Prep Blog

• Diane Heine - She has coached four different sports over the last decade at the Oak Park private school, including volleyball from 2002 to 2007 and 2010 to the present. She has won three section title and was The Bee's Volleyball Coach of the Year in 2007.
She's worked at Wellspring Women's Center for six years as a moderator for the school club that cooks breakfast every Friday morning for low-income families that live in Oak Park. She also has developed and designed a garden for the women at the Bishop Gallegos Maternity Home.

• Kelly Rhoden - She has been involved with the Nevada Union girls volleyball program in some form or another since 1998. She's also been a JV or varsity assistant with the boys volleyball program since 2000.
She's been the school district fitness coordinator for six years and she became part of the Community Emergency Response Team in 2010.
"Kelly's ability to communicate with her players motivates and inspires them and also helps them to improve," Nevada Union principal Michael Blake said. "She commands respect not through fear but through competence, communication and connection."

• Mike Takayama - He has been the varsity girls basketball coach at Del Oro for 25 years. He was also the school's varsity softball coach for seven seasons.
His basketball teams have won 13 league championships, including seven in a row, and two section titles. His teams have made the playoffs 24 times.
The Golden Eagles softball teams he coached won three league titles, two section crowns and were the mythical state champions in 1994.
A lifelong member of the Buddhist Church, Takayama has volunteered in countless community events and was honored with the Paul Yokote Community Service Award. He's also coached youth baseball, basketball and soccer.
"Coach Takayama does not take days off," Del Oro principal Daniel Gayaldo said. "He consistently projects hope and energy to everyone around him. Over the years, I have been continually impressed with the organization, structure and collaborative spirit that characterizes every venture with which Mike has been involved."

• Janice Williams - She has coached several sports during her tenure, including 16 years as volleyball coach.
She started the girls golf program at Galt in 2000, and remains the only coach in that sport in school history.
She's volunteered as a youth boys basketball coach in Galt, and also runs golf clinics at Forest Lake and Dry Creek golf courses. She's been a coach for the Galt Volleyball Club for 15 years. She's the adviser for the Liberty Ranch Honor Society for three years.
"Every student-athlete has that one coach they will always remember," said Jennifer Van Dyke, Galt High Class of 2001. "For so many athletes who have walked the halls of Galt High School, Janice Williams is that coach.
"She was always there with her support and encouragement, but perhaps the most important value she instills in her athletes is integrity.
"When it came time for me to disqualify myself during a round for mistakenly finishing a hole with the wrong ball, she was the one who gave me a hug and told me I'd done the right thing."