MAUREEN "MOE" PEREZ: AN INSPIRATIONAL LEADER
August 4, 2009
SEASIDE, Calif. – Cal State Monterey Bay women’s volleyball head coach Jody Garry hired Maureen "Moe" Perez at the beginning of the summer as her assistant coach for the 2009 season.
Prior to coming to CSUMB, Garry was Washington State University's assistant coach for three years and coached Perez for two of those years. Perez took over the starting setter spot her sophomore season (2005) for the Cougars. In her senior year, she led the team with 23 aces while averaging 11.1 assists per game.
Perez grew up in Colorado Springs, Colo., but her family moved to Vancouver, Wash. the summer before her senior year of high school. At Heritage High, Perez was named team MVP her senior year. An All-State first team selection, she also performed well in the classroom with honors including Academic All-State and National Honors Society.
Recently, Perez sat down to share a bit about herself and what her role will be at CSUMB.
Welcome to the Monterey Bay area, how is the adjustment from the northwest for you?
I have been in Monterey for about two months now and I absolutely love it! I feel very blessed to be here, working in one of the most beautiful places in the country, so I have no complaints! The people here have been nothing but welcoming and friendly. I love being close to the beach and there is always something going on! Of course I miss having my family close by but other than that, the hardest adjustment has been only having one Starbucks by my house. I'm from Washington, if there is not at least three Starbucks on a street than something’s wrong :) All in all I love it here and I am so thankful for this opportunity.
One of your first focuses since arriving on campus was running CSUMB's volleyball camps, how did they go?
Camps went really well! We had a good turnout. I think all of our campers had a great time and became better volleyball players along the way. Camps are a huge part of our program and we really stress the importance of having a great camp experience. I hope those that attended felt they received just that. Our players have done an outstanding job helping me run camps and I appreciate how hard they have worked. Hopefully next year we will have even more campers and we can continue helping athletes improve their game.
What will your primary duties be this year?
My main duty this season will be running our offense. I will specifically train our setters, however, I will have my hand in most aspects of our training. Aside from running our offense, I will be involved with practice planning, coordinating travel, recruiting, as well as helping our student athletes with academics.
You were the setter at Washington State University for three years, what is your most memorable moment?
I absolutely loved my college experience and I feel extremely blessed to have had that opportunity. I wasn't a setter in high school so I had to learn how to set when I got to college. It was a big challenge but I wouldn't have it any other way. My teammates are my best friends and I wouldn't have made it without them. The best memories I have are any that involve just being with my team, whether that be competing, summer workouts, or even just sitting around laughing. We did everything together and I can't imagine college without them. The experience I had at WSU is why I am here at CSUMB, I really believe in building relationships and I value the importance of being on a team and I hope to continue help build that at CSUMB!
What is your favorite aspect of coaching at the college level?
I am here because I am passionate about empowering young women through volleyball. Head coach Jody Garry was my assistant and setting coach at WSU and she had a profound effect on my development as a player but even more as a person inspired me to hopefully do the same. Jody always believed in me even when I didn't and that belief is something that I hope to instill in players here at CSUMB. I love coaching because you are surrounded by people that want to be their very best, that strive to constantly work hard. What could be better than that?
