Girls
Boys
2025/26 Girls Coaches
Chan Esperas
Club Director & U16 Hybrid Indoor Head Coach
Chan Esperas has over 28 years of experience in volleyball. While most of it is from the indoor scene, he has transitioned to coaching beach volleyball. With coaching beach as a new discipline, he spent endless hours analyzing the game. He studied core fundamentals, strategies, and tactics from multiple resources. Chan has established a network of coaches and attends clinics and formal coach training programs to develop his coaching style. As a member of USAV, JVA, AAU, AVPA, AOC, and AVCA he has access to a vast library of resources to help develop himself and his athletes. This commitment has lead his team to win multiple national bids over the past few years. Kōkua Beach Volleyball Club was formed when he saw an opportunity to help (kōkua) the athletes of the beach community grow their game. We have gathered the greatest minds available to provide the best training and opportunities for our ohana to compete at the highest level they can achieve.
Jeff Witherow
U18 Head Coach & U12 Head Coach
With over 12 years of experience as a club coach and 6 years as a high school coach, including his current role as the head coach for Central Valley High School, Jeff brings a wealth of knowledge and dedication to athlete development. As a private trainer for the past decade, he has honed his skills in fostering individual talent while building team camaraderie. His coaching philosophy centers on pushing the limits of every athlete, regardless of age or skill level. He believes that players are capable of achieving more than they often realize, and this growth should always align with the joy of the game. Ultimately, teams that play for one another and share a love for the sport will consistently outshine those with mere individual talent.
Terry Veile
U18 Assistant Coach
A Spokane native, Terry grew up immersed in volleyball while his father coached high school. A standout multi-sport athlete, he went on to set the university record in javelin during his collegiate career. In volleyball, Terry competed at the NCAA Division I level, helping his team reach top-15 national rankings and later guiding a Division I program to the NIVC Sweet 16 as a coach. Terry brings experience from every corner of the sport—coaching at the collegiate, high school, and club levels, as well as officiating collegiate matches. He has coached alongside a good friend who is a three-time Olympian and International Volleyball Hall of Famer, as well as with current Olympians and other Olympic-level coaches. He earned a bronze medal with the Sitting Team at USAV Nationals and has competed in 35 states plus internationally. As a coach for the Evergreen Region Volleyball Association (ERVA), Terry helped lead the region to its first-ever Silver Medal at the USAV All-Stars Tournament.
Heather Darrough
U17 Head Coach
Bio coming soon
Allie Flynn
U17 Assistant Coach
Allie Flynn is entering her second year with Kokua Volleyball Club. She received State Honorable Mention setter while playing at Mead HS. She then went on to play five years of indoor volleyball and one year of beach at Northwest University. During her fifth year, she served as team captain and helped lead her team to earn the NAIA Champions of Character Team Award for Sportsmanship. Allie will also be volunteering with the Gonzaga Women’s Volleyball Team as their team statistician this upcoming season. Allie is very excited to help athletes reach their goals by growing their volleyball IQ, confidence, and performance. She encourages athletes to compete with effort, integrity, and joy.
Abby Tompkins
U16 Hybrid Indoor Assistant Coach
Bio coming soon!
Katie Schueman
U16 Hybrid Beach Assistant Coach
Katie is entering her second season coaching with Kōkua. She has spent the last few years in Illinois coaching indoor at Quincy University and Bradley University. She also has prior experience coaching club in both the Spokane area and Orlando, FL area. As a player, she spent two years at North Idaho College from 2012-2014. She finished her collegiate career at Webber International University in Babson Park, FL where she had the opportunity to compete on both their indoor and beach teams. Her indoor career ended with multiple Sun Conference selections, an undefeated conference record, and an appearance in the 2016 opening round of the NAIA National Championship. On the beach, her team won the inaugural Small College National Championship in 2017. Katie is looking forward to getting back on the court and sand to sharing her passion for the game with her athletes.
Joel Evans
U16-2 Hybrid Indoor Head Coach & U18 Assistant Coach
Born and raised in Spokane, Joel Evans has dedicated his life to sports, discipline, and coaching excellence. A former collegiate baseball athlete, Joel’s competitive spirit and commitment to athletic performance have shaped his journey on and off the field. Since 2004, Joel has been deeply involved in the world of volleyball—both indoor and beach—competing at high levels and constantly refining his skills. In 2014, he transitioned into coaching, where he has spent the past decade mentoring athletes, building strong teams, and developing a coaching philosophy rooted in hard work, integrity, and growth. Whether training aspiring players or leading seasoned teams, Joel brings a unique blend of experience, passion, and leadership that continues to elevate the volleyball community in Spokane and beyond.
