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	BearGrassl
			Bear has been with Empire for 16 years. In his tenure with Empire, Bear has coached at all levels of the program. His 18 Mizuno teams have been perennial fixtures in the NCVA Gold Division since he began coaching at the 18’s level. Bear’s teams have finished in the top five in the region for nine years running. He is currently the club Co-Director and Head Coach. Bear began his career at El Molino High School where he built one of the most successful high school programs in northern California. Under his tutelage, the Lions won 6 League Championships, 7 CIF North Coast Section Championships and made 5 State appearances, culminating with a State Championship in 1999. In 2004 Bear’s 18 Mizuno club team played in the finals of the Volleyball Festival National Championships. Bear is currently the Head Coach at Sonoma State University in Rohnert Park.
		bear.grassl@sonoma.edu

	KathyO'neil
			Kathy has a long history with the sport of volleyball. Kathy started coaching a high school varsity team immediately after finishing her collegiate career. Kathy began coaching club volleyball with Empire soon after in 1992 and has since been involved in all aspects of running the club. She currently serves as club Co-Director. Kathy has been with the top Empire 16 and under team since 1997. She has led her teams to the NCVA Gold division every season of her tenure. On the national scene, Kathy’s teams have had multiple Championship bracket finishes at the Volleyball Festival National Championships and at the AAU National Championships. She has trained numerous All American and Fab 50’s athletes. Kathy has been on the staff of several top collegiate camp programs and has worked with the Olympic Festival organization as well as the regional High Performance program. For the past five years Kathy has worked for USA Volleyball in their elite High Performance pipeline. She is CAP (Coaching Accreditation Program) certified through USA Volleyball. Kathy is a Professor at Santa Rosa Junior College in the Communication Studies Department.
		kathy@empirevolleyball.com

	ChristenHamilton
			Christen is second generation born and raised in Sonoma County. She is a Montgomery High School graduate where she excelled in volleyball, music, drama and academics. Christen is an Empire alumnus who carried on her passion for volleyball in college with a full scholarship to Saint Peter's College in New Jersey. She then transferred to the University of San Francisco, where she finished out her collegiate volleyball career. Christen returned home in the spring of 2001 to coach for Empire in the 14 and under age group. Christen also returned to her local high school, Montgomery, as head Varsity coach in the fall of 2001. She has led her team to numerous league titles and post season appearances. In addition to coaching for Empire, Christen brings her winning attitude and strategy into the family real estate business, Keller Williams Realty - The Hamilton Group, as a sales associate. Christen and her parents, Don and Sharon Hamilton, make up one of the most successful family sales teams North of the Bay.
		vb4hamilton@hotmail.com

	BobO'Neil
			Bob has been on the staff of Empire for the past twelve years - but his coaching career spans over forty years! In addition to volleyball, Bob has expertise coaching basketball and track. Bob serves as the Director of our non-profit foundation providing opportunities for fundraising activities for our athletes. Bob is also in charge of all of the Empire Wear and club uniforms. Bob has served as a camp coach for elite collegiate programs including Stanford University. He has been part of the USA staff at Junior National and Youth National team tryouts. Bob has Co-Coached the top Empire 16 and Under team with Kathy O’Neil since 1997 with great success. Prior to his retirement Bob was a career educator in the Sonoma Valley Unified District serving as Department Chair for Physical Education and as school Activities Director.
		bob@empirevolleyball.com

	LindsaySmith
			Lindsay is one of several Empire alumni on staff. After completing her club career, Lindsay was offered a scholarship to CSU, Fullerton. Lindsay finished out her collegiate career as an outside hitter for Sonoma State University. Lindsay has been on the Empire staff, coaching in our 12’s, 15’s and 17’s divisions since 2003. In 2006 Lindsay took over as the Head Varsity Coach at perennial North Bay powerhouse El Molino High School after coaching the JV team for two years.
		schmit986@comcast.net

	MikeWhitham
			Mike brings a wealth of coaching experience to Empire! He began his coaching career in 1982 at El Camino College in southern California. He then coached the Junior Varsity Boy’s team at Leuzinger High School in Lawndale before moving up north. Mike started coaching in Sonoma County with the Valley of the Moon Club and the Napa Valley Club prior to founding and directing the Napa-Sonoma Volleyball Club in 2002. Mike has coaching experience across all of the age groups and has been both a Club Director and Head Coach. Since 1999 Mike has been the Assistant Varsity Coach at Sonoma Valley High School in Sonoma. Last year Mike coached our 18 Black team to a Power League divisional title. This will be his third season coaching at Empire.
		mike@goldensales.com

	KaityMcCollister
			Katie is an Analy graduate who came up through the Empire program. She played at Santa Rosa Junior College after high school. Katie is in her second year of coaching at Analy where she is the Head Coach of the Freshman team.
		ktmcc@sbcglobal.net

