AMBER BETTILYON
Amber started playing volleyball at her mother’s knee at 10 years old. Her love of the game grew quickly. At Provo High School in Utah, she quickly made the JV/Varsity team as a sophom*ore playing libero. Her junior year they took 4th in state. Her senior year as a team captain, she played outside hitter. She played 3 years of club ball. Amber coached 2 seasons of club and 1 season of high school. While pursuing her bachelor’s degree in music and minor in ASL, she was always involved in some kind of volleyball; classes, intramurals, pick up play, sand, and grass. She is married and has 3 daughters.
AIDON LOVE
Aidon is a local athlete who is from Monroe NC where he attended Union Academy Charter School. Growing up Aidon swam competitively for his HS and also for Lake Park Swim Team over the summers. In High School he picked up Volleyball and played Club at CUVC and at Union Academy. Aidon currently playsoutsidehitter at the D2 Erskine College and is majoring in Sports Management. Aidon enjoys working with younger athletes and helping them see the joy in the sport.
JESS WALTERS
Jess is a former local athlete who has a passion for sports and youth development. She began coaching volleyball while she was still in high school. She obtained her undergrad at Converse College where she played D2 lacrosse, she then continued her coaching in Jacksonville, Florida. After working and traveling all over the country she returned to Charlotte in 2019 and picked back up on coaching. She joins us from CUVC in Charlotte where she coached girls from ages 10-18 at all levels.
As someone who grew up playing multiple sports, she understands the impact a coach can have on an athlete. Jess’ favorite part of coaching a new team is learning what drives an individual to be successful and taking all those different desires to assemble a cohesive unit. Her goal with each player is to cultivate a competitive culture where they can find their self-worth and purpose on the court.
AUTUMN MOEN
Autumnhas been playing volleyball since she was in the 7 th grade and coaching since college.She has coached players at every level from middle school to varsity.She is the currentJV and Varsity Boys Head Volleyball coachat Metrolina Christian Academy where she is also theJV Girls Volleyball coach.She started the boys volleyball team at Metrolina, and in only two years has grown it to have both a JV and Varsity team. While competing with schools 4-5 times their size, both boys teams finished with very successful winning seasons.The boys JV team’s inaugural record was 9-1,and boys Varsity finished with a record of 10-6.In addition, the boys varsity team finished in the top 8 in the state of North Carolina.The girls JV team finished with a record of 15-2.
Prior to coaching at Metrolina,Autumnlead the Northside Christian Academy Varsity Girls team to its first winning season in over 10 years.Autumnis thewife of her high school sweetheart andmother to 3 young men.She enjoys working out at the gym, reading, laughing, and enjoying life.
JULIA GRANATO
Julia is a former College Club Player and Manager. She playedoutside hitter/setter and enjoys teaching and learning. She was selected to play internationally in Europe in 2014 and currently works for CMS as a Speech Therapist. She has 12 years of playing experience and is excited to have her own team and to compete as a NC Gold coach this next season as our 15U coa
MADYSON DOMSTER
Madyson is from Olean, New York and she has a BachelorsDegree in exercise science and she is currentlyworkingon her Masters Degree in Sports Management with a specialization in Coaching at Wingate University. Madyson has been workingas a student assistant with the Wingate Volleyball team for 2 years and she is currently the Head Varsity Girls Coach & JV/Varsity Mens Head Coach at Union Academy Charter School. During her High School years her team won a State Championship, she played beach volleyball winning a National Qualifier and played Club at Octane Volleyball Club. She is ready to put all her knowledge and expertise into coaching at NC Gold Volleyball Academy and we are thrilled to have her leading our 15U and 17U teams.
ZACH ROY
Zach started playing volleyball at the age of 15, playing both high school and club. He continued his volleyball experience at Clemson, where he started on the men’s club team for 3 years. In his time there, he was the Vice President & Player Coach of the Men’s Club team. In his free time Zach enjoys playing sand and indoor with friends, and helping friends learn the basics of volleyball!”
James Wilde
James was a former OH and Bronze JR Olympic Medalist. He has served as a Club coach for the last 5 years and is has quite a FAMILY Volleyball legacy. He will be our NC GOLD Boys Lead Coach and will assist with the Girls program. James is a wealth of knowledge and has proven to be an important part of helping NC Gold grow and keeping us a solid path.
Tricia Foster
Tricia Foster played both club and high school volleyball in California. She then went on to play volleyball at a D1 college in Texas called SFASU.
She began her club career in California coaching for Empower volleyball club, and Laguna Beach Volleyball Club. Her last year coaching in California she lead her 13s team to be a top 5 team in SCVA. She moved to North Carolina and began coaching a top 12s team at CUVC and ended the season with multiple Gold medals finishing in the top 80 in the country. This past year Tricia lead her 13 open team at CUVC to take home 6 Gold medals and taking 5th place in the Gold division of Premier at AAU nationals in Florida with a record of 52-11 and winning THE MOST VICTORIOUS TEAM in the club. Her 13U team ended the season 35th in the Country! She is currently an Assistant Coach at Nations Ford High School and NC Gold is excited to have her lead our & 16U teams to Victory!
KJ JACKSON
CoachKJis a highly experienced volleyball coach with over 12 years of coaching experience, who has worked with athletes of various ages and skill levels in and around Charlotte. Her passion for the sport of volleyball began over 20 years ago when she first stepped onto the court as a freshman in high school. She quickly earned a spot on the varsity team among upperclassmen and was a key player in their team's victory at the State Championship that year. As a team captain for all 4 years she received multiple awards for her contributions to the team.
After graduating, CoachKJcontinued to pursue their passion for volleyball by accepting a D1 recruitment offer to join the NC A&T State University Volleyball team. She transitioned into coaching after college and has since trained and coached athletes of all ages, including 10-17 year-olds in clinics, high school and travel club teams, as well as adults. With a coaching style that emphasizes the importance of teamwork, communication, and a growth mindset. CoachKJis committed to helping each athlete she works with achieve their full potential both on and off the court. She is dedicated to providing a fun, safe and supportive learning environment.
Aaron Decker
Aaron has over 20 years of volleyball coaching experience at many different levels including: volley tots, JV, Varsity, club volleyball at the local, regional and national levels, volunteer assistant Division 1 (St Bonaventure University). I have coached both boys and girls at the JV and Varsity level. I was responsible for starting the club volleyball scene and volley tots (youth) program in Cattaraugus County in South Western New York. With the assistance of current Virginia Tech assistant Volleyball Coach and former head coach at St Bonaventure University, John Wasielewski, we started COBRA Volleyball Club based out of Olean, NY. As club director, I was responsible for all aspects of the club. As a head coach in COBRA, I coached national teams at the 15U-18U level, as well as assisted with 13U-14U national teams. Our teams competed up and down the East Coast and made several appearances at Nationals. As a high school coach, I coached the Portville Lady Panthers volleyball teams. I coached both JV and Varsity and led the Lady Panthers to the school’s first State Championship in 2008. I was named WNY Coach of the Year. I also coached Boys Varsity Volleyball at Cuba Rushford High School for 2 seasons. I am truly a student of the game as can be seen by my massive collection of coaching videos, books and notes from having attended numerous AVCA coaches Conventions and clinics hosted across the country by some of the best college and Olympic coaches. I attained CAP III level coaching certification through USA Volleyball. I look forward to sharing my love and passion for the game of volleyball with the NC GOLD Volleyball Club as a whole, but especially for the athletes and parents I will be working directly with.
