Dan Cervantes
In the mid '90s, Dan played volleyball on the Mankato State University men's club team as a right-side hitter, a defensive specialist, a serving specialist, and a setter. The MSU (now known as Minnesota State University, Mankato) men's team plays in the Northern Intercollegiate Volleyball Conference (NIVC), which currently has teams from 17 colleges and universities throughout Minnesota, Iowa, Michigan, North Dakota, Wisconsin, and Manitoba, Canada.
After graduation, Dan began coaching his first girls' Junior Olympic teams in Forest Lake, MN (first as an assistant coach for their 14's team, then as a head coach for their 16's team). During his third season with the Lakes volleyball club, he enrolled in USA Volleyball's Coaching Accreditation Program (CAP) to increase his knowledge and abilities as a volleyball coach. The course consisted of two phases. Phase one included two full days of coaching instruction at the National Volleyball Center in Rochester, MN by Sue Gozansky (Hall of Fame coach, University of California - Riverside), Stephanie Schleuder (Macalester College, former AVCA president), and Rod Wilde (former US Men's National Team member and assistant coach). Phase two required individual study and completion of both the national CAP exam and the American Sport Education Program exam. After the on-court participation and instruction and successful completion and passing of both exams, Dan became CAP (Level 1) certified and gained greater insight and confidence in his coaching abilities.
Dan then went on to help establish the first USAV North Country Region-supported boys' Junior Olympic league and helped to put a boys' team together with the Lakes volleyball club in Forest lake before starting his own boys' club in Bloomington, MN in 2000. After a few successful seasons, he turned the club directorship and coaching duties over to another capable coach in order to focus on other endeavors. A few short years later, he found himself once again bitten by the teaching bug and coached a 15U team in Minneapolis, MN during the 2009-2010 JO season.
Still passionate about the sport of volleyball, Dan can be found playing competitive volleyball in men's and co-ed power leagues as well as open gyms in various Minnesota metro-area cities and continues to play as often as his schedule (and other obligations) allows, always striving to improve (or at least maintain) his skills. By continuing to play with and against other high-level players, Dan is able to observe new techniques and add them to his coaching repertoire, thus ensuring that his drills and skill-building instruction stay relevant for current and future generations of JO players.
Dan is married and has two daughters whom he hopes will also choose to embrace this great sport with the same dedication, drive and integrity that he has always played and coached with.
John Olmanson
John’s interest in volleyball and coaching started during high school when he would help scrimmage the girl’s team and assist the school’s Physical Education teacher with the volleyball unit for the younger classes. He took advantage of an offer to compete at a much higher level of competition during his first years of college in Eau Claire, WI. John was initially trained as a Serve/Defensive Specialist and worked his way to Outside and Opposite Hitter. John now has experience playing every position on the indoor court. He also has experience playing beach and grass volleyball events and has played in various venues sanctioned by organizations such as, NIVC, USVBA, USAV, EVP and MVA, to name a few.
John enjoyed coaching in the early 90’s at the Middle School level, but at that time, decided to focus on playing volleyball. More recently, John’s interest in coaching came back stronger than ever as he has two daughters that he hopes to coach someday. This led him to accept a coaching position with a Minneapolis based Junior Olympic volleyball club for the 2009/2010 season. At approximately the same time, John accepted an offer as JV Head Coach at Como Park High School in St Paul. John has recently accepted an offer to take over the Como Park program as Head Varsity Volleyball Coach and is looking forward to the challenge and is excited about the program’s potential.
Being a student of the sport and a coach that is passionate about teaching volleyball, he prides himself on communicating and connecting with his teams/players. John works hard to keep everything balanced, or for those who know him “fun and focused.” John has also taken every opportunity to expand his volleyball and coaching knowledge and to continue learning how to be a more complete coach.
- Member of AVCA (American Volleyball Coaches Association)
- USAV Coaching Accreditation Program (CAP) – Level II
- Member of USAV as a Club Ddirector and Junior Olympic Coach
- USAV IMPACT certified (Increased Mastery & Professional Application of Coaching Theory)
- Various other clinics as both a participant and coach (MSU - Coaching Concepts, Pat Powers VB Clinic, etc…)
John’s passion for volleyball is obvious to those around him. You can find John competing in local power leagues, local and regional tournaments throughout the year or just playing pickup volleyball at a local open gym, beach or park. He is also often found teaching his daughters Emma and Olivia in the back yard or the sand court down the street.