	MichaelaEbben
			Michaela came up through the Empire program and made her mark as a prep athlete. She accepted a volleyball scholarship to the University of Arizona, competing for the Wildcats as a top collegiate player. Michaela has coached across the age groups at Empire over the years, being utilized by many staffers for her setting expertise. Michaela was the Assistant Coach at SSU in 2005.
		MichaelaEbben@yahoo.com

	JesseOrtiz
			Jesse is in his fifth year with Empire. He is both an experienced coach and player. Jesse competed for four years on the Sonoma State Men’s team, helping them to a NCCVL State Championship and a 9th place national finish. Jesse began his coaching career at Windsor High School where he coached the Freshman and Junior Varsity teams. Jesse moved on to take over the Petaluma Varsity program in 2004 and has been building the Petaluma program into a powerhouse during his tenure there as Head Coach. Jesse also is the Head Coach of the Sonoma State Men’s Volleyball team and the Assistant Coach of the SSU Women’s team.
		Jesse@empirevolleyball.com

	LillianHarms
			Lillian is currently the Libero on the Sonoma State University Women’s team. In 2006 Lillian earned her way into the SSU record books. Lillian broke the records for digs per-game, single-season digs, and single-game digs. Lillian is a product of seven years of club volleyball with Gold Cal VBC. Lillian was an assistant coach while at Gold Cal and also has coaching experience in basketball, soccer and track and field. This will be Lillian’s fourth year with Empire.
		harmsl@sonoma.edu

	KoyStewart
			Koy began coaching on the Central Coast in 1994. Koy was the Junior Varsity Coach and Assistant Boy’s and Girls Varsity Coach at Templeton High School. From 1992-1997 Koy was involved with the volleyball program at Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo. He played for the Sonoma State Men’s team in from 1999-2003. Koy coached the Petaluma Junior Varsity in 2004 and in 2005-2006 coached the Montgomery Girls. This is Koy’s third year with Empire. Koy currently works as an administrator at the Chops Teen Center in Santa Rosa. Koy is also the Head Coach at NBL powerhouse Montgomery High School.
		koystewart@gmail.com

	BenStern
			Ben is a San Diego native who began his volleyball career at Scripps Ranch High School in Southern California. During his high school years, Ben’s team was a two-time runner up in the DII CIF Championships and won the Championship title during Ben’s junior year. Ben was selected First Team All Conference and First Team All CIF. Ben also served as Team Captain for two years. Ben played club volleyball for the San Diego Volleyball Club for two years, then went on to become one of the founding members of a new program through Epic Volleyball Club. Epic has since established itself as one of the premiere clubs in Southern California. Ben is currently on the Men’s team at Sonoma State University. His team earned a 5th place finish at Division II Nationals in 2006. Ben helped out with the girl’s team at Scripps Ranch for two years. In 2004 he took over as the Junior Varsity Coach at Petaluma High School. In 2007 be became an Assistant Coach with the SSU Women’s Volleyball team.
		sternb@sonoma.edu

	MindyNeves
			Mindy is an Empire alumnus hailing from Sonoma. Mindy attended Kent State University on a full volleyball scholarship. She finished out her collegiate career as an All Conference player at Sonoma State University. Mindy began coaching at Adele Harrison Middle School in 2001. In 2006 she joined the staff at Sonoma Valley High School. She has been an Empire coach in our 12’s-14’s program since 2003.
		marbles15@aol.com

	HollyFolendorf
			Holly is an Empire alumnist who came through the Analy High School program. She played college ball at SRJC in 2000-2001. She became the Head JV Coach at Analy in 2007. This will be Holly’s first year as an Empire coach.
		hollyf16@aol.com

	RosieManton

		manton@sonoma.edu

	LindsayBrown
			Lindsay is an Empire alum hailing from Napa. After a stellar career as a prep player, Lindsay was recruited to set for the Sonoma State Seawolves. Lindsay was the Assistant for the 18 Mizuno team in 2007. She also took over the Head Coaching job for the 14 Gold team. Lindsay has additional coaching experience with the University of Sports Camps and with the SSU summer programs.
		brolinds@sonoma.edu

	ScottFontana
			Scott enters his first year as an Empire coach. Scott is a member of the highly successful men’s club team at Sonoma State. Scott is also the Head Coach for the Petaluma High School Freshman Volleyball Team.
		fontanas@sonoma.edu

	ShawnWilson
			Shawn comes to Empire with a wealth of playing and coaching experience. Shawn played collegiate volleyball for both Division I Sac State University and for Humboldt State. Shawn entered the coaching ranks and served as both an Assistant and a Graduate Assistant Coach for 5 years at Humboldt State. Shawn was also the Head Volleyball Coach at College of the Redwoods.
		s13wilson@yahoo.com

	TomSather

	NicoleSquirez

		squiresn@sonoma.edu

	ChipperBaldwin

		charles.baldwin@gmail.com

	AliWalker

	HeatherWintermeyer

		hnwintermeyer@gmail.com

	CassieNelson

		lilcasser22@hotmail.com

	LeslieGrassl

		momofjack@comcast.net