Coronado, Roper earn AVCA Thirty Under 30 honors

Grand Canyon volunteer assistant coach Keone Coronado and team manager Joshua Roper were recognized as part of the American Volleyball Coaches Association's Thirty Under 30 Award for beach volleyball coaches.

In Coronado's first year on the GCU coaching staff, he helped the Lopes to a 26-8 Lopes record and a second-place finish in the Coastal Collegiate Sports Association after upsetting top-ranked TCU and third-ranked LSU. He was part of the program's at-large berth in the NCAA tournament. Coronado also has coached beach volleyball at Chandler High School and has been coaching the club sport since 2018.

"This award is such an honor," Coronado said. "I'd like to thank the coaches and GCU for giving me the opportunity to work with this great group of people. I have learned so much and am excited to continue growing as a coach, player and person."

roper Meanhile, Roper has been mentoring athletes at GCU for three years, while coaching at the club and high school levels. Roper also competed for the USA Beach Collegiate National Team.

"It is such a blessing to receive this recognition from such a prestigious organization in the volleyball community," Roper said. "It's been my honor to serve this program over the years and be involved in the culture we pride ourselves on. I can't wait to see what we are capable of achieving this upcoming season."

The AVCA's Thirty Under 30 Award honors up-and-coming coaches at all levels of beach volleyball and the recipients serve in a range of roles, from head coach to volunteer assistant to club director. Nominees had to be younger than 30 as of Dec. 31, 2022, to qualify for the award. This new group of "Thirty Under 30" coaches joins two previous classes of beach honorees.

Grand Canyon University Athletics

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