Menlo News May 28, 2019

Knights welcome Holland as head volleyball coach

Longtime assistant helped lead the Knights to state title in ’16
Menlo's Tony Holland coaches the Knights during the Chandler Invitational.

5.28.2019 – Menlo School welcomes back a familiar face in Tony Holland as he takes the reins as head volleyball coach.

Holland, a longtime Knights assistant coach and club head coach, is set to lead the two-time league champion and three-time CCS Open contender.


“Tony exemplifies the character and leadership traits of a Menlo School coach. He has coached in the Menlo program for six years and he had had a daughter play in the program,” Director of Athletics Earl Koberlein said. ”He understands the importance of academics at Menlo and recognizes the balance between academics and volleyball.  He truly cares about the student-athletes, is passionate about volleyball and Menlo, and the girls will thrive under his leadership.”

Holland has worked as an assistant varsity volleyball coach for the past six seasons, the last three under Marco Paglialunga, who returned to Italy to lead the U24 national team in the world games.

During those six seasons, Menlo volleyball made program history. After becoming NorCal champions in 2013 then again three years later, the Knights won their first state championship in 2016.   

In 2013, the Knights won the CCS Div. IV Championship then won a NorCal title for the first time since 2002. Menlo volleyball has won five league titles in the past six seasons.  

Holland not only is a seasoned high school coach, he also has been a club coach for nearly a decade. He has directed teams with players from 12 years old through elite 18s, and is currently head coach for Vision 16s.

“The Menlo School volleyball program has a long history of success both on the court and in the classroom. I am humbled by their faith in me to lead this group of special student-athletes,” Holland said.

Holland inherits a young team with the graduation of five: Anna Guiragossian, Riley Holland, Sianna Houghton, Grace King and Selina Xu.  

“While that experience is not easily replaced, I am confident that the mental make-up and work ethic of our student-athletes will successfully fill that void in very short order. My expectations from each player and coach in our program, at all levels, is nothing short of their best effort whenever we take the floor,” Tony Holland said. “Our goal is to improve with every rep, every practice, every match. I believe that when we play hard, play together and have fun the results will reflect that effort.”