Al's Volleyball Background

It's somewhat ironic that I got involved in volleyball, considering my first volleyball experiences. My freshman year of high school was at St. Joseph's College in Yokohama, Japan and I can only remember ducking for cover as the other guys in my PE class cranked the ball.

During my college years at Umass, Amherst I took a volleyball course through the Physical Education Department and a group of us decided to form a men's club team to play intercollegiate volleyball in the NECVL. After playing for a couple of years, I continued to coach the men's club and was the assistant coach for the women's team at Umass. While coaching there, I earned my "regional" and "national" coaching certification and was a charter member of the American Volleyball Coaching Association.

I tried to extend my childhood at UMass as long as I could, but eventually I had to get a "real job" and get married, have children, etc. I took the head coaching job at Holy Cross College in 1983 and coached there for 5 seasons. Here's a PDF file of the History of Holy Cross Volleyball from the 2005 Media Guide.

Since leaving college I've played and coached men's club ball at various clubs and teams and have participated as a coach and player in the Bay State Games since its inception in 1981.

During the 1990's I served for four years as the commissioner for the New England Region, for USA Volleyball, the national governing body for the sport.

I have served as the volleyball coach at Cushing Academy, Wachusett High School and St. John's High School.

I have completed my level I and II coaching certification in the USAV's Coaching Accreditation Program and hope to complete Level III as soon as the stars align and I can get out to Colorado Springs.