Justin is coaching his 27 th year with Golden Bear., coaching teams in every age group, focusing mainly 15s-18s. Several teams have qualified for the National Championships. He also serves as the Technical Director for the club, training coaches and players. He
has coached several high school programs, including Berkeley High (3 ACCAL titles; NCS D1 title), Piedmont, College Prep Boys, and International High School (BCL- Central title). He also is one of the top high school officials in Northern California, officiating multiple CIF Section championships.

Bio coming soon!

Nike Coaches

coachwjc@gmail.com

Justin is coaching his 27 th year with Golden Bear., coaching teams in every age group, focusing mainly 15s-18s. Several teams have qualified for the National Championships.
He also serves as the Technical Director for the club, training coaches and players. He has coached several high school programs, including Berkeley High (3 ACCAL titles; NCS D1 title), Piedmont, College Prep Boys, and International High School (BCL-
Central title). He also is one of the top high school officials in Northern California, officiating multiple CIF Section championships.

Eric is a student at UC Berkeley studying International Relations and Integrated Biology. He has played volleyball for 8 years, and currently plays for Cal Men's Club Volleyball. He played on his varsity team for 4 years in high school at Cairo American College, winning the Division 1 championship at ISAAs and CISSA. This is Eric's second year coaching at Golden Bear. 

Tyler is back for his third year coaching with Golden Bear! He is a UC Berkeley Student studying Political Economy who has a fun time coaching and playing volleyball. With growth spurts at different ages, Tyler has been trained in many different positions throughout his volleyball career. He also led his club team at the 2021 SoCal Cup Winterformal Tournament, taking first place! He currently plays intramural volleyball at Berkeley and has intentions to play until his knees give out.

jhoover.charles@gmail.com

Justin Hoover is a Bay Area born and raised volleyball player and coach. In high school he played for Head Royce, winning CIF Northern California Section finals one year and went with his team to NCS finals a second year. He also played four years of club / JO's volleyball. After high school, Justin attended college at Colgate University where he played D-I varsity ice hockey but left the team after a year to play volleyball. He played all the remaining years at Colgate with the club team competing against D-3 schools across NY State. Justin also played in France with the University of Dijon during his study abroad. Justin began his coaching career in 1998 at Head Royce, as the JV girl’s coach, received his first coaching certification from Gold Medal Squared in 2001 coached the Colgate D-1 women’s club volleyball team from 2001-2003. From 2003-2009 Justin coached high school and club volleyball in the Bay Area with M-Power, Xceleration, Golden Bear, and St. Mary’s College High School until 2009. After that, Justin took a break from volleyball and turned to martial arts, gaining a black belt in Kung Fu and competing at high levels across California. Justin continues to practice and teach martial arts today and is a certified yoga instructor. Justin also continues to coach and play volleyball, currently coaching for Piedmont Middle School and Piedmont High School. Justin’s certifications include Gold Medal Squared, the Art of Coaching, and Positive Coaching Alliance and Justin is a candidate for a NASM personal trainer certificate later this year. Justin holds a master’s degree in fine art from the San Francisco Art Institute and a master’s degree in public administration of international management from Middlebury University. Justin resides in Piedmont, CA with his wife and three kids.  

  vball_teacher14@yahoo.com

Giselle Cortez is a dedicated and experienced volleyball coach with over a year of coaching at the middle school and high school levels. Coach Giselle is also part of the Cal Club Women's Volleyball team that placed first in their league during the 2023-2024 season. Because she actively plays, her passion and motivation come naturally and seamlessly flow into her coaching abilities, allowing her to connect with her players on a deeper level. She emphasizes perseverance, encouraging athletes to face challenges head-on and grow through adversity as well as motivating players to excel in skill and instilling a long-term love for the game. When not on the court, she enjoys traveling or volunteering at local community programs.

taylorjordangbvc22@gmail.com

Taylor is a junior at UC Berkeley studying psychology, linguistics, and health & wellness. She has been playing volleyball for 6 years and coaching with Golden Bear for her third year. She is looking forward to a great season. Her favorite past times are volleyball and cuddling with her cat!

