Profile
John's volleyball experience spans more than 40 years as a player, coach, administrator and parent, at the recreational, high school, club, NCAA Division 1, and USAV national program level.
John is the founder of The Volleyball Practice (TVP). As principal coach and director, John led TVP to serve more than 1500 youth in the Washington DC area with volleyball clinics, open gyms, leagues and competitive team training and travel programs. From 2014 through 2019, John worked with young athletes that are also musicians, class leaders, scholars, martial artists, debaters, Scouts, multi-sport athletes WHILE making an impact with their TVP teams:
To help grow quality opportunities for boys to play volleyball, John made coaching education and support a primary focus of the organization. TVP has supported more than 30 coaches with training, educational, travel and financial assistance.
John's interest in volleyball spiked in 1977 when his older brother Keith was an All-State athlete at Liberty High School (Bethlehem, PA), and later at George Mason University. This early and continued interest, nurtured by great coaches, playing opportunities and volleyball communities, has given John a perspective of the sport informed by experts, experience and lots of practice.
John was a four-year starter at Liberty High School, coached by Larry Deutsch, and was named to the All-East Penn League Team three times, and twice named the league's Most Outstanding Player. While in high school, John played with the Allentown Volleyball Club, a men's AA team, led by legendary player (East Stroudsburg) and current Parkland High School (Allentown, PA) coach Mike Krause. In 2015, John was inducted into the Liberty High School Athletic Hall of Fame.
John was a four-year varsity athlete 1982 to 1986 at Penn State University under Hall of Fame coach Dr. Tom Tait, and was selected by his teammates as co-captain in 1986. The Nittany Lions earned a bid to the NCAA Championship Final Four twice, and played in the EIVA Championship four times. John was one of twelve athletes named to the USA East team at the 1983 U.S. Olympic Sports Festival, coached by Bob Gambardella. John also competed in the Keystone State Games and Men's AA clubs in the Chesapeake and Keystone Regions. He continues to play with the Nittany Legends at the USAV Open Nationals and the senior circuit.
John's coaching career began at summer camps coaching under Hall of Fame Penn State coach Russ Rose. John served as assistant coach for the gold medal winning girls team at the 1984 Keystone State Games, JV volleyball coach at Wilde Lake High School (Columbia, MD) and Whitman High School (Bethesda, MD). From 2008 to 2015, he coached the boys varsity volleyball team at Wootton High School (Rockville, MD), where he guided his teams to a 102-15 record (six undefeated regular seasons) and three AVCA Team Academic Awards in 8 seasons.
John launched The Volleyball Practice (TVP) in 2014 when opportunities for boys to play volleyball were declining in Montgomery County, Maryland. The original goal was to offer regularly scheduled places and times for players try the sport, teach individual and team skills, and create more opportunities to play competitively. When a small group of parents asked John to also form a travel club team, he agreed to explore the elements needed to develop nationally-competitive boys teams. Originally a one-year project, the travel program extended to five years.
John earned a B.S. in Secondary Education/Social Studies and a Certificate in Geographic Information Systems from Penn State, and an M.S in Business from Johns Hopkins University. John is a CAP 2 Certified coach by USA Volleyball and Level 2 National Certified Coach by the National Federation of High Schools.
John is the founder of The Volleyball Practice (TVP). As principal coach and director, John led TVP to serve more than 1500 youth in the Washington DC area with volleyball clinics, open gyms, leagues and competitive team training and travel programs. From 2014 through 2019, John worked with young athletes that are also musicians, class leaders, scholars, martial artists, debaters, Scouts, multi-sport athletes WHILE making an impact with their TVP teams:
- National Club of the Month (February 2018), Junior Volleyball Association
- 6 times CHRVA Team Champions at the U14, U16, U17 and U18 divisions. Twice silver medalists and once bronze medalist.
- 15 tournament championships.
- #3 National Finish, Boys Junior National Championships, Gold Bracket-Club Division (TVP 18)
- National #14 rankings, 2019 (TVP 18 and TVP 15).
- 2 TVP athletes named to BJNC All-Tournament Team.
- More than 50 selections to MCPS All-County Team.
- More than 35 selections for USA Volleyball High Performance Program.
