Casey Swenson
Varsity Head Coach
Head Coach
This is Coach Swenson’s second year as head coach of the SCHS Girls’ Volleyball program. He is very honored and excited to continue to be a part of the volleyball tradition at SCHS. Coach Swenson grew up in a volleyball family in Capistrano Beach. His mom was among the first to play for the women’s volleyball program at UC Irvine, and she remains an avid beach player. His dad was an English teacher for 40 years and coached boys and girls volleyball at Mission Viejo and Trabuco Hills for 20 of those years. His younger brother Dusty graduated from SCHS in 2002. He played volleyball for Coach Goldstone where he earned South Coast League MVP and All-CIF honors. In addition to volleyball, both Coach Swenson and his brother played football all four years at San Clemente.
After high school, Coach Swenson attended UC Irvine where he played volleyball for Charlie Brande, one of the most successful and influential club volleyball coaches in the country. He majored in History and was a four time Big West Conference Scholar Athlete. His love of history led him into getting his teaching credential at UC Irvine, and his love of San Clemente brought him back to SCHS in 2004 as a teacher and volleyball coach. Since then he has taught World History and AP European History, and has coached nearly every level of the boys and girls volleyball programs.
Coach Swenson was the Girls’ Varsity Assistant Coach under Rob O’Rear for 10 years and is elated to be back with the program that has been such a foundational part of his life in education. He contributed to 7 league titles and has coached multiple players who went on to be All-Conference performers in college. He has experienced similar success on the boys’ side, winning multiple league championships and tournaments on the lower levels, including an undefeated season and two season ending tournament championships in his last two seasons. He was also fortunate enough to coach 2 players who went on to win NCAA championships.
In the last 8 years, Coach Swenson has also been blessed with the start of a loving family. His wife Liz is an alumnus and Math teacher at Dana Hills…which we try not to hold against her! Together they have two handsome sons, Truman (5) and Hendrik (4), as well as an extremely lovable Sheepdog/Lab mutt named Harper. The Swenson family looks forward to spending time in the gym cheering on the Tritons.
This upcoming season promises to be exciting as we look to clinch another league title. Coach Swenson is eager to share the pride in team and community that he has experienced with all of the players on this year’s team. Expect an atmosphere that is inclusive, competitive, and uniquely San Clemente. We may all come from different levels of playing experience or clubs, but here, we are truly #OneTownOneTeam. Go Tritons!!
Matt Miller
Varsity Assistant Coach
Asst. Varsity Coach
Matt Miller has been teaching English teacher at San Clemente High School for the last nine years, instructing English II Honors and Newspaper/Journalism. Coach Miller has been coaching at SCHS for nine years as well, but is entering his eighth season coaching for the Triton volleyball program, his second with the girls’ team. He graduated from SCHS in 2005 as a three-sport athlete in football, basketball, and volleyball. In 2009, he received his B.A. in English from UC Davis with a minor in Education, along with a teaching credential. In 2017 he received his Master’s in Linguistics and ESL Education. This season he is very excited for the opportunity to coach a talented group of players and will focus on providing clear expectations, maintaining communication, building mutual respect and, of course, winning another league title! Outside of the classroom and off of the court, he spends time with his amazing wife Amelia and their dog Valentino.
Sara Hoffman
Varsity Assistant Coach
Asst. Varsity Coach
This is Sara’s 6th season coaching at San Clemente High School. Sara is returning to her alma mater where she competed as a 3 year varsity player. She went on to set at Cal State San Bernardino where she was a 3 time DII All-American. She helped her team earn 4 conference championships and 2 final four appearances. After college, Sara continued playing volleyball for a season in Norway.
Currently, Sara coaches at Laguna Beach Volleyball Club. Sara played at LBVBC and has coached various age groups for 6 club seasons. She also works for Laguna Beach Unified as a special needs paraeducator.
Sara is looking forward to another strong SCHS season and continuing the proud traditions of San Clemente volleyball. She has a younger brother, Dillon, who also played at San Clemente and UCI.
Ryan Talafus
JV Head Coach
JV Coach
Coach Talafus began playing volleyball during summer, prior to his sophomore year of high school. He made the frosh/soph team at San Clemente High School where he excelled during his first season of playing competitive volleyball. He played under Ken Goldstone during his varsity season at San Clemente before graduating in 2007. He attended Saddleback College and transferred to Cal State Fullerton where he received his B.A. in History along with his teaching credential. Coach Talafus will be starting his second year teaching history at Serra High School in San Juan Capistrano.
Coach Talafus is excited to coach this year at the JV level and excited for the opportunity to help the players develop their skills. He is looking forward to having a competitive and exciting season. He will be entering his third season with the Triton girl’s program and recently finished his third season with the boy’s volleyball program. He enjoys spending time with his wife Angie during his time off the court.
Cali Hoye
Frosh/Soph Coach
Frosh/Soph Coach
Coach Hoye
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Freshman Coach
Freshman Coach
Coach
Jack Iverson
FS-B Consultant, Founder of SCHS VB, Game Announcer, and Legend
Program-Wide Consultant, Founder of SCHS VB, Game Announcer and Legend
Coach Iverson feels very blessed and fortunate when it comes to his fifty-ninth year
involvement with the sport of volleyball. He was often in the right place at the right time. As a
thirteen-year-old “jungle ball” player at the San Onofre Surfing Club, three of the best adult
players took him aside and taught him the fundamentals of the game. One of those mentors
was Wally Duessler When collegiate volleyball began in 1962, the University of Redlands’
athletic director allowed Coach Iverson to organize a team and compete in the new league with
U.C.L.A., U.S.C., San Diego State, U.C.S.B. Loyola, and U.C.R. When the C.I.F. decided to
add volleyball, S.C.H.S.’s very progressive principal, Darryl Taylor agreed to let him begin both
the boys’ and girls’ programs. Many of the schools best athletes decided to help establish a
winning tradition. The first “Lady Triton Volleyball Players” included the Bishop sisters Mona
(Ferner) and Wendy (Yoder), Jennifer Adams Beard, Mary McMichael and Sue Enquist. On the
first boys’ team were Bob Yoder, Tom Beard, Carl Eissman, Stan Mathis, Bob Hoover, Andy
Williams, and Kevin O’Brien. In 1976, the boys’ team won the school’s first C.I.F. Championship
over Karch Kiraly’s Santa Barbara team. In 1984, the Olympic Games came to Southern
California for the second time. High school coaches were asked to help in their respective
sports. Coach Iverson was asked by the Olympic Volleyball Commissioner to be in charge of
the warm-up court, and for two weeks was able to watch and learn from the world’s top teams
and coaches. Currently, he thanks God for the opportunity to work with the entire program,
focussing on necessary fundamentals and developing a winning attitude that is necessary to
compete successfully in our great sport!
