Kevin Barnett – Olympian & Emmy-Award Winning Broadcaster

At seventeen, living in Illinois and, by every measure, failing, Kevin Barnett was about to find the singular direction of his life.  The sport of volleyball. 

From never having played the game to starting on the National Team in just five years, Kevin’s journey to international acclaim began in California, but he found volleyball in Illinois.  Three decades later, Kevin is a two-time US Olympian and an Emmy Award winning broadcaster covering the last five Olympic Games.  Dedication, consistency, luck, and the influence of legendary coaches all play parts in Kevin’s story.

Having raised two boys alongside his wife of twenty-five years, Kevin offers unique insight into the value of sport, skill acquisition, and the influence of coaches in a humorous, honest, and straightforward style. 

Come hear Kevin talk about the game, life, parenthood and the importance of coaches.  Live Q&A to follow.

•   Two-Time All-American @Pepperdine University
•   2000 + 2004 Olympian
•   Two-Time National Team MVP
•   2024 Emmy Winner
•   Club Parent and Occasional Coach

Dennis Yu – CTO of BlitzMetrics

Dennis Yu is the Chief Technology Officer of BlitzMetrics, where he 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.  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.

Dylan Haugen – Podcaster

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.

Terry Liskevych – Coach & AOC Co-Founder

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

Laura Barnard – Founder of BREAKTHRU

Laura Barnard, the visionary Founder of BREAKTHRU and the author of the groundbreaking book, LEADERSHIP TYPES, is on a mission to transform the landscape of leadership. Barnard’s philosophy, influenced by her academic pursuits in Psychology at Harvard and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, is rooted in breaking barriers and championing equity. As a former Division I athlete and proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community, Barnard infuses her work with energy, collaboration, and a relentless drive for inclusivity. Her approach is not just about developing leaders; it is about nurturing authentic and bold leaders to shape a more equitable world.

Michelle Fadool – Triangle Director of Performance Health & Injury Prevention

As Triangle’s Director of Performance Health & Injury Prevention, Fadool oversees all injury prevention initiatives and integrates off-court services (nutrition, mental performance and strength/conditioning). She also coordinates with coaches, athletes, parents, and the performance staff to ensure a comprehensive rehabilitation and return-to-sport protocol is established and executed.  Fadool is a licensed physical therapist with Trinity Wellness Center where she operates Triangle’s on-site and full-service PT clinic. She specializes in sports rehabilitation, orthopedics, and return-to-sport integration for Triangle athletes, staff, members families and any personal referrals. Additionally, Fadool leads the development and delivery of Triangle’s Power Tech courses, a proprietary attacking curriculum designed to maximize power while reducing stress and injury risk.

Scott Jackson – MN Select Director & Owner

Scott Jackson has been the Director and Owner of MN Select Volleyball Club since he co-founded it in 2003. MN Select is now recognized as one of the best junior volleyball clubs in the Upper Midwest and nation. There will be over 100 MN Select alumni playing collegiate men’s and women’s volleyball this year across all divisions of NCAA and NAIA. In 2016, Scott helped lead his MN Select 18-1 team to a USAV GJNC 18 Open National Championship. In 2021, he was honored as the AVCA National Club Director of the Year. He has also been the girls varsity volleyball coach at Wayzata High School in Plymouth, MN since 1999. His high school teams have more than 600 victories and have won four MSHSL state championships. He was selected to the MNVBCA Hall of Fame in 2023. Scott is married to Katie May and resides in Plymouth, MN. He has three children – Hannah (a freshman volleyball student-athlete at Bryant University), Tyler (a Class or 2027 hockey goalie at Chanhassen HS), and Jennetta (a Class of 2034 Swiftie and member of MN Select 10-1).

Joy Tietz – MN Select Associate Director & Director of Coach Development

Joy Tietz serves as an Associate Director and Director of Coach Development at MN Select, bringing extensive coaching experience and leadership to the program. She previously held the role of Associate Director from 2015 to 2021 before returning in January 2025. A 2005 honors graduate of Concordia University–St. Paul, Joy was a three-year captain, two-time All-American, and the 2004 NSIC Player of the Year. She spent 15 years as an assistant coach at the University of St. Thomas, helping guide the program from Division III to Division I and contributing to multiple conference titles, deep NCAA tournament runs, and a national championship in 2012. Her coaching background also includes roles with the University of Minnesota Gophers and Concordia University–St. Paul. Joy is deeply committed to mentorship and coach development, fostering a culture of excellence at MN Select.