- More than 25 TVP Alumni competing with their D1, D2 and D3 collegiate varsity team and more than 30 playing with their collegiate club team.
To help grow quality opportunities for boys to play volleyball, John made coaching education and support a primary focus of the organization. TVP has supported more than 30 coaches with training, educational, travel and financial assistance.
John's interest in volleyball spiked in 1977 when his older brother Keith was an All-State athlete at Liberty High School (Bethlehem, PA), and later at George Mason University. This early and continued interest, nurtured by great coaches, playing opportunities and volleyball communities, has given John a perspective of the sport informed by experts, experience and lots of practice.
John was a four-year starter at Liberty High School, coached by Larry Deutsch, and was named to the All-East Penn League Team three times, and twice named the league's Most Outstanding Player. While in high school, John played with the Allentown Volleyball Club, a men's AA team, led by legendary player (East Stroudsburg) and current Parkland High School (Allentown, PA) coach Mike Krause. In 2015, John was inducted into the Liberty High School Athletic Hall of Fame.
John was a four-year varsity athlete 1982 to 1986 at Penn State University under Hall of Fame coach Dr. Tom Tait, and was selected by his teammates as co-captain in 1986. The Nittany Lions earned a bid to the NCAA Championship Final Four twice, and played in the EIVA Championship four times. John was one of twelve athletes named to the USA East team at the 1983 U.S. Olympic Sports Festival, coached by Bob Gambardella. John also competed in the Keystone State Games and Men's AA clubs in the Chesapeake and Keystone Regions. He continues to play with the Nittany Legends at the USAV Open Nationals and the senior circuit.
John's coaching career began at summer camps coaching under Hall of Fame Penn State coach Russ Rose. John served as assistant coach for the gold medal winning girls team at the 1984 Keystone State Games, JV volleyball coach at Wilde Lake High School (Columbia, MD) and Whitman High School (Bethesda, MD). From 2008 to 2015, he coached the boys varsity volleyball team at Wootton High School (Rockville, MD), where he guided his teams to a 102-15 record (six undefeated regular seasons) and three AVCA Team Academic Awards in 8 seasons.
John launched The Volleyball Practice (TVP) in 2014 when opportunities for boys to play volleyball were declining in Montgomery County, Maryland. The original goal was to offer regularly scheduled places and times for players try the sport, teach individual and team skills, and create more opportunities to play competitively. When a small group of parents asked John to also form a travel club team, he agreed to explore the elements needed to develop nationally-competitive boys teams. Originally a one-year project, the travel program extended to five years.
John earned a B.S. in Secondary Education/Social Studies and a Certificate in Geographic Information Systems from Penn State, and an M.S in Business from Johns Hopkins University. John is a CAP 2 Certified coach by USA Volleyball and Level 2 National Certified Coach by the National Federation of High Schools.
Volleyball Coach
Volleyball coaching experience at the club and high school level (varsity and JV, boys and girls), and at developmental camps and clinics.
USAV IMPACT / CAP 1 / CAP 2 Certified
NFHS Level 2 National Certified Coach
AVCA Member
The Volleyball Practice (TVP) (learn more..)
Founder / Director / Coach
From 2014 through 2019, TVP directly served more than 1500 youth in the Washington DC area with volleyball clinics, open gyms, leagues and competitive team training and travel programs. TVP has worked with young athletes that are also musicians, class leaders, scholars, martial artists, debaters, Boy Scouts, multi-sport athletes WHILE they made an impact with their TVP teams:
Wootton High School, Rockville, MD ( see woottonvolleyball.com )
Head Coach, Boys Varsity, 2008 - 2015
Maryland Volleyball Program (MVP)
Assistant Coach, Under 18 Boys Team, 2010-2012
Walt Whitman High School, Bethesda, MD
Assistant Varsity and Head JV Coach of Coed Teams, 1988
Wilde Lake High School, Columbia, MD
Assistant Varsity and Head JV Coach of Girls Teams, 1987
Penn State Volleyball Camps, University Park, PA
Head Court Coach, 1984-1986, 2015-16
Keystone State Games
Assistant Coach, Pennsylvania East Girls, 1983
Also, conducted clinics, demonstrations, and coaching sessions at schools and recreation centers in Pennsylvania and Maryland.