TBD
U16-2 Hybrid Beach Assistant Coach
Bio coming soon
TBD
U16-2 Hybrid Indoor Assistant Coach
Bio coming soon
Kayce Lampman
U16 Head Coach
Coach Kayce, in her third year with Kokua, brings a wealth of volleyball experience and a profound love for the game. Her journey into the world of volleyball started in Spokane, where the sport became an integral part of her life. Her introduction to volleyball was as a spectator, watching her sister play for a few years. Recognizing her growing passion, her parents enrolled her in a developmental team when she was just 8 years old. Thus began her personal journey with the sport that would become a lifelong love. Throughout her teenage years, Coach Kayce's dedication and skill led her to a significant milestone: receiving a bid to nationals during her U16s year, where she showcased her talents as a setter under Coach Chan's guidance. Her high school years were marked by her participation at Gonzaga Prep, and she continued her volleyball career at Spokane Falls Community College. Coach Kayce's coaching journey commenced at LC, where she has spent the three years honing her coaching skills. She has also been a dedicated club coach for the past seven years. Her enthusiasm and commitment to nurturing young talent align seamlessly with Kokua's values, and she eagerly anticipates creating lasting memories for young athletes and their families as a proud member of the Kōkua family.
Kaitlyn Royer
U16 Head Coach
Kaitlyn is in her 3rd year of coaching with Kokua and is the U16 assistant coach. She is originally from Boise, ID and moved up to Spokane to continue her volleyball career at Spokane Falls. Before moving to Spokane she played competitive club for Idaho Crush Volleyball Club starting at age 12 and was a 3 year varsity volleyball player at Eagle High School where she was captain her senior year, lead her team to a 3rd place finish at the Idaho State Championships and earned All Conference Honors both her junior and senior year. She played libero both years of her college career and was eager to move on to the coaching side where she started at Saint George’s High School for the Girl’s Varsity Team. Kaitlyn is looking to help young women feel empowered playing the sport they love and pour back into the volleyball community that helped raise her!
Hannah Reiman
U15 Head Coach
Hannah is in her fourth year coaching for Kokua. Having grown up in the Spokane area, she played middle blocker in high school for Chan as well as at Central Valley HS. Some of her accomplishments in her volleyball career include a team place at state with CV and national bid with her club team. She was also a track and field athlete and holds the high school league record for triple jump. For college, Hannah attended the University of Idaho where she chose to continue her track and field career as a triple jumper. Since moving back to the area, she has sparked her love for coaching. She has coached volleyball at Mt. Spokane HS and track and field at CV for the last 2 years. She is so excited to share her love for competition and volleyball with Kokua, and feels so lucky to be able to come back and create more positive volleyball memories for young athletes.
Meghan Rockwood
U15 Assistant Coach
With nearly 20 years of playing experience, Meghan brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to every practice. Over the course of her playing career, she has qualified for the USAV National Championships an impressive seven times, demonstrating consistent dedication and elite-level performance. She understands the commitment and drive it takes to compete at a high level. Now Meghan is back for her fifth year of coaching with Kokua. She specializes in setting and defensive training, helping athletes sharpen their technique, court awareness, and confidence in key positions. Her coaching style blends high-level skill development with a strong emphasis on teamwork, discipline, and fun. Above all, Meghan is dedicated to fostering a lifelong love for the game. She strives to create a positive, supportive environment where players not only grow as athletes but also as teammates and individuals. Her goal is to inspire the next generation to find the same joy in volleyball that has fueled her for nearly two decades.
Jason Putz
U14 Head Coach
Volleyball coaching is Jason's happy place. He has coached high school for 3 years, middle school for 20 years and counting, and club for 6 years. Jason loves coaching athletes aged 12-14, with the goal of inspiring them to better and challenge themselves, and to love the sport of volleyball. He is excited to coach again for Kokua and have another successful run.
Kalyn Menzies
U14 Assistant Coach
Bio coming soon!
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Joey DeMontel
U14 Head Coach
Joey deMontel is kicking off his first year with Kokua and couldn’t be more excited to join the Kokua ‘ohana! A California native, Joey rediscovered his love for volleyball after moving to Spokane, where he quickly made family out of the community. He stays active year-round, competing in adult tournaments, officiating at the collegiate level, and coaching multiple teams across the region. Joey brings a wide range of experience, from assisting Ridgeline High School in their state championship run, to volunteering at Spokane Falls Community College, and recently stepping into the world of beach volleyball coaching. For Joey, it’s all about creating strong team chemistry and helping athletes grow both on and off the court. He’s passionate, positive, and ready to make an impact with Kokua!
