Tag Archives: High School Coach

Victor Rivera

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With over 30 years of coaching experience at the high school, club, and collegiate levels, Victor has dedicated his career to developing athletes and building championship caliber programs.

Victor currently serves as the Director of Player Development for the Husky Volleyball Club in Hartford, Connecticut and as the assistant varsity girls’ volleyball coach at both Glastonbury High School and South Windsor High School.

Victor coaching journey with the Husky Volleyball Club began as the Head Coach of the 18-1 National Team (2003-2014), as well as the Head Coach for the Husky 15-1 National Team (2022-2024). He was also the Regional Court Coach Director (2018-2021), where he helped elevate player performance and coaches at the regional level.

At the high school level, Victor has led several programs, including:

* Head Coach, Girls Volleyball, Maloney High School, Meriden, Connecticut  (1999-2006) and (2012-2015)

* Head Coach, Girls Volleyball, Middletown High School, Middletown, Connecticut (2009-2011)

* Head Coach, Girls Volleyball, East Hampton High School,  East Hampton, Connecticut (2008-2009)

* Head Coach, Boys Volleyball, Maloney High School, Meriden, Connecticut (1998-2004)

* Head Coach, Platt High School, Meriden, Connecticut (1996-1998)

Victor’s collegiate coaching experience includes serving as the Assistant Women’s Volleyball Coach at the University of Hartford in Hartford, Connecticut (1994-1995). He would then spend a decade working with athletes at the Connecticut Juniors Volleyball Club in Woodbridge, Connecticut, leading the 15’s, 16’s, and 18’s teams from (1992-2002)

Throughout his career, Victor has guided teams to their highest achievements, including:

* 1999 Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC Class M State Championship with the Maloney Boys’ Volleyball team.

* 2002 Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference CIAC Class L State Championship with the Maloney Girls’ Volleyball team. This team had a record of 25-0, finished the season ranked #1 in Connecticut, and was inducted into the Maloney High School Hall of Fame Class of 2014.

Over the course of his career, Victor guided his teams to numerous accolades, including: 34 All-Conference players, 8 All-State players, 1 Gatorade Player of the Year in 2002 Leah Hettrick, Connecticut Women’s Volleyball Hall of Fame (CWVBHF) inductee in 2012, 1 NCAA Collegiate All-American, Central Connecticut Conference (CCC) Champions in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005 and CCC Tournament Champions in 2000, 2002, and 2005.

Victor is passionate about cultivating athletes’ skills, fostering character, and preparing them for success on and off the court. Victor has led the popular Senior All-Star Game since 2014 and is currently the Athletic Director at Weaver High School in Hartford, Connecticut.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Michelle Abraham

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Michelle Abraham was born and raised in New Britain, Connecticut. She is the daughter of Rosalie and Edward Abraham. Michelle is a proud product of a supportive family and the New Britain Public Schools.

Graduating from New Britain High School in 1985, she was a three-sport letter recipient: volleyball, basketball, and softball. Upon graduating Michelle matriculated to Central Connecticut State University where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education, a Masters’ degree in Reading Instruction, as well as a 6th year degree.

Prior to attending Central Connecticut State University, legendary softball Coach Ron Pringle recruited Michelle to lead his team as a pitcher. Fulfilling her destiny, Michelle went on to star for the Blue Devils. Some of her career pitching highlights are an ERA Earned Run Average of 2.29, total innings pitched 329, with 47 complete games while capturing 25 career wins. In 1988 Michelle received the Central Connecticut State University Scholar Athlete Award. Michelle considers Coach Pringle as her biggest influence for her coaching career. He was a mentor, coach, and most importantly a friend in the hardest times. His compassion for all people and his love of sport resonated strongly with everything Michelle believes in as a coach, educator, and good person.

As a “home grown product”, Michelle continues to be driven to give back to the schools and the community that afforded her many opportunities. She has been a teacher and a coach with the New Britain Consolidated School District for the past 35 years. Ms. Abraham has also been successful throughout her career as an educator. She has taught and mentored students at all levels of education in New Britain: elementary, middle school, and currently at the high school level. As an educator, Michelle was selected as the 2013-2014 New Britain Public Schools- Brookside- Teacher of the Year.

Michelle’s coaching career in New Britain started in 1988 as the head volleyball coach, taking over for well-known Coach Bill Ackerman and has been New Britain’s Head Coach for 38 seasons. In addition to coaching volleyball Michelle coached girls’ basketball as an assistant coach (1988-2003) with Hall of Fame Coach and long-time friend Beryl Piper.

During her reign as head volleyball coach, Michelle has recorded an overall record of 371 wins and 354 losses. Her teams have qualified for the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) State Tournament a total of 20 seasons. Appearing in 6 quarter finals, earning 5 League/Division Championships, 1998 Runner-up – Class LL with a record of 23-2, and in 1999 the CIAC Class LL State Championship with a record of 25-0.