NFHS Level 2 National Certified Coach
AVCA Member
The Volleyball Practice (TVP) (learn more..)
Founder / Director / Coach
From 2014 through 2019, TVP directly served more than 1500 youth in the Washington DC area with volleyball clinics, open gyms, leagues and competitive team training and travel programs. TVP has worked with young athletes that are also musicians, class leaders, scholars, martial artists, debaters, Boy Scouts, multi-sport athletes WHILE they made an impact with their TVP teams:
- National Club of the Month (Feb 2018), Junior Volleyball Association
- 6 times CHRVA Team Champions at the U14, U16, U17 and U18 divisions. Twice silver medalists and once bronze medalist.
- 15 team tournament championships.
- #3 National Finish, Boys Junior National Championships, Gold Bracket-Club Division (TVP 18)
- Team with 2 TVP athletes named to BJNC All-Tournament Team.
- More than 50 selections to MCPS All-County Team.
- More than 35 selections for USA Volleyball High Performance Program.
- More than 25 TVP Alumni competing with their D1, D2 and D3 collegiate varsity teams and more than 30 playing with their collegiate club team.
Wootton High School, Rockville, MD ( see woottonvolleyball.com )
Head Coach, Boys Varsity, 2008 - 2015
- MCPS Division Champions: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
- MCPS Semifinalists: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
- MCPS Finalists: 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014
- MCPS Champions: 2013, 2014
- AVCA Team Academic Award, 2013, 2014, 2015
- 102-15 record
- Gazette Coach of the Year, 2013, 2014
- Assistant Coach, Girls Varsity 2011-13, Maryland 4A Semifinalist, 2013
Maryland Volleyball Program (MVP)
Assistant Coach, Under 18 Boys Team, 2010-2012
- Chesapeake Region Champions 2011
- Earned bid to USAV Open National Championships (#25 National finish), 2011
- USAV Club National Championships 2012
Walt Whitman High School, Bethesda, MD
Assistant Varsity and Head JV Coach of Coed Teams, 1988
Wilde Lake High School, Columbia, MD
Assistant Varsity and Head JV Coach of Girls Teams, 1987
Penn State Volleyball Camps, University Park, PA
Head Court Coach, 1984-1986, 2015-16
Keystone State Games
Assistant Coach, Pennsylvania East Girls, 1983
- Gold Medal
Also, conducted clinics, demonstrations, and coaching sessions at schools and recreation centers in Pennsylvania and Maryland.
Volleyball Athlete
Volleyball playing experience at high school, club, and NCAA Division 1 levels; Competed in regional, state, and national championships, and international competition, including 1983 U.S. National Sports Festival.
Penn State University Varsity, University Park, PA 1982-1986
United States Olympic Sports Festival, Colorado Springs, CO 1983
Keystone State Games, 1983, 1984
Bethlehem (PA) Liberty High School Varsity, 1979-1982
USAV “AA” Club teams in Keystone and Chesapeake Regions 1981-1993
Recreation leagues in Montgomery County and Prince George's County, MD; Lehigh Valley, PA;
- 4-year student-athlete, graduated with 148 credits
- Competed at NCAA Division 1 level against nation’s top collegiate varsity teams
- International matches versus top Canadian collegiate teams and Japanese National Champions
- Awarded Levi Lamb Athletic Scholarship for 1985 and 1986
- Selected by players as Co-Captain of 1986 team
- NCAA Championship Final Four 1983, 1986
- EIVA Champions 1983, 1986; 2nd place 1984, 1985
United States Olympic Sports Festival, Colorado Springs, CO 1983
- One of 12 players selected to compete on USA East Team. Bronze Medal.
- Trained at U.S. Olympic Training Center with world-class athletes, facilities, coaches
Keystone State Games, 1983, 1984
Bethlehem (PA) Liberty High School Varsity, 1979-1982
- First 4-year starter in school history
- Selected to All-East Penn League team 1980, 1981, 1982; League MVP 1981, 1982
- East Penn League Champions 1981
- PIAA State Championships, 5th place 1981
- Inducted in Liberty High School Hall of Fame 2015
USAV “AA” Club teams in Keystone and Chesapeake Regions 1981-1993
Recreation leagues in Montgomery County and Prince George's County, MD; Lehigh Valley, PA;
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