006, he married his high school sweetheart, Daniela and they have two children, Gabriela and Christian.

Career Accomplishments to Date:
Freshman State Champion – 2021

Coaching Roles:
• Meraki Volleyball Director w/ LOVB – 2017-Present
• Amherst Middle School Coach – 2024-Present
• Bedford Freshman Coach – 2020-2021
• Goffstown Girls Varsity Coach – 2017-2019
• Gold Medal Squared Camp Coach – 2013-2019
• Jacksonville University Volunteer Assistant Coach – 2016-2017
• Dover Boys Varsity Coach – 2014-2016

What made you decide to get into coaching volleyball?
I fell in love with the sport as a player, as I grew up I fell in love with the community, and teaching life lessons through the sport I love so much.

What are your career goals in the sport?
To increase access to volleyball in my state, build NH’s first volleyball only building, and see our state’s athletes compete at the highest level.

Which coaches have influenced you the most?
• Kim Barron – Mom, thank you for teaching me that every athlete is different and modeling true care for each athlete.
• Jill Hirschinger – Thank you for teaching me a high level work ethic and modeling leadership.
• Stacey Cheney – Thank you for teaching me how to pay attention to details and modeling how to set standards.
• Eric Hodgson – Thank you for teaching and modeling a lifelong curiosity.

What do you enjoy most about your coaching job?
The growth, relationships, and building of community around coaches, parents, and players.

Dylan Haugen is a dynamic young athlete whose passion for sports innovation sets him apart in the world of amateur athletics. Standing 5’11” with an impressive 41.5-inch vertical jump, Dylan is not only a standout on the court but also a savvy adopter of modern technology. He has been using AI tools in the way BlitzMetrics teaches.

Best known among professional dunkers for his engaging podcast, Dylan has built a strong social media following that spans across YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook. Through his digital presence, he documents his journey as an athlete, content creator, and committed Christian, sharing insights on jump training and the fusion of athleticism with advanced data analytics.

His innovative approach has made him a trusted voice among amateur sports communities, where he continues to inspire both aspiring athletes and sports club leaders alike.