In 2018 Michelle started a boys’ volleyball program at New Britain High School, which has qualified for the CIAC state tournament over the past four seasons. In addition, in 2023 and 2025 they tied for the division championship. Having an overall record of 50-27 the last four seasons.

Michelle has been named to the Connecticut High School Coaches Association as Volleyball Coach of the Year in 2002, Connecticut Nominee for National Coach of the Year in 2008, The New Britain Sports Hall of Fame in 2016, and in 2018 Connecticut Finalist for National Coach of the Year.

Michelle enjoys golfing, shopping, cooking/baking, and watching many amateur to professional sports. During her free time, she enjoys spending time at the Connecticut shore where she plans to retire with her Labrador retrievers – Delta and Chateau, her family, and friends. Upon retirement she hopes to volunteer at High Hopes disabilities as well as challenging life circumstances.

 

 

 

 

 

Jeff Dyreson

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Jeff was introduced to the game formally as a freshman in high school, where the basketball coach said to prepare for the upcoming basketball season, you should do volleyball in the Fall to get “in shape”. Turns out Jeff was a better volleyball player than basketball player and pursued a collegiate volleyball career instead of basketball.  He was an all-conference player his senior year of high school as an outside hitter and setter.

He joined the University of Wisconsin men’s volleyball club his freshman year and officially moved into the setter position. He was an All-Big Ten selection his senior year while the team was very competitive nationally.

During his senior year of college Jeff got his first taste of coaching. He returned to his alma mater (Madison West High School, Madison WI) and coached the boys freshman team. His competitive spirit started to shift away from a competitive playing career to coaching. He continued to play competitively over the next 2 decades playing in adult leagues and tournaments while also dabbling in coaching boys at the club level in Wisconsin.

After graduate school, Jeff moved to Connecticut in the fall of 1998. He again, started to play in adult leagues and tournaments and in 2001 he was offered the assistant girls varsity coach at The Loomis Chaffee School.  9/11/01 was his first day of coaching girls and the rest is history. He became the head varsity coach in 2004 and has remained in that role for the past 20 years. Jeff has transformed the program to become amongst the elite in New England Prep School volleyball. The team earned its first Founder’s League title in 2006 and its first New England title in 2018. During the 20 years, Loomis has won 9 Founders League titles, 4 New England Tournament Finalists, and 2 New England Championships which included an undefeated season in 2023.

Jeff has had dozens of players move on and play collegiately and he is most proud of the relationship he has with his players. Jeff is married and has 2 sons but the volleyball girls are the daughters he never had and considers them all family forever.

Laura Arena

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Volleyball has been a part of Laura’s life since her high school days in Bedford,

New York. She went on to play collegiately at Holy Cross College in Worcester, Massachusetts. Knowing when she started her career in education, that a career in coaching volleyball would be a big part of it. For the past 32 years our volleyball community has been fortunate to participate in Laura’s amazing journey here in Connecticut with 28 of those years at Farmington High School.

Laura’s career record is 519-172 (469-153 at Farmington High School). Highlights at Farmington High School include 2 Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) State Championships (2014 & 2023) and runner up 3 times (2009, 2013 & 2016), 11 Central Connecticut Conference (CCC) titles, 2 International Volleyball Hall of Fame, Annual Girls VolleyHall Elite High School Tournament Championships held in Springfield, Massachusetts and a John Jay Invitational Championship in Cross River, New York.

Accolades recently awarded to Coach Arena include being chosen as the Connecticut High School Coaches Association Coach of the Year in 2020 and a finalist for the National High School Athletic Coaches Association (NHSACA) Coach of the Year in 2020 earning a fabulous experience in Nebraska. As a valued member of the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference committee since 2013, Laura also has been the Chairperson for the CCC since 2012. Running a youth summer volleyball camp for the past 15 years, as well as coaching in the Husky Volleyball Club program are additional contributions made by Coach Arena.

Laura is most proud of the role she has played in growing stronger, healthier female student-athletes for the past 32 years, focusing on the larger picture beyond high school athletics. Each season she looks forward to building a rapport with her team and challenging them to achieve their goals. Laura has continued to inspire her student athletes over an impressive 3 decades.

High school coaches Mike Galu, Stu Wahl and Steve Powis are credited for profoundly impacting Laura’s career. The thought of playing soccer in college was removed through the wisdom and excitement that they shared with her about the “greatest team sport there is – I fell in love with volleyball” Laura shares.

Laura and her daughter Abby will be running the Tokyo Marathon in March which will complete the sixth star for the six World Major Marathons. They have already completed New York, Boston, Chicago, London, and Berlin. Laura remarks that, “It has been the most treasured, challenging, and wonderful experience and to share it with my daughter is the best!”.