ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – Lewis University women’s volleyball Coach Lorelee Smith has announced the hiring of Esai Velez as the program’s assistant coach on Monday (Aug. 22).
“We are very excited and lucky to have Esai join our coaching staff,” Smith said. “He brings amazing gym energy and a very intelligent outside view. Esai has a very experienced background in coaching volleyball. “We will be able to learn from one another and help the Lewis women’s volleyball Flyers take a step forward towards their goals.”
Velez joins Lewis after spending the last three seasons as the head women’s volleyball coach at Iona College, an NCAA Division I school in New Rochelle, New York. Prior to Iona, Velez was the assistant coach at Hofstra University for five seasons, where he helped lead the team to 112 wins.
“I feel honored and privileged to be joining the Lewis Flyer volleyball family,” Velez said. “Lewis volleyball has a storied history of success and I am excited and grateful to join Lorelee’s staff and continue to build on the championship culture that she has instilled. I want to thank Dr. Planek for the opportunity.”
Velez also spent five years as the head coach of the Ace Long Island Volleyball Club in Hempstead, New York as he developed special practice plans and evaluate junior players.
Before his time in New York, Velez spent five seasons as the assistant coach and statistician for the Volleyball Federation of Puerto Rico and Univerisdad del Este in San Juan. Velez received his bachelor’s degree in secondary education from the University of Puerto Rico in May 2011 then went on to the Universidad del Estate for his master’s degree in public affairs in May 2013.
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