Maggie Griffin – VCNebraska Owner & Director

Maggie is the owner and director of VCNebraska.  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.  Maggie went on to compete for the University of Nebraska Husker Women’s Program, notably winning a National Championship in 2006 and also leading her team to a National Final in 2005.  After earning her degree from Nebraska, she traveled to Puerto Rico, Switzerland, and the Netherlands to play professionally for two years.  At the conclusion of her playing career, Maggie was offered the opportunity to join her alma mater and become the setting coach under the direction of Coach Cook within the Husker Program for the 2011 season while simultaneously getting the VCN program underway.    Maggie was awarded the 2017 AVCA 30 Under 30 award and is a current Board Member for the JVA, as well as Committee chair for the AVCA Club Awards.  She was a Club Director of the Year Finalist in 2020.   Maggie currently oversees and directs all age groups and programs.

Jodi Schramm – Owner & Director of Premier Academy

Jodi Schramm is the Owner and Director of Premier Academy, where she has led athlete and coach development since 1996. A seven-time AVCA presenter and the 2025 AVCA National Coach of the Year in the 18s Division, Jodi has guided her teams to four national championships, 26 Top-5 finishes, and coached 72 All-Americans. Her impact extends far beyond the court, with 365 athletes moving on to collegiate volleyball and 49 of her coaches advancing to college coaching roles. She also serves the sport through leadership positions, including her role as the Ohio & Lake Erie Region AAU Volleyball Chair and as a two-time JVA Service Award recipient.

Genny Volpe – Head Coach, Rice University

Entering 2026, Genny Volpe begins her 23rd season as head coach at Rice, having established the Owls volleyball program as a consistent power in the Southwest. Under her leadership, Rice has made nine NCAA Tournament appearances (2004, 2008, 2009, 2018, 2019, spring 2021, fall 2021, 2022, 2025), the only NCAA berths in program history.

Volpe was inducted into the Rice Athletics Hall of Fame on October 27, 2023. The sixth head coach in program history, she holds Rice records for career wins (434-227) and highest career winning percentage (.667). Volpe has earned multiple national and conference honors, including 2025 American Coach of the Year, 2020-21 AVCA Southwest Region Coach of the Year, and two Conference USA Coach of the Year awards (2008, 2018). She has led the Owls to six conference championships (Conference USA: 2009, 2018, 2020-21, 2021, 2022, 2025).

Under Volpe, Rice has finished in the top four of its conference 17 times, including two first-place finishes (2018, 2025) and six second-place finishes (2004, 2011, 2012, 2019, 2022, 2024).

Volpe also serves as the American Conference representative on the AVCA Division I Head Coaches Committee.

During her tenure, Volpe has coached 16 All-Americans and 84 all-conference selections. Rice athletes have earned conference Player of the Week honors 138 times under her leadership.

Academic success has matched on-court achievement. A total of 48 Owls have been named to conference All-Academic Teams (23 Conference USA, 25 American). Leah Mikesky earned CoSIDA Academic First-Team All-American honors in 2016, followed by Nicole Lennon in 2020-21.

Ruth N. Nelson – RNN Sports BYOP

Ruth N. Nelson is a visionary leader with a 56-year career spanning collegiate coaching, national team leadership, youth development, international consulting, and program innovation. A former USA National Team player, coach, and technical advisor, she earned more than 500 collegiate wins at George Williams College, the University of Houston, LSU, and the University of Iowa. Nelson helped develop multiple Olympians, including three University of Houston starters on the 1984 Olympic Team, and was an early pioneer in recruiting and developing minority athletes in the 1970s.

An internationally recognized innovator, Nelson created the Bring Your Own Parent® (BYOP®) Program, GoKids Youth Sports™ Skills Trainers Certification, NART™ Nelson Aquatics Resistance Training, MVP “Jump Like an Olympian,” and the RNN Sports Gym™, the first 24/7 virtual volleyball gym for families and youth coaches. Her work has shaped thousands of athletes ages 4–10 and influenced long-term athlete development, skill acquisition, confidence-building, and injury-free jump mechanics.