Kiran is back for his second year coaching with Golden Bear. He is a UC Berkeley student studying Molecular and Cell Biology who enjoys coaching and playing volleyball in his free time. Kiran has primarily played middle throughout his playing career but has been trained in all aspects of the game. In high school, he captained his team to a first-place finish in the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League and first place in CIF Northern California Section Division 3, earning a League MVP and second-team All-League during those years. For his club team, he finished in the top 10 in the Open Division at USAV BJNC in 2021 and AAU National Championships in 2022.

wkwright17@gmail.com

Kevin is coming back for his third year coaching with Golden Bear. He is excited to share his extensive knowledge of the game and competing at a high level this year. As a player he experienced a lot of success in his home state of Delaware. His high school team repeatedly made playoffs. Kevin was honored as 3rd team All American his junior year and a 2nd team All American his senior year. 

Natalie is a seasoned volleyball player and middle blocker with years of competitive experience. She grew up in the Bay Area and played club volleyball with Golden Bear Volleyball Club for many years, where she developed her technical skills and knowledge of the game. She attended Saint Mary’s College High School in Albany, CA and played on the varsity team for all four years. Natalie was also a Division I college athlete and attended Rice University in Houston, TX on a full volleyball scholarship. While at Rice, Natalie was team captain, received All-American honors and received numerous athletic awards including Rice Volleyball Most Valuable Player (2007 & 2009), Newcomer of the year Award (2007), Hard Hat Award (2007), Isgren Iron Owl Award for Leadership, Strength and Discipline (2010), All-Conference First Team honors (2008 & 2009), and the Hally Beth Poindexter Award for most outstanding women’s volleyball player at Rice University. Natalie has held middle blocker clinics for the Campolindo High School varsity volleyball team in Moraga, CA and is excited to return to Golden Bear Volleyball Club to coach and mentor young women. Outside of volleyball, Natalie works as an Environmental Planner at an engineering firm. She enjoys spending time with her husband, Terrell, and Son, Logan, exploring the outdoors, and living an active lifestyle.

Coming Soon!

shaunleong14@gmail.com

Shaun is entering her 3rd season coaching with Golden Bear. She has previously coached 13s and 14s teams for both boys and girls. Her love for volleyball developed at a young age when she was in 5th grade and began playing club volleyball. She played for golden bear back in 2006 and continued playing through 10th grade on elite club teams and the varsity team at Saint Mary’s College High School as a setter. Off the court she is a high school English teacher and brings many of her educational philosophies from the classroom onto the court in and into her coaching. In her spare time she enjoys spending time her 6 month old son and her two dogs. She is excited to return to 13s this season as the 13 blue coach.

A’Nia is a Junior at the University of California Berkeley studying theater and psychology. This is her second year coaching at Golden Bear Volleyball and she’s excited to working alongside coach Shaun with the 13 blue team. She played high school and club volleyball for four years and spent her last year playing club at Golden Bear, where she was a co-captain of her team. When she’s not coaching A’Nia enjoys seeing new productions in the Bay Area, reading, and spending quality time with her family.

jooyoungkim@berkeley.edu

Ryan is a junior studying BioEngineering with a minor in Health and Wellness at UC Berkeley. He played as a Middle/Oppo throughout high school and club and loves the game of volleyball. This is Ryan's third year coaching at Golden Bear. He hopes to teach young athletes about this amazing sport, how to respect their teammates and themselves, to not only enjoy volleyball, but also become excellent young adults.

andrea.morales@berkeley.edu

Andrea is a UC Berkeley student studying Media Studies with a deep passion for sports, shaped by years of competition and coaching experience. She competed as a libero/DS during her time at Golden Bear Volleyball Club. Now in her second year of coaching for Golden Bear, she is excited to continue sharing her love for the sport with her team. She is dedicated to fostering both skill development and a genuine enjoyment of the game in every athlete she coaches.