Cassie Moeller
U14 Assistant Coach
Cassie Moeller is excited to join the Kokua coaching staff as a former Kokua beach competitor. Cassie finished her club career with CPA as an opposite and graduated from Mead High School as an outside hitter, where she was awarded an All-State First Team honor her senior year and helped the Panthers clutch the 3A State Championship her junior year. After Mead, Cassie redshirted one year at Western Washington University before transferring to Spokane Falls Community College. Since graduating from Spokane Falls, she is going on to play volleyball at Eastern Washington University. Cassie is excited to give back to the community that gave to her and to sharpen her coaching skills under some great mentors with Kokua, all while sharing her passion and knowledge with the growing volleyball community!
Jake Hillyard
U13 Head Coach
Jake is one of Kokua’s newest additions for the upcoming season! Jake will be co-coaching one of the U13 girls teams and brings a wealth of experience both as a player and a coach. Jake played collegiately at Eastern Washington University for four years, where his team qualified for nationals three out of those four years, with the exception of 2020 due to COVID-19. His volleyball journey began long before college, having played club volleyball since his U12/U13 years. Over the years, he competed across the nation—including tournaments in Canada, California, and Texas. As a player, Jake primarily took on the roles of libero and setter, but he was also a versatile utility player. In terms of coaching, Jake has been actively involved for the past few years. He most recently coached a U18 travel team that qualified for and competed at nationals. He also spent two years coaching at East Valley High School, leading both the JV and C-teams, and served as head coach for a U13/14 team in Post Falls. Jake’s passion for volleyball is unmatched. He’s incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be part of the Kokua family and is eager to share his love and knowledge of the sport with the next generation of athletes. He’s excited for the season ahead and looks forward to what this journey will bring!
Kristin Emert
U13 Assistant Coach
Coach Kristin is looking forward to coaching the 13U volleyball team this season. She has years of experience working with kids and a strong background in volleyball, both as a player and a leader. She understands how much of this game is mental—staying confident, focused, and resilient—because she has faced those same challenges as a player. Her goal is to support each athlete not just in building their skills, but also in developing a strong mindset and a love for the game.
Chanel Phillips
U12 Assistant Coach
A Spokane native, Chanel Phillips joins Kokua Volleyball Club for her first season as a coach. Chanel brings her passion, energy, and deep understanding of the game—especially from the perspective of a libero, her primary position. With years of competitive playing experience and a continued commitment to the sport as an active player, Chanel is excited to help the next generation grow in skill, confidence, and love for volleyball.
Mallory Gonwick
U12 Head Coach
Bio coming soon
Kristen McDevitt
U12 Assistant Coach
Kirsten McDevitt is in her second season coaching for Kōkua. She coached U11 last year and enjoyed every bit of it. She has played volleyball for eight years and has a great deal of love for the game. Throughout her volleyball journey, she has played setter, libero, and right side. Kirsten is a senior at Ridgeline High School. She was introduced to volleyball by Chan and Jamie when they coached her older sister. She started playing volleyball when she was nine years old and fell in love with the sport; she is excited to share her passion for volleyball with young athletes.
Shannon Dayton
U11 Head Coach
A lifelong enthusiast, Shannon's deep passion for volleyball began in Spokane, where she excelled in club and at Ferris High School before becoming a Setter for Concordia College-New York. She has since dedicated several years to coaching, guiding both girls' club and high school teams, and, for the past two seasons, contributing to our boys' program. Shannon is enthusiastic about another season focused on comprehensive player development, shared learning experiences, and cultivating a lasting love for volleyball.
Kenedie Witherow
TBD
A Spokane native, Kenedie Witherow brings a wealth of knowledge and experience as both a coach and a player. Raised with a volleyball coach for a dad, and enjoying a well rounded playing career, Kenedie has the perfect combination of skill, theory and passion to help guide the next generation. Her high school career consisted of three consecutive appearances at the Washington 4A State Championships with Gonzaga Preparatory School, she was named a breakout prospect for the 2024 PNQ Nationals in club ball, and she extended her play in college where she showed her versatility as a libero, hitter and setter. She will also be building on an impressive resume of coaching, training and reffing experience that has helped her to truly understand the game from all aspects. Kenedie is looking forward to joining the Kokua family as it is the prefect environment to support her philosophy that every player deserves to be developed to their full potential and that supporting they player as a whole is the best way to unlock that potential.