Nelson’s impact extends to coach education, youth research, and equipment design, including VERT™ jump analytics research and partnerships with Baden Sports to develop age-appropriate volleyballs for 10U athletes. Her honors include three USA Volleyball Hall of Fame awards: the Jim Coleman USA National Team Award (2025), All-Time Great Coach – Pioneer Division (2011), and the George J. Fisher Award (1996), along with inductions into the AVCA Hall of Fame and the University of Northern Colorado Hall of Fame. She has presented at more than 700 clinics worldwide and continues to lead global youth initiatives and mentor coaches, instructors, and families focused on athletes 10 and under.

Jon Rye – Executive Director & Co-Founder of Skyline Juniors Volleyball

Jon Rye is the Executive Director and CoFounder of Skyline Juniors Volleyball, which he launched with his wife, Jodie, in 1999. Over more than two decades, Jon has helped build Dallas Skyline into a nationally recognized, 45team program in 2026, known for long term athlete development and a strong coaching culture. Dallas Skyline has earned six Open Division National Championships, including a landmark three title run in 2025 (13 Open, 14 Open, and 15 Open). In addition, Jon is considered one of the leading tournament directors and schedulers for volleyball in North Texas. Jon currently averages either solely or part ownership in ten indoor volleyball tournaments each year in the Dallas area.

Jon has served on the USA Volleyball North Texas Region Board of Directors since 2002, and has held leadership roles supporting regional governance and high performance initiatives. He also serves as a board member for Dallas Skyline, Austin Skyline, Jacksonville Skyline, and Colorado Skyline, bringing a member-first approach grounded in clear standards, ethics, and accountability.

Kip Rodgers – Sports Psychotherapist, LP Counselor, Certified Personal Trainer, and Certified HP Coach

Kip Rodgers, aka Coach Kip, is a 27-year veteran Sports Psychotherapist. She has assisted athletes from grade school to the professional and elite levels to maximize their mental and physical potential. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor & Supervisor, a Certified High-Performance Coach, and a Certified Personal Trainer.

She holds two master’s degrees—one in counseling psychology from Dallas Theological Seminary and a second in Sports & Exercise Psychology. She grew up a competitive gymnast in the state of Ohio where she earned two state titles and a number of regional awards; in her 40’s, she played women’s professional tackle football for Dallas earning her World Championship ring as a player in 2008 and a recent 4-peat in 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023 as the Mental Skills Director for the team.

She has a private sports psychology and executive coaching firm in Frisco, TX, Braincode Corp. She is the mom of two: a 26-year-old daughter and a 24-year-old son, both launched and working in Christian ministry. Skiing remains the one activity and passion Kip can do better than her kids, but they are fast approaching her level of expertise.

Troy Gilb – Owner and Director of Sports Performance Volleyball 

Troy Gilb is in his 35th year of coaching and is in his 19th year at Sports Performance. Troy has coached at every level including youth, junior high, high school and college and has a wealth of knowledge and experience training junior athletes. He has coached his teams to 8 national championship appearances and is one of the few coaches in the country to coach in a national championship match in the 18 Open division for both boys and girls. Troy is in his fourth year of owning the Sports Performance program, winning 6 national championships during that time and bringing the clubs overall total to 112 national championships.

Tod Mattox – Coach, Director of Coaching Education, Author, and Podcaster

Tod Mattox has been coaching volleyball in San Diego since 1982, working extensively with girls’ high school and club teams. He has also coached high school boys, AVP women, and men’s collegiate volleyball. In August, Tod will begin his 29th year at The Bishop’s School, and he also serves as the Director of Coaching Education at Coast Volleyball Club.

For the past 15 years, he has focused on coaching education. In addition to being a frequent contributor and clinician for the Art of Coaching Volleyball, he has conducted coaching workshops for both schools and clubs, and presented several sessions at the AVCA National Convention. In 2023, Tod and his coaching buddy, Davis Ransom, created a podcast, The VolleyPod, dedicated to the craft of coaching kids’ volleyball.

Greg Kristof – Sixth Sense Consulting

Greg Kristof has built and sold multiple businesses from the ground up. In 2010, he co-founded Zero Gravity Basketball, now the largest grassroots basketball company in the world, hosting more than 224 events annually across 16 states.

Most recently, he served as Chief Development Officer at 3STEP Sports, helping scale the company from $8M to more than $300M in top-line revenue in four years and expand its event footprint from 7 to 42 states.

Through 6SC, Greg has also successfully supported growth initiatives for companies in technology, sports, and real estate, including Adidas, Hidden Hemlock, Playeasy, ShotTracker, and many others.