Coach Bios

Name: Chelsea Pascual  

Email: chelseapascual22@gmail.com

What sports did you play in High School/College? I played badminton and basketball in High School and continue to compete in Badminton Tournaments hosted by different Badminton Clubs.

College(s) attended/major?  I currently attend UC Davis majoring in Human Development with a minor in Psychology.

Why do you coach or brief description of your coaching philosophy? I wanted to coach Napa High’s Badminton team specifically because I wanted to give the students opportunities I didn’t have when I played for Napa High. I want to change the image and narrative tied to badminton and how many people don’t see it as a sport. Many fail to see that it is more than a backyard sport and it is as competitive as any other sport depending on the program and the coaches.

What do you love most about coaching? I love seeing the improvement of every athlete in a short amount of time. I look at my team now, and I forget that we’ve only been coaching them for less than a few months. They’ve improved so much that it’s hard to believe that those improvements were achieved in 3 months. I also love seeing the development of my players. Luckily for us, the current badminton team are mainly 9th and 10th graders. They have so much time to get better.

Who is your favorite professional sports team to watch? I am a really big Warriors fan!

What is a strange fact that many people do not know about you?  When I was younger, I fell out of a moving van because I didn't close the door properly (the van wasn’t going fast haha, they were just pulling out of a parking spot.)

Name: Jason Chatham

Email: jason_chatham@nvusd.org

What sports did you play in High School/College? Baseball

College(s) attended/major? Napa Valley College, University of Redlands, UC Davis (Majored in English)
 

Why do you coach or brief description of your coaching philosophy? I want to specialize in the “student athlete” and have built my career around this concept.  Being able to teach advanced English classes during the school day and then work with some of the very same people-- as athletes-- on the diamond at the highest levels of high school baseball is very much my passion.  

Our work in the classroom and on the field is based on putting growth first.  We are highly competitive and dedicated-- and when we put a laser-focus on growth, relationships, and achievement in both the classroom and the field we can get incredible results as a team and individually.  We want our program to function closely and as a group.  We want to connect.  We want to compete.  We want it to be far more than about our sport.  We want the opportunity to belong to our program to be meaningful and be something that helps us become the best version of ourselves, all while making our school proud.

What do you love most about coaching? The feeling after a great practice is the best feeling as a coach.  We can’t control every detail of game day, but we can control how we prepare for it.  Watching a group of young men improve dramatically as a result of a carefully designed and executed practice plan and seeing the confidence their work instills in the group is just a powerful-- and rewarding-- moment for players and coaches.

Who is your favorite professional sports team to watch? San Francisco Giants

What is a strange fact that many people do not know about you?  I was part of a small group that was invited to sing the National Anthem at a Giants game. How can you say no to that?  So we did it.  And it wasn’t pretty.  Note: I have absolutely zero musical talent.

Name: Head Coach TBA soon

Name: Taylor Willis

Email: taylor.h.willis@gmail.com

What sports did you play in High School/College? I went to Napa High and ran cross country my freshman and sophomore year. I ran the 800, 400 and 4X400 relay for Varsity Track my sophomore year. I played soccer my freshman and junior year and basketball all four years, three of which were on Varsity. I then went on to play four years of basketball at UC Santa Cruz.

College(s) attended/major? I have my BA in Film and Digital Media from UC Santa Cruz and I’m working towards my single subject teaching credential in Social Sciences from Sonoma State. 

Why do you coach or brief description of your coaching philosophy? I started coaching because it was the closest thing I could get to still being in the game, to that competitiveness. Basketball has been my passion for 20 years, and I miss playing everyday. However, coaching has become so much more important to me as I have continued to grow as a coach. Coaching has given me the opportunity to develop relationships and build connections with my players. Our team is so much fun, and part of the joy is getting to know each individual. Even when there are challenges within our team, I always look forward to going to practice and preparing for games with them. I can’t wait to get back onto the court with our team, to meet our new players, continue the grind and enjoy the journey!

What do you love most about coaching? I love seeing the growth of my players every year in basketball and in their lives. I also enjoy getting to know them and how silly they are!

Who is your favorite professional sports team to watch? All Boston/New England sports teams! I enjoy watching the Celtics the most though. Boo Lakers!  I've also become a SF Giants fan because of my husband, and I enjoy watching NFL Redzone for Fantasy Football. 

What is a strange fact that many people do not know about you? I love traveling, and have traveled to 8 countries and can’t wait to add to that list. I also sing and play guitar-- I wrote and sang my vows at my wedding last year. I learned to read in Spanish before I learned to read in English.

Name: Derek Moore

Email: deadlinederek@gmail.com

Derek Moore is in his third season as head coach of the Napa High cross country team. In that time the program has grown to become the largest in the Vine Valley Athletic League. Derek ran cross country in Oklahoma, where he grew up prior to moving in Napa in 1987. Derek's running accomplishments include finishing the Boston marathon in a personal best of 3:08:23. He is a board member of the Napa Valley Marathon/Half Marathon and a career journalist. He lives in Napa with his wife, December, and their two children, Jack and Claire.

