NPJ 2023 SALEM COACHES

NPJ STAFF

With over three decades of coaching experience, Adam is our high energy, enthusiastic and winning leader. He started NPJ in 2009 and the club has grown from 2 teams to 56 teams with squads in Salem, Bend, Portland and Seattle. His 18 Forefront teams have placed in the Top 20 in the country at the USA Volleyball Girls' Junior National Championships.

Adam recognizes talent and has a vast network of college coaches to call upon. Every NPJ athlete who wants to play college volleyball has found an opportunity to do so.

Married to Katie Brewington, the couple resides in Sherwood.

This is my 19th year coaching volleyball and my 6th year at NPJ.

I have dedicated my life to helping young people succeed and look forward helping you find the success that you’re looking for.

I love coaching volleyball and have a passion for learning. Growing up I wasn’t the best student, but I worked hard at it and eventually earned my bachelor’s degree in psychology from UC Berkeley. I attended a two-year community college prior to transferring, and I owe everything to my friends and family who supported me throughout the way. It’s because of their love, support, and encouragement that I was able to graduate from my dream school.

Whether you’re looking to make your school team, hoping to play in the Olympics, or just want to improve your game, I am here to help you. I look forward to learning about you and your interests and can’t wait to be a part of your support system.

I have been a coach with USA Volleyball’s national team pipeline since 2005 and have served as an assistant coach and technical coordinator with the Youth National Team since 2010. I am also a technical coordinator for both the men’s and women’s senior national team programs. I also coached NCAA Division I women’s volleyball from 2011-2016. My favorite collegiate coaching achievement was winning the American Athletic Conference in 2014.

My personal coaching goals include wining all age division regional championships in the same year and an 18 Open national championship. I know that winning isn’t everything, so I place greater importance on the value of working hard and giving maximal effort. And so, my philosophy is this: life doesn’t require that you always win at everything to be successful; it simply asks that you always give your best.

Major coaching achievements

FIVB Girls U18 World Championships – 2 Medals (1) Gold (1) Bronze. NORCECA - 2 Medals (1) Gold (1) Silver. USAV Girls Junior National Championships – 4 Medals (2) Silver (2) Bronze. Regional Championships – 5 Titles (3) NPJ Volleyball (2) Golden Bear VBC. State Championships – 1 Title (1) Campolindo High School. Coach of the Year – 1 Award (1) Contra Costa Times Coach of the Year. Top 10 National Finishes – 8 Top 10’s (7) GJNC’s (1) AAU’s. Qualified in Open Division – 7 Open Bids (3) NPJ Volleyball (4) Golden Bear VBC

Courtney has been coaching with NPJ since November of 2014. She has coached at all levels from our developmental programs to the 18s platinum division. 

Last coached 2019 - 15 National Bend &  Assistant 14 National Salem

Courtney moved to Bend in June of 2018 and she lives there with her husband Brenden, daughter Sophie, and their dog Axel.

"My goal as a coach is to have my athletes walk away with knowledge, technique and passion for the game while having a fun and memorable experience."

courtneyshaffer@npjvolleyball.org

Nate started his volleyball career by playing internationally in Europe as a junior, and continued that love for the sport playing as an adult in both the Seattle and Portland areas until his body failed him, and he turned to coaching to fill that hole in his heart.

Nate joins the NPJ family as both the Director of Operations and the Club Director for NPJ Portland.  He brings with him vast experience directing both youth development and club programs as a co-director for YVBA (Youth Volleyball Association). During his 12 years at YVBA, Nate helped grow their club program to one of the CEVA region's top clubs, coaching multiple teams into the top tier (gold), across multiple age groups.

Nate is a avid competitor and a lifelong student of the game.  Constant evaluation and improvement of one's skills and knowledge is something he tries to implement in his daily life, and instill in the players and coaches around him.  He lives in Beaverton with is partner Sarah, daughter Oakley and dog Grayson.

Jen Bolger brings four decades of experience to NPJ as a player, coach and marketing professional. This is her fifth season with NPJ.

For four years prior to her time with NPJ, she was the Membership & Communications Manager for the Columbia Empire Volleyball Association in Beaverton, Oregon, where she managed more than 6,000 members and oversaw a website that was named best in the country by USA Volleyball.

A native of Lothian, Maryland, Bolger played collegiately for Virginia Commonwealth University as a middle blocker, helping the Rams win the Sun Belt Conference championship. After graduating from VCU, Bolger began her coaching career as an assistant for her alma mater before playing professionally on the Jose Cuervo Beach Volleyball Tour in 1987. Bolger was the graduate assistant coach at the University of Massachusetts from 1987-88.

She played professionally for the Racing Club de Cannes in France 1988-89, where the team finished third in the European Cup.

Following her playing career, Bolger was the Director of Marketing for the Molson Pro Beach Volleyball Tour for two years before stints with Club Lauderdale (Fort Lauderdale, FL), McLean High School (McLean, VA), DIVA Club Volleyball (Washington D.C.) and the Washington D.C. Pro Women’s Volleyball Tour.

Coach’s Responsibilities:

1. Provide each player and her family a handbook of protocol and schedule of practices and competitions
2. Establish policies for supervision, training and coaching conduct
3. Provide a communication tree for all families and players
4. Prepare a schedule of drills and objectives prior to each practice
5. Teach proper technique and fundamentals to all players.
6. Teach and model proper strategies for optimal individual skill and team play
7. Communicate clearly to each player her role on the team and redirect her efforts when they stray from the mission
8. Balance hard work, FUN, and discipline during all practices and competitions
9. Provide a positive and trusting environment for all players, including opportunities for reflective discussions and competition debriefing
10. Lead by example: present as a positive role model for all players both on and off the court.
11. Support and encourage all NPJ teams to play with confidence and commitment to winning
12. Prepare each athlete to respond appropriately to a variety of situations that occur both on and off the court.