Sarah Vasquez is the head coach of Colton High’s volleyball team, but she is so much more. She is a leader, a teacher, and a sterling example for her student-athletes as to how to approach both the game and life.

According to Coach Vasquez’s team, she “pushes all of us to our fullest potential and encourages us everyday,” and “cares deeply about us.”

“Receiving coach of the month is a very humbling experience,” Coach Vasquez said. “I did not decide to be a coach to receive awards or accolades. I wanted to be a coach to share my love for volleyball, make a difference in my community and the girls that I coach.” 

Coach Vasquez’s journey to becoming a coach started when she was seven years old. “I fell in love with the sport and was good at it.”

She played volleyball at every level: youth club teams, for her high school team at CHS, and at San Bernardino Valley College. 

Her success at every level led to a coaching opportunity.

“Shortly after playing at SBVC, I was offered to be an assistant coach while also coaching freshman volleyball at CHS. Two seasons later I became the head varsity coach at CHS and have been here ever since.”

In addition to being an excellent coach, Vasquez is also a Pre-Kindergarten teacher in CJUSD.

“I decided Pre-K would be a perfect fit for me to help children start off with a fun, exciting first school experience to help with their future schooling,” she said.

Coach Vasquez earned her Bachelor of Arts in Child Development at the University of La Verne while coaching volleyball, which she found to be quite challenging.

“School was not always easy for me,” she said. “My girls, as I call my team, really kept me going through that process no matter how hard it was. I knew I had to lead by example.”

Leading by example perfectly describes not only Coach Vazquez’s approach to working with student-athletes, but why she is so beloved by her girls.