**Coming Soon**   

Name: Cory Roche

Email: croche@nvusd.org

What sports did you play in High School/College? Golf/Basketball

College(s) attended/major? UC Davis - Sociology

Why do you coach or brief description of your coaching philosophy? Learn - Enjoy - Practice before winning

What do you love most about coaching? Sharing my passion/enjoyment of golf in a team atmosphere.

Who is your favorite professional sports team to watch? A’s & Warriors

What is a strange fact that many people do not know about you?  (food related, music, superstitions, etc) - I would love to teach Ag/Horticulture classes.

Name: Dan Roberts 

Email: danroberts@nvusd.org

Bio Coming Soon

Name: Sean Capiaux

Email: capiaux@msn.com

What sports did you play in High School/College? Cross Country and Tennis (HS) / Skiing (college)

College(s) attended/major? Fresno State, Enology (major), Chemistry (minor)

Why do you coach or brief description of your coaching philosophy? To give back to the community and provide positive role model for younger generation. 

Teaching a new sport and creating a team culture. Working on developing fundamentals of the game and creating a comfortable environment where athletes can be motivated to learn and communicate with each other.
 

What do you love most about coaching? Interaction with the athletes and teaching them a new sport.
Who is your favorite professional sports team to watch? 49er’s

What is a strange fact that many people do not know about you? I grow the world’s hottest peppers and make fermented hot sauces.

Name: Rafael Ayala

Email: rayala@nvusd.org

BIO COMING SOON!

Name: Adrian Guetter

Email: coachadriannhs@gmail.com

What sports did you play in High School/College? Soccer, Baseball and Wrestling

College(s) attended/major? Arizona State University, Grand Canyon University/Biblical Studies / Theology with a Youth Ministry Focus

Why do you coach or brief description of your coaching philosophy? I coach first and foremost because I love the game of soccer, without a true love for a sport, coaching and playing would be a challenge. I want students to learn to or continue to love the game, develop their skills and play with a passion for the sport and their team. Secondly, sports create the opportunity to build and reveal character, create community and provide a place for students to grow and learn lifelong skills that come with being part of a team.

What do you love most about coaching? What I love most is seeing a player find their place on a team, build confidence and develop a love for a game they can continue to play for years to come.

Who is your favorite professional sports team to watch? I am a diehard Arizona Cardinals fan, but in the world of Soccer, I bleed orange.

What is a strange fact that many people do not know about you?  What people don't really know about me is I am actually quite an introvert.

Name: Ron Walston

Email: rrwalston@comcast.net

What sports did you play in High School/College? Football and baseball

College(s) attended/major? Napa Valley College/Welding

Why do you coach or brief description of your coaching philosophy? I was very fortunate to have great coaches when I played youth and high school sports. I try to pass that on to my athletes.

What do you love most about coaching? I love the game and especially enjoy watching young athletes learn and come together as a team.

Who is your favorite professional sports team to watch? SF Giants

What is a strange fact that many people do not know about you? I don't step on the foul line. Bad luck! (It's a fair line by the way...)

Name: Will Namnath

Email: william_namnath@nvusd.org  

What sports did you play in High School/College? Swimming, Water Polo, Football at Terra Linda High School

College(s) attended/major? UC Santa Barbara: Economics and Environmental Studies; Loyola Law School, Los Angeles: JD

Why do you coach or brief description of your coaching philosophy? I owe so many good things in my life to playing sports as a kid, especially aquatics in high school. I made lasting friendships, shaped my personal identity, and learned about balancing my commitments to athletics, academics and family. I have so many vivid and fond memories of my high school athletic competitions and training. I love coaching at Napa High because of the amazing student-athletes and families we have here. As a coach, I want to provide the best possible environment for our student-athletes to make those lasting friendships, grow as young adults, and create positive, life-shaping memories. 

Exercise and competition are so fundamental to life-long, mental and physical health. The best thing I can do as a coach is to encourage and equip our student-athletes to continue to participate in athletics well past high school. 

What do you love most about coaching? I am beginning my third year as a coach at Napa High. I enjoy most seeing our athletes discover their potential, become leaders, and pass along their wisdom to the next generation of our programs.

Who is your favorite professional sports team to watch?  San Francisco 49ers. Feels great, baby!

What is a strange fact that many people do not know about you?  Pet peeve: people not clearing the timer on the microwave! 

