Varsity Coach:
Rachel Foley
Volleyball Experience:
This season, Coach Foley enters her fourth year at LHS as the Varsity Coach. She brings twenty years of playing experience and seven years of coaching to the program. Prior to coaching at Lakewood, she coached the Junior Varsity level at Skyview High School. She has also coached club in the Denver area. Coach Foley was a 4 year starting setter and captain at the University of Wyoming from 2010-2013.
Coaching Philosophy:
As a teacher, I view volleyball as another "classroom" through which young women learn lessons about life. Volleyball is a tool to teach the athletes in the program how to become strong, independent, and confident young women. I will push our athletes to grow each day, to have a growth mindset each day, and to take care of their teammates each day. To be a member of the Lakewood Volleyball program is to be a part of something that is bigger than one individual, where each young woman has a voice and the opportunity for growth- both on and off the court. The goal of our program is for the young women who continue through our program leave it better than they found it, and that they leave as better human beings who will go forth and make a positive impact on our world.
Rachel Foley
Volleyball Experience:
This season, Coach Foley enters her fourth year at LHS as the Varsity Coach. She brings twenty years of playing experience and seven years of coaching to the program. Prior to coaching at Lakewood, she coached the Junior Varsity level at Skyview High School. She has also coached club in the Denver area. Coach Foley was a 4 year starting setter and captain at the University of Wyoming from 2010-2013.
Coaching Philosophy:
As a teacher, I view volleyball as another "classroom" through which young women learn lessons about life. Volleyball is a tool to teach the athletes in the program how to become strong, independent, and confident young women. I will push our athletes to grow each day, to have a growth mindset each day, and to take care of their teammates each day. To be a member of the Lakewood Volleyball program is to be a part of something that is bigger than one individual, where each young woman has a voice and the opportunity for growth- both on and off the court. The goal of our program is for the young women who continue through our program leave it better than they found it, and that they leave as better human beings who will go forth and make a positive impact on our world.
Varsity Assistant Coach:
Marissa Takahashi
Volleyball Experience:
This season, Marissa enters her second year as the Assistant Coach for Varsity. She has been coaching volleyball for three years and has sixteen years of experience as a player. Prior to coaching for Lakewood, she coached at Creighton Middle School, for Lakewood’s Winter Volleyball program, and with CARA. Coach Takahashi made Varsity as a freshman for Alameda High School and was Captain for two years.
Coaching Philosophy:
Coaching is a way for me to give back the skills and knowledge that I learned. I want to make a positive difference in my players’ lives by teaching them responsibility, accountability, and dedication. All of these traits helped shape me into an adult. When I was learning how to play volleyball, there were coaches who impacted me in both positive and negative ways, but I learned from both experiences. It gave me an understanding of how to relate to my players. Trust is a vital quality with my coaching. I want my players to have confidence in my decision making that I am doing what I believe is best for the team. Everyone likes to win games, who doesn’t? For me, when my players have grown as a team and individually in their volleyball skills and for their future; that’s a WIN.
Marissa Takahashi
Volleyball Experience:
This season, Marissa enters her second year as the Assistant Coach for Varsity. She has been coaching volleyball for three years and has sixteen years of experience as a player. Prior to coaching for Lakewood, she coached at Creighton Middle School, for Lakewood’s Winter Volleyball program, and with CARA. Coach Takahashi made Varsity as a freshman for Alameda High School and was Captain for two years.
Coaching Philosophy:
Coaching is a way for me to give back the skills and knowledge that I learned. I want to make a positive difference in my players’ lives by teaching them responsibility, accountability, and dedication. All of these traits helped shape me into an adult. When I was learning how to play volleyball, there were coaches who impacted me in both positive and negative ways, but I learned from both experiences. It gave me an understanding of how to relate to my players. Trust is a vital quality with my coaching. I want my players to have confidence in my decision making that I am doing what I believe is best for the team. Everyone likes to win games, who doesn’t? For me, when my players have grown as a team and individually in their volleyball skills and for their future; that’s a WIN.
Junior Varsity Coach:
Jennifer Pokraka
Jennifer Pokraka
Level 3 Coach
Dave Baker
Volleyball Experience:
Coach Baker has three years' experience coaching high school volleyball, six years' coaching at the middle school level, and 6 years' experience as a high school volleyball official.
Coaching Philosophy:
High school athletics provide opportunities for students to tackle challenges and improve their abilities and themselves. As a coach, I work to help players succeed on the court and off. I believe in challenging the limits players sometimes place on themselves. I believe in working with them to develop with their teammates to be part of something bigger. I think a key factor in coaching is preparing the players for game situations and putting them in positions where they can find the most success. As the season progresses, I hope to help each player find their intrinsic drive to improve, compete, and mature as an athlete and a person.
Dave Baker
Volleyball Experience:
Coach Baker has three years' experience coaching high school volleyball, six years' coaching at the middle school level, and 6 years' experience as a high school volleyball official.
Coaching Philosophy:
High school athletics provide opportunities for students to tackle challenges and improve their abilities and themselves. As a coach, I work to help players succeed on the court and off. I believe in challenging the limits players sometimes place on themselves. I believe in working with them to develop with their teammates to be part of something bigger. I think a key factor in coaching is preparing the players for game situations and putting them in positions where they can find the most success. As the season progresses, I hope to help each player find their intrinsic drive to improve, compete, and mature as an athlete and a person.
Coach:
James Booth
Volleyball Experience:
This season, Coach James enters his third year at LHS as the Level 4 Coach. He has been a volleyball player for over 40 years, and a coach for eight years.
Coaching Philosophy:
I have been a Volleyball player for over 40 years and a Coach for 8 years, and I am as passionate for the sport as I was in 5th grade. My philosophy is in development, but I’m pretty big on getting the players out of their comfort zones and molding them. I use a progressive system on every drill, depending on the skill level of the team. I will ask every player at our first meeting what their individual, team, and future goals are. I did this in 2017 and it was very helpful in trying to guide each player and still instruct the team. I feel in 2019 we will define our program as Strong, Confident and Connected. We will enforce positivity and growth and encourage empathy and compassion. We will provide the fundamentals and techniques that can be the basis for achieving the next series of goals. We will create “trust”.
James Booth
Volleyball Experience:
This season, Coach James enters his third year at LHS as the Level 4 Coach. He has been a volleyball player for over 40 years, and a coach for eight years.
Coaching Philosophy:
I have been a Volleyball player for over 40 years and a Coach for 8 years, and I am as passionate for the sport as I was in 5th grade. My philosophy is in development, but I’m pretty big on getting the players out of their comfort zones and molding them. I use a progressive system on every drill, depending on the skill level of the team. I will ask every player at our first meeting what their individual, team, and future goals are. I did this in 2017 and it was very helpful in trying to guide each player and still instruct the team. I feel in 2019 we will define our program as Strong, Confident and Connected. We will enforce positivity and growth and encourage empathy and compassion. We will provide the fundamentals and techniques that can be the basis for achieving the next series of goals. We will create “trust”.