Coaching Staff
Mike Gaffaney
Club Director & Coach / Player Development / Recruiting Coordinator
Mike is the current Head Women’s Volleyball Coach at Northwest Christian University. His coaching carrer spans over 17 years at the collegiate, club, and high school levels. His club and high school teams have earned state and national championship appearances, with many of his players continuing on to play at the college level. He was awarded 3 high school coach of the year awards and has help develop youth sports opportunities through the community service and philanthropy. Mike earned his undergraduate degree at UCLA where he was a member of the Men’s Volleyball Team, and received his graduate degree in Athletic Administration at Seattle Pacific University. In 2004 Mike joined the OVC coaching team, at both the 16′s and 18′s level. He is the former General Manager at Eugene Swim and Tennis Club and continues consulting in the private club industry. He has also held positions in the club industry as Athletic Director and Fitness Director. Mike has conducted and coordinated player camps, clinics, and seminars for both student athletes and coaches. He has also assisted at the UO, UCLA, WSU, and Nike volleyball camps, in addition to being the Director of the NCU Volleyball Camp.
Shel Kaiser
Co-Director & Coach
No stranger to the local volleyball scene, Kaiser has been playing and coaching in various capacities throughout lane county for the better part of 30 years. Shel is one of the co-founder of SWVC (OVC) and now coaches the daughters of former players! Shel had a two-year stint as an assistant with the University of Oregon, helping to guide the Ducks to back-to-back NCAA Sweet 16 appearances in 2007 and 2008. He has also coached at Lane Community College, Sheldon High School, and Triangle Lake. He is still an active player in the US Volleyball Association Senior division. In 2007, at the age of 75, he was a member of the USVBA All-Tournament team, and was named the MVP. He has won nine gold medals, 11 silver and 9 bronze in age group men’s USAV National Events. Shel is currently an Assistant Women’s Volleyball Coach at Northwest Christian University.
Joe Skinner
Coach
Joe is currently on the volleyball coaching staff at the University of Oregon and holds the position as Director of Volleyball Operations for the team. He has been with the program since 2007. Joe is a graduate of UO and earned his bachelor of science degree in journalism with an emphasis in electronic media. His professional resume also includes internships for KMTR-16, the local NBC-TV affiliate, and for Cumulus Radio Broadcasting and KWVA Sports. He has also shot video for and edited packages for various collegiate events such as Oregon baseball games, and the 2005 NCAA Track and Field Championships for the Sacramento Bee newspaper. Joe has been an intricate part of the UO Women’s Volleyball Coaching Staff and helped to make their annual summer volleyball camps one of the most attended in the country. As a prep the 2005 Granite Bay High School graduate was a two-year soccer starter, and an all-league first-team and team captain as a senior. The versatile athlete also played prep volleyball for two years, and for the Sacramento Volleyball Club.
Jewel Sward
Coach
Jewel is a long time area high school and club coach with experience developing players at all ages and levels. She brings a passion for the sport that has involved her in every aspect of the game and with many organizations throughout our community. Jewel coaches and volunteers with area middle school programs and Kids Sports organization. Jewel also provides individual player training and development to student athletes looking for specialized volleyball skills.
Brittani Smail
Coach
Brittani was a three year varsity standout volleyball player at Barlow High School in Portland and went on to play at Chemeketa CC where she was an Academic All-Star as a sophomore…named the NWAACC Southern Region Defensive Player of the week in November of 2010. After completing her junior college playing career, Brittani went on to continue her education and collegiate volleyball at Northwest Christian University in Eugene where she helped elevate the Beacons to their most successful season in school history following the 2012 season. Brittani is a Academic All Cascade Collegiate Conference student athlete. She coached club volleyball in the Salem area for Capital City Elite, and will earn her bachelors degree in Business Administration in the spring of 2013.
Haley Jacob
Coach
Haley joins the OVC coaching staff coming off an impressive 2012 collegiate season where she helped the University of Oregon finish their best season in school history. UO made it to the 2012 NCAA National Championship final match finishing second behind Texas. Haley earned recognition as one of the nation’s top liberos when she was selected to the 2012 USA Volleyball A2 National Team in the winter of 2012. Ranked during her senior season first among league returnees in career digs (1,052) and eighth all-time for UO. During her outstanding career as a Duck, Haley was recognized as one of Pac-12′s top libero and was one of the team’s most vocal leaders on the floor. She was one of four Duck upper-class returnees to receive All-Pac-10 All-Academic status. Haley will complete her undergraduate studies at UO the spring of 2013 with a degree in Education.
Maren Mansfield
Coach
A stand out collegiate player for Northwest Christian University, Maren is the Beacons’ starting outside hitter and is quickly making her mark in the NCU record books. Maren is from Nampa, Idaho and during her high school career earned First-Team All-SIC League honors and was a member of the Boise River Volleyball Club. She is majoring in elementary education and involved in student government at NCU.
Janel Fetter
Coach
Janel is current a member of the Northwest Christian University Women’s Volleyball Team. She was a starter as a freshmen and is quickly establishing herself as a leading offensive force for the Beacons. Jenel is from Mission Viejo, California and played seven year of club volleyball, finishing her career with the Laguna Beach Volleyball Club. Janel is studying elementary education at NCU and when she’s back home in Southern Cal enjoys training and competing on the beach in women’s doubles tournaments.
Cody Banner
Coach
Cody comes to OVC with over 15 years of playing experience both indoor and outdoor men’s including two years with the Open level Regional Champion Downtown Athletic Club Men’s Indoor Team. In addition, Cody has over 10 years of coaching experience including 2 years with Nike University of Oregon Junior Camps, 8 years as the Head Coach for the University of Oregon Women’s Club Team including back to back NIRSA Women’s Collegiate National Championships in 2001 and 2002, as well as the Women’s Collegiate Far Westerns Champions in 2002. Cody has also coached 2 seasons with Webfoot Juniors club program at the 18′s level. He is a graduate of the University of Oregon with a BS Degree in Human Physiology and is Impact Certified (a USA Volleyball certification). In his free time Cody enjoys spending time with his wife, and 5 year old and 9 year old daughters.
Additional coaches’ bios will be added soon…