Name: Kyle Cuddy

Email: mrcuddy1993@gmail.com

What sports did you play in high school/college? Tennis, Track 

College(s) Attended/Major? University of San Francisco B.A in Psychology, minor in Music

Why do you coach/coaching philosophy? I believe that athletic competition provides an outlet of expression for many and places an emphasis on the pursuit of representing something larger than oneself. It involves the coming together of a coach and athlete in such a way that both are inspired to push each other to improve both mentally and technically, while experiencing the sense of belonging that team membership fulfills.   I am motivated to coach not only because I would like to share my passion for the sport of tennis, but because I would like the student athletes to be able to experience the fulfillment of inspiring me as well as their fellow teammates.

What do you love most about coaching?  What I love most about coaching is the relinquishing of control over a situation to another and watching athletes evolve as they gain mastery of technical skills and build mental toughness.  Coaching, like teaching, is so dynamic because it challenges the coach or teacher to consistently find new and creative ways to educate those that they are mentoring.  It pushes the leader to be patient, kind, understanding and to have empathy for those in the midst of the learning process.   In essence, it is a worthwhile challenge that I feel is of service to those seeking knowledge.

Who is your favorite professional sports team to watch? My favorite sport to watch is, unsurprisingly, tennis.  I love to watch the Spainard, Rafael Nadal, compete and fight for grand slam championships.  His mental grit and fight on the tennis court is something that has inspired me to work hard on my tennis game over the years.

What is a strange fact that many people do not know about you?  I worked in an italian kitchen for a short time after college.

Name: Marie Dolcini

Email: marie.dolcini@gmail.com 

What sports did you play in High School/College? Tennis (high school/college), Basketball (high school), Softball (high school/college)

College(s) attended/major? Mount Holyoke College/History

Why do you coach or brief description of your coaching philosophy? As my 82-year-old father and I can attest, tennis is a sport you can play your whole life. My coaching philosophy is based on having fun while establishing solid fundamentals and emphasizing good sportsmanship and conditioning so players can enjoy the game throughout their lives. 

What do you love most about coaching? Working with young people and sharing my knowledge and passion for the game with the next generation. 

Who is your favorite professional sports team to watch? I grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, so I'm well acquainted with professional sports-induced misery. That said, hope springs eternal! When it comes to tennis, Roger Federer is mesmerizing for his seemingly effortless strokes and Bianca Andreescu for masterfully outsmarting opponents with her uncommon repertoire of shots. For pure inspiration, I most enjoy watching Diego Schwartzman at 5'7" and Coco Gauff at only 16 years old!

What is a strange fact that many people do not know about you? A lesser-known fact about me: I play cello, saxophone and accordion, started taking online bluegrass mandolin classes during COVID-induced quarantine and enjoy creating musical parodies. Superstition: Cleveland will never win the World Series until they move on and change their name. 

Name: Derek Moore

Email: deadlinederek@gmail.com

Derek Moore is in his third season as head coach of the Napa High cross country team. In that time the program has grown to become the largest in the Vine Valley Athletic League. Derek ran cross country in Oklahoma, where he grew up prior to moving in Napa in 1987. Derek's running accomplishments include finishing the Boston marathon in a personal best of 3:08:23. He is a board member of the Napa Valley Marathon/Half Marathon and a career journalist. He lives in Napa with his wife, December, and their two children, Jack and Claire.

  **Coming Soon**   

Name: Ashiq Khan 

Email: ashiq707khan@gmail.com

What sports did you play in High School/College? High School- Swimming, Soccer, Water Polo; College- Water Polo

College(s) attended/major?  Studied Marine Biology at UC Santa Barbara

Why do you coach or brief description of your coaching philosophy? To coach is to pass on that which one loves. When we choose to do something, I believe that we should strive to do our best. We excel through focus and drive. If we give 100%, we will be our best.
 

What do you love most about coaching? To see each individual arrive and watch a team leave is second most satisfying. To see each individual grow out from that team is most satisfying.
 

Who is your favorite professional sports team to watch? 49ers

What is a strange fact that many people do not know about you?  I love to fish and I hate, hate , hate snakes.

Name: Ignacio Franco

Email: nachitup@me.com

What sports did you play in High School/College? High School - Track, Wrestling and Football; College - Wrestling

College(s) attended/major? Santa Rosa Junior College

Why do you coach or brief description of your coaching philosophy? I believe it is an honor and a privilege to be a coach of any sport.  In my opinion, a coach is not just someone who teaches you how to play a game or learn a sport.  Not to say that every athlete doesn’t deserve the absolute highest quality coaching and instruction, but to me, a coach also means being a mentor, a confidant, a friend, a leader and a positive role model in a young person’s life.

To be given the opportunity to be all of those things to someone, especially these days where so much of this is lacking at home, is truly a gift, one that should be treated with true respect.

My rules and expectations are strict.  It is my experience that kids need and respond positively to organization and structure.  I am firm, but fair and flexible at the same time.

What do you love most about coaching? The ability to share life changing moments that I know will make a difference in athletes lives.

Who is your favorite professional sports team to watch? NFL . Niners

What is a strange fact that many people do not know about you? The smell of milk makes me want to vomit.