Coaching Staff
J.J. Gonzales
Director / Assistant Coach
J.J. graduated from Holy Cross High School in 1993 and attended college at the Alamo Community Colleges. His plans are to return to the college life and graduate with a degree in Human Resources.
J.J. started his 18+ year volleyball coaching career within the CYO community holding assistant and head coaching duties for St. Paul’s Catholic School. He would later decide to embark on coaching at the club level and started with Viper Volleyball as a 12’s Assistant Coach. He has coached at the high school level with Holy Cross High School upon its inception of turning coed being the Head Coach of the Freshman team and Assistant Head Coach of the Varsity team. Although he loved getting his start with Viper, he and a long-time volleyball friend decided to start their own club, Top Gun Volleyball. While with Top Gun, he would be Head Coach of a 12’s, 13’s, and a very successful 14’s team for a total of three seasons.
In 2012, he took his 14’s team, and the San Antonio Chief’s Volleyball Club was born! Presently, he is the Director and the Assistant Head Coach of the 18’s team.
J.J. has been married for almost 11 years to his wife, Cyndi, and have two beautiful daughters, Sommer and Izabella. They are his number one supporters!
Marissa Sandoval
Head Coach, 14's
Original SA Chiefs Volleyball Alumni
Marissa's journey in volleyball seems to have been both diverse and distinguished. Starting from her high school days at MacArthur High School, where she showcased her versatility by playing various positions including defensive specialist, setter, and pin hitter for the Brahmas. Her involvement with the Chiefs' national teams further exemplifies her commitment to the sport and her talent recognized at a competitive level.
Continuing her volleyball career at Centenary College, Marissa excelled as the Libero for all four years, demonstrating her defensive prowess on the court. Her senior year particularly stands out, where she amassed an impressive 754 total digs, ranking third-highest in the nation for total digs in Division III. These achievements didn't go unnoticed, as evidenced by her accolades as part of the 2019 All-Louisiana Volleyball Team, where she was named 1st Team all Louisiana and Lousiana Libero of the Year.
Moreover, Marissa's impact on the Centenary College Volleyball program is undeniable, as she holds all the defensive records (digs in a single match, career digs, and total digs in a season). Such records speak volumes about her dedication, skill, and contribution to the team's success.
Beyond her statistics and awards, Marissa's legacy likely extends to her leadership qualities, work ethic, and passion for the sport, inspiring teammates and leaving a lasting imprint on the Centenary College Volleyball program.
Audrianna Martinez
Head Coach, 14's
Original SA Chiefs Volleyball Alumni
Born and raised in San Antonio, Audry fell in love with the game of volleyball at a very early age and began playing club at 11 yrs old. She went on to play in high school at Incarnate Word High School. Audry received her bachelors degree from Texas A&M University and went on to receive her masters in Healthcare Administration from Texas Tech Health Science Center. With a passion for the game and a commitment to player development, she emphasizes not only the technical aspects of the game but also the importance of teamwork, sportsmanship, and discipline. She believes in fostering a positive and supportive environment where players can thrive both on and off the court.
With her expertise, passion, and dedication to excellence, Audry continues to inspire and empower the next generation of volleyball players to achieve their goals and succeed both on and off the court.
Mary Andrews
Head Coach, 16's
Coach Mary's love of all sports, with volleyball being my favorite, started at my local recreation center league when I was 7. Through excellent coaching of fundamental skills training in
those early days I developed into a setter and hitter and played first team and varsity level from 6th through college. My love of coaching started in 1999 with my interest in teaching and developing those important fundamental, base skills of the sport along with teamwork and life skills. I believe accountability, dedication, communication, and hard work play significant roles in reaching goals. Goals must be set and measured to determine if we are progressing and to focus in those areas which need improvement. I have coached at the CYO, club, elementary, middle, and high school levels. I have had great leaders and mentors throughout my sports career which helped me develop into a very successful businesswoman and coach and my goal is to pay that forward to the next generation. Every day I look for a way I can make a positive impact on others. I consider myself very blessed to be a role model for our young ladies as I know it takes a village to raise our children and I am honored to be a part of it.
Certifications:
- USA Volleyball IMPACT (Increased Mastery and Professional Application of Coaching Theory) Certified
- US Center for SafeSport – SafeSport Certified
- Certified Professional Facility (CPF) – Sports and Corporate Teams
- Office of Victim Assistance and Safe Environment (OVASE) Certified
- Red Cross CPR/AED Certified
Sommer Gonzales
Head Coach, 16's
Original SA Chiefs Volleyball Alumni
Sommer Gonzales has been playing volleyball since she was able to hold a ball, but I guess having parents that played all the time helped with that. She attended and played at St. Paul's Catholic School, played all four years at Winston Churchill High School, while playing club volleyball since she was 10 years old. She would then ultimately play at the next level earning herself a scholarship by being successfully recruited to play at Prairie View A&M University.
She is our current 18's Head Volleyball Coach with goals for current and future Chiefs players to focus on their love and passion for the game, not only as a player, but to take the learned life skills to use the rest of their lives - on and off any court and any future endeavors. As Sommer says, "What athletes don't realize is the things you learn and do in club volleyball affect what you do after you're done playing...the same discipline, dedication, team work, and effort will be used every single day".
She is currently attending Texas A&M San Antonio finishing her degree in History minoring in Kinesiology and has just added the title of Head Volleyball Coach at St. Anthony Catholic Middle School all while being a new mom!
Alethea Zamora
Assistant Coach, 16's
Original SA Chiefs Volleyball Alumni
Alethea Zamora is a dedicated full-time college student at St. Mary’s University, pursuing a pre-law track. As a Chief Alumni, Class of 2022, she cherishes her time playing club volleyball, a highlight of her life. With over 12 years of experience in the sport, she now channels her passion into coaching, imparting the skills and enthusiasm she has gained to young girls.
Alethea's dedication to both her academic and athletic pursuits demonstrates her commitment to personal growth and community involvement. Her experience in club volleyball has not only shaped her skills on the court but also taught her valuable life lessons in teamwork, leadership, and perseverance. These attributes have been instrumental in her role as a coach, where she strives to inspire and mentor young athletes, fostering their love for the game and helping them develop their own strengths. Coaching has been more than a job; it is a way to give back to the organization that helped shape her into the strong, independent woman she is today and the importance of nurturing the next generation.
Amaya
Assistant Coach, 16's
Original SA Chiefs Volleyball Alumni