Where did you attend college? Why did you choose to go there?

I attended the University of California at Santa Barbara. I went there because they have an outstanding academic reputation, and they offered me a full volleyball scholarship.

When did you realize you wanted to be a coach?

I realized I wanted to be a coach after my first day as an assistant coach.

Who is your biggest influence as a coach?

My biggest influence as a coach is my UCSB volleyball coach, Kathy Gregory. She is a legend in the volleyball world both as a player and a coach. She inspired her players to work hard, no excuses, and to play with intensity and passion.

What is your most memorable moment as an athlete?

Beating the nationally-ranked #1 team University of Hawaii (which was undefeated at the time) in five games after being slaughtered by them the night before. I hit the final point off the blockers hands.

What is your most memorable moment as a coach?

There are so many... but I have to say that watching my team come from behind to beat a higher ranked team through gritty, tough play. Then watching their head coach look on in disbelief.

Your funniest or most embarrassing moment as a coach?

Dancing onto the court after beating a GNAC rival! My team caught it on game film and showed it (over and over) during our next team meeting.

Favorites:

Movies:  Anything Will Ferrell

Food:  Authentic Mexican

Musician:  Coldplay, Mumford and Sons

Professional sports team:  LAKERS!

Professional athlete and why: He's not an athlete but... I'd love to meet Bill Parcells! He's my favorite NFL coach and I love his coaching style!

They aren't famous, but they should be.... my parents. They both came to this country at 30 years old with only the shirts on their backs, and speaking Spanish. In a short time they became US citizens, learned English and had excellent jobs that enabled me to go to private school, live in a great house and live the American dream. By the time they both passed away they had several houses on the west coast as well as vacation homes in Florida. They left their children with many monetary benefits, but the greatest gift was the life lesson that with hard work you can achieve great things!

If you could meet one person, past or present, who would it be and why?

Abraham Lincoln.... because he made tough and very unpopular choices to keep our country together during a critical time.

Something about you that most people don't know?

That I was born in Cuba and my mother smuggled me and my sister into California when I was two years old, declaring political asylum to escape the oppressive Castro regime. I became a US citizen in elementary school.

Hobbies away from your sport:

I can wrap a gift like no one's business!

What you look for in a player when recruiting:

I look for intensity, passion, and a true team player. I also look for a player who is competitive, is determined to win, but puts her team first. Players that carry themselves with integrity, and work hard.

What do you do in the offseason?

Teach 2nd grade and recruit volleyball players!

How would you describe your coaching philosophy?

l push my players to play to their fullest potential, and to give their team everything they've got so that they have no regrets and can be proud to have been a part of something greater than themselves.