Club Coaches (2023-2024 Season)
13 Elite & 16 Elite Head Coach
Carlos Luna
Coach Carlos has over 25 years of experience playing and coaching. Carlos is part of the “golden generation” of Venezuela that won more than 20 international medals, including the Pan-American Games in 2003 and several medals in World Championships. He also played in the Olympics in Beijing 2008. Carlos played 15 years as a pro in Italy, Argentina, Greece, Spain, Japan, Qatar, UAE, Finland and Venezuela.
He’s being coaching club for almost a decade now. Coach Carlos founded Luna Volleyball Academy in 2018 to provide premium private training in DFW. Due to the constant asking from players and coaches, Carlos decided this year take a leap of faith to start his own club.
Carlo’s main motivation for starting his own club is to provide another perspective of high level volleyball in DFW. He believes that, high-level players should look beyond college; his mission is for the players to reach their full potential, by pursuing a pro career or getting into the Team USA pipeline.
Besides being the club director and head coach of two teams, Coach Carlos is also in charge of the club’s player development program. Thus, all players in LVA will have the opportunity of being coached by him in September-October during the pre-season, and all skills clinics in the club.
To learn more about Coach Carlos, click HERE to see his bio and sports resume.
13 National & 17 Elite Head Coach
Amanda Gates
Coach Amanda has over a decade of coaching experience. She began her volleyball career in 8th grade, being the tallest on the team, and played varsity all four years of high school. After deciding between basketball and volleyball, Amanda began her club volleyball journey with Atlanta Performance, formally known as Atlanta Boom Volleyball Club, ran by Del Hughes.
After graduating high school at 17 with high hopes of playing at the collegiate level, her dreams were shattered by an injury that she would heal from to begin playing at Point University (NAIA) as a middle blocking and serving specialist. After graduating from Georgia State University with a B.S. in psychology in 2014, she knew that coaching volleyball would be her passion!
Her journey as a coach began at the young age of 19, with her previous club being her first opportunity to learn more about the game and develop. Her club coaching experience includes: Atlanta Boom Volleyball Club (2008-2014), Tsunami Volleyball Club (2014-2019), Dallas Premier Volleyball (2021-2023)
Coach Amanda has been able to bring accolades with high energy with her previous clubs and is super excited to bring her experience and style of coaching to LVA.
15 Elite Head Coach
Nicki Deal
Coach Nicky was Born and Raised in Illinois. She lived in El Paso for 20 years. She lives in Rowlett for three years now. Coach Nicky is wife to Mike Deal (football/track coach at Naaman Forest), and mother to Devean Deal – 19 (attends and plays football at Tulane University), Markis Deal 17- Jr. at Naaman Forest, Zoey Deal 13 – 7th grade at Schrade MS, and Braylon Deal- 13 – 7th grade at Schrade MS.
Coach Nicky has vast experience playing and coaching volleyball.
She earned a full ride to play volleyball and basketball at the NCAA Division 1 level for the University of Texas at El Paso.
Her volleyball resume includes:
95-95 Played club for Rockford Volleyball Club in Rockford, IL – Middle, Right Side
95-98 Attended and Played at Stillman Valley High School 4 yrs. varsity player- Middle Hitter
98-2001 Attended University of Texas at El Paso on a full scholarship for volleyball- Right Side Hitter, Middle Hitter
99-2001 Played basketball for the University of Texas at El Paso – Center
Coached at Nike Camps- 2000, 2001 ( at UTEP)
Coached many camps over the years
Elementary PE teacher for 9 years
High School Health, PE, and weight training teacher for 9 years
Head Coach for High School 5A for 7 years
Head Coach for High School 6A for 8 years
Currently the Head Coach at Naaman Forest High
Coached Club volleyball for Sunspot, Texas Heat, Elite Performance Volleyball – in El Paso for a total of 7 years, and Bullitt VBC in DFW for 2 years.
17 NATIONAL Head Coach & 16 Elite Assistant coach
Kirby Anderson
Coach Anderson started playing volleyball competitively during her freshman year of high school. Throughout her career, she has played at the top level of the club, as well as, competed at the Division I level. After graduating high school, she was recruited to play for the South Carolina State women’s volleyball team in Orangeburg, South Carolina, and then decided to transfer to Texas Southern University to continue her education and career. She has been a starter, a captain, a leader, and so much more throughout her time playing volleyball that has really helped her develop. She has had the opportunity to learn the game from high-level coaches and looks forward to bringing her skills and knowledge to Luna Volleyball Academy!
Playing Experience:
High School:
Duncanville High School: Jr. Varsity Volleyball 2010-2011
Duncanville High School: Varsity Volleyball 2011-2014
Club:
ACE Volleyball Club, Arlington: Smack 2010-2014
College:
South Carolina State University, NCAA Division I – MEAC Conference, 2014-2016
Texas Southern University, NCAA Division I – SWAC Conference, 2016-2019
12 &16 National head Coach
13 Elite assistant coach
Kathleen Trotter
Coach Kathleen Trotter brings 14 years of coaching experience ages early elementary to Varsity and 15 years of playing experience from elementary to the university level. She is committed to ongoing coaching development and is certified NFHS Level 3, Art of Coaching, and Gold Medal Squared, as well as IMPACT and PCA. She attended Cabrini University on merit scholarship and played for two years, while pursuing her degree in English and Secondary Education and graduating cum laude. She has worked as a middle school and high school coach for various clubs and schools in the North Texas region, and early in her career in her hometown of New Orleans, LA. Her focus is on building character through relationships and competitiveness. She believes in using a positive approach to give feedback to help players feel safe as they grow.
16 NATIONAL ASSISTANT COACH
Leonard Colina
Coach Leonard brings over 20 years of International and Professional experience in sand and indoor volleyball. He has a degree in Physical Education and has taken several indoor and sand international courses. Coach Leonard was part of the squad that qualified Venezuela for the second time in history for the Olympics (Tokyo 2020). He also played professionally in Finland and Venezuela and internationally in the FIVB Beach World Tours. To learn more about coach Leo’s volleyball career, click HERE.
15 ELITE ASSISTANT COACH
Joelle Zurilgen
13 NATIONAL & 17 ELITE ASSISTANT COACH
Allison Jurica
17 NATIONAL ASSISTANT COACH
Amy Light
