Academy of Art University Women's Volleyball

Mike Gomez began as Academy of Art volleyball head coach in August 2023. In his first year at the program's helm, Gomez guided the Urban Knights through eight five-set matches, a series sweep of Dominican, and ultimately a new ART U single-season service aces record (197) in 2023. The squad was led by All-PacWest Second Team honoree Maya McClellan who ranked inside the Pacific West Conference's top two in both points (4.22) and kills (3.63) per set. McClellan (675) joined Amalie Rupertova (624) among the top three two-year players in ART U history in total career kills (fifth and eighth respectively overall) while Rupertova ended as a CSC Academic All-District selection along with Elly McInerney, nine Urban Knights were Academic All-PacWest Team as well. Familiar with the Pacific West Conference from his stint helming Holy Names volleyball, Gomez brings over six years of collegiate and club coaching experience into his role at ART U. Building the HNU volleyball program to have one of its best seasons since becoming NCAA Division II members, Gomez guided the Hawks to a 14-14 overall record, 9-11 PacWest record, and ultimately seventh place in the conference standings in 2022. Holy Names also finished with three All-PacWest Team honorees, bettering the pair in 2020-21. Gomez, who assumed HNU’s head coach position in 2018, steadily increased the program’s win total each year as the Hawks were a competitive 27-35 overall from 2020-22. The last five years did not mark the first stint for Gomez with HNU volleyball as he served as a volunteer assistant coach for the program in 2016 and from 2010-13. Prior to joining the PacWest in 2012, the Hawks enjoyed tremendous success within the California Pacific Conference both in 2010 and 2011 as Gomez worked alongside two-time Cal Pac Coach of the Year Dwight Combs, helping guide the team to back-to-back Cal Pac titles, a combined 23-0 conference record, and 13 All-Conference honorees including Player and Libero of the Year in both seasons. Outside of his contributions to Holy Names, Gomez has worked as an assistant coach for various Rage Westside Volleyball Club teams in Belmont since 2019. He initially volunteered with the 18-U team in their 2019 run to Nationals then stepped in with the 16-U and 17-U squads who earned open division gold and bronze medals respectively the following season. He has since assisted the 17-U and 18-U teams from 2021 to today, simultaneously serving as a co-recruiting coordinator as well. When he wasn’t spending multiple seasons with Stanford’s Summer Volleyball Camp, Gomez was the head indoor volleyball coach and beach volleyball director for nearly three years with Pulse Volleyball Club in Ripon. He was responsible for all aspects of directing and coaching progressively each year for the 17-U, 15-U, and 16-U and pioneered the beach program which saw three teams earn NCVA regional bids in the program’s inaugural and subsequent seasons. Prior to his most recent role leading Holy Names’ volleyball team, Gomez could be found as the HNU athletics department’s graduate assistant for athletic events and facilities from 2015-17. His responsibilities during that time included preparing event facilities in accordance with NCAA Division II protocols and assisting in the hiring process and management of student staff for institutional athletic events. A four-year starter on the men’s volleyball team at Holy Names, Gomez was a libero and outside hitter and served as team captain for two seasons prior to earning his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English, culminating his academic career in 2017. Head Coach, ART U 2023 - present   Year Overall (Pct.) PacWest (Place) 2023 5-22 (.185) 4-16 (10th) Totals 5-22 (.185) 4-16 (.200)

Nick Monroe began as an assistant coach for Academy of Art volleyball in April 2022 and was elevated to the program's associate head coach/director of recruiting in August 2024. Monroe helped guide the Urban Knights through eight five-set matches, a series sweep of Dominican, and ultimately a new ART U single-season service aces record (197) in 2023. The squad was led by All-PacWest Second Team honoree Maya McClellan who ranked inside the Pacific West Conference's top two in both points (4.22) and kills (3.63) per set. McClellan (675) joined Amalie Rupertova (624) among the top three two-year players in ART U history in total career kills (fifth and eighth respectively overall) while Rupertova ended as a CSC Academic All-District selection along with Elly McInerney, nine Urban Knights were Academic All-PacWest Team as well. Monroe's first year with the program was highlighted by multiple victories in Hawaii, program milestones like Isaura Santos' single-match digs record (39 versus CUI on Sept. 10), wins on both sides of the season series with Dominican, a 3-0 sweep of Biola late in the year, and ultimately a new ART U single-season record in service aces per set (1.67). The squad was led by a pair of All-PacWest Second Team honorees in Amalie Rupertova and Maya McClellan who both ranked inside the Pacific West Conference's top seven in kills per set. Along with Jillian Wheaton ranking third in the conference in hitting percentage (.320) while closing her five-year career as Academy of Art's career hitting percentage leader (.325) and a CSC Academic All-District selection, four Urban Knights were Academic All-PacWest Team as well. Monroe also earned the AVCA Diversity Award. Most recently with Burlingame High School, Monroe headed the girls’ volleyball program and guided the team to not only a 26-7 record but a 2021 Central Coast Section Division III Championship as well. The run marked his seventh consecutive time a team he coached appeared in the postseason. Monroe has also been serving as both a head and assistant coach with Rage Westside Volleyball Club since 2015. Prior to Burlingame, Monroe was an assistant coach with both varsity and junior varsity girls’ volleyball at Notre Dame High School in Belmont from 2019-21. The varsity team finished 27-9 overall and was undefeated in 12 league matches in his first year. Monroe also assisted varsity and was JV head coach while at both Miramonte High School (2018) and Monte Vista High School (2015-17), coaching boys’ volleyball with the latter. His 2018 squad would finish runners-up to the North Coast Section Division II champions. Alongside his career playing middle blocker/right side for Holy Names from 2010-14, Monroe earned his bachelor’s degree in Business with a concentration in Sports Management from HNU.