Josh is a UC Berkeley student studying Chemical Engineering with a great passion for playing and coaching volleyball. He played as a setter throughout his high school playing career in Indonesia and still plays frequently as setter for his IM team. He also coached and hosted skill clinics for his high school while working with players aspiring to be better setters. This is his first year coaching at Golden Bear Volleyball Club. He is excited to develop the skills of his players and assist in making playing volleyball more enjoyable by the day.

emilysbernstein@gmail.com

Emily Bernstein is a lawyer in the Bay Area working in immigration law. She played volleyball for 8 years as a setter through middle and high school, and into college. Her parents still quote some of the cheers that Emily and her team used to shout on the court. Volleyball gave Emily a competitive spirit that exists until today. Emily has coached at volleyball camps, clinics, and a club volleyball team, sharing her love for the game. She loves coaching because she gets to share her passion for volleyball with upcoming players. Outside of volleyball, Emily is an avid reader (she'll read anything!) and runner. She loves to travel, trying new taco spots, and spending time with family. This is her first season with Golden Bear, and she is so excited! 

Bio coming soon!

Premier Coaches

wkwright17@gmail.com

Kevin is coming back for his third year coaching with Golden Bear. He is excited to share his extensive knowledge of the game and competing at a high level this year. As a player he experienced a lot of success in his home state of Delaware. His high school team repeatedly made playoffs. Kevin was honored as 3rd team All American his junior year and a 2nd team All American his senior year. 

Marina is a first year neuroscience major at Cal who's been playing volleyball for 7 years, 4 years on varisty and 3 in club. She has been coaching since 2020 at her local middle school, and is excited for a great first season with Golden Bear Volleyball Club!

Lea is beginning her first year coaching with Golden Bear Volleyball Club! She began playing volleyball at age 10, beginning at the recreational leagues offered at local parks, and slowly worked her way up to playing at D1 Elite club levels. She grew up playing in the SoCal volleyball scene, where she played both indoor and beach volleyball. Lea is an experienced volleyball coach as well, growing up coaching younger age groups as she herself was playing at the 16 and 18 Elite levels. She just graduated from UC Berkeley, where she studied Psychoneuroendocrinology. She is excited to foster the skill development of her athletes, while also teaching them the importance of teamwork and genuine care for your teammates.  

Michael is a former middle school science teacher and has been working with kids of all ages for multiple years. He has played volleyball at a competitive level for almost 10 years for his high school team, national club team, and a USA High Performance national team as well. This will be his 1st year coaching at Golden Bear and he is very excited to bring his experience and knowledge of the game to help build the foundational skills of his players. 

Sarai Clayton Ward serves as an open-minded first year head coach of the Golden Bear Volleyball Club, bringing a dynamic approach to coaching that embraces creativity and
adaptability. With 4.5 years of coaching experience under her belt, Sarai has cultivated a deep understanding of athlete development and team dynamics. Her active years of playing experience enrich her coaching style, allowing her to relate to her players and foster a
supportive environment.
Currently studying kinesiology at San Mateo Junior College, Sarai is passionate about understanding the science of movement and performance. This academic pursuit not only informs her coaching strategies but also reflects her commitment to continuous learning. Sarai's love for volleyball is evident in her dedication to her players, as she strives to instill a sense of joy and enthusiasm for the game.
With her open-minded approach, Sarai encourages her athletes to express themselves, develop their skills, and embrace challenges. She is excited to guide the Golden Bears to new heights, fostering a culture of growth, teamwork, and a shared passion for volleyball.

More Information Coming Soon!

Club Director

directorsarahmc@gmail.com

Sarah has been involved with volleyball at a high level since she was 12. She is from Santa Cruz and beach volleyball was a way of life. She continued her passion for the sport playing in college at Santa Barbara City College and practicing with the UCSB team her senior year. She has coached with SB Volleyball Club, Gold Cal in Sacramento and Golden Bear for the past 15 years. Sarah has also coached high school varsity volleyball at Albany High and Piedmont High.. 

Her sole goal is to lead Golden Bear as a professional club and support the values of hard work, teamwork, and accountability for all of our players. She also keeps in mind that volleyball is a game and should be fun as well!