Denise Sheldon
Director and Head Coach
Denise Sheldon is in her seventeenth year coaching volleyball and her second year at Peninsula Juniors and the Peninsula Tribe, serving as club director.
Denise performs all administrative functions for PJV and the Tribe and is an active coach. She has coached most recently for the Peninsula Juniors 16 Gold team in 2010 and previously founded the volleyball program at St. Francis Central Coast Catholic High School in Watsonville, where she worked in administration and coached from 2004 - 2009. In her five years at St. Francis, Denise lead the team to the CIF State Tournament in its second year as a varsity program, progressing through the CIF Tournament to become Northern California runner-up in 2006 and 2008, and winning the CCS Championship in 2008. Denise was honored as the 2006 Santa Cruz Athletic League Coach of the Year and with a 2008 CCS Championship Coach Award. In 2006 Denise also founded and coached for the non-profit organization, Pacific Performance Volleyball Club, serving the southern Santa Cruz County community.
Denise also coaches with the NCVA High Performance program, having coached International Youth Teams at USA Volleyball's High Performance Championships in 2009 and 2010. In 2008, Denise was chosen as a coach to the NCVA International Junior Team that trained with the Austrian Youth National Team in Eisenerz, Austria and played in the European Global Challenge Tournament in Pula, Croatia. In addition, Denise is a coach with USA Volleyball's High Performance Program, working to train the nation's elite players at High Performance Camps across the country, teaching techniques and systems from the USA National Team. In June of 2010, Denise traveled with and coached a college-level USA Development Team in a tour of Brazil, training with and competing against the Brazilian Youth National Team at the National Training Center in Saquarema, Brazil, and competing against professional teams in the Brazilian Super League.
Denise has dual degrees in Psychology and Criminal Justice from the University of Nevada and a masters degree in Sports Management. Denise is a USA Volleyball CAP II certified coach, a USA Volleyball IMPACT instructor, and a member of USA Volleyball's Grassroots Commission.
As a player, Denise was a prep standout at Sacred Heart Preparatory in Atherton where she lead the squad to back-to-back CIF State Championships in 1995 and 1996, and was honored as the Division V State MVP in those years. Denise played intercollegiate volleyball on full scholarships at Fordham University in New York in 1997; Cabrillo College in 2000, where she earned 1st Team All-America honors; and completed her college career playing for the Top 25 ranked University of Nevada, Reno, where she earned 1st Team Academic All-Conference honors. Following the completion of her eligibility, Denise played volleyball in Europe with Bring It Promotions, playing in Germany, Czech Republic, and the Netherlands. Denise continues to play volleyball, participating in the NCVA women's program, playing on IVL (Industrial Volleyball League) teams, and playing recreationally in grass and beach tournaments.
Shelley Signori
Head Strength and Conditioning Coach
This is Shelley's second year working with Peninsula Juniors. Shelley is a certified personal trainer (through the National Academy of Sports Medicine ) and the founder of Beyond Fitness. She is a graduate and volleyball alumnus of Notre Dame, Belmont and Santa Clara University. While in high school she also played for four years at PJV. Shelley graduated from Santa Clara with a degree in marketing in 2007 and has worked in sales for the past two years. She has a thriving business as a health and fitness coach, providing in-home personalized training and nutritional consultation.
Tony Johnson
Strength and Conditioning Assistant
This is Tony's second year with Peninsula Juniors. Tony is a personal trainer, volleyball player, and coach who played volleyball in junior high school and high school. Tony also competed in track and field, where he was a three-time state champion in the high jump. Tony was also invited to try out for the 1996 Olympic trials, which he describes as the most exciting moment of his life. Tony competed in track and field at West Valley College, where he still holds the record for the high jump. Tony attended the National Academy of Sports Medicine where he earned his personal training certification, and has studied physical therapy and sports injury prevention and management. He has also coached track and field at Del Mar High School.
Board of Directors
Chris Balestrieri – PJV Coaches’ Representative
Eric Ballelos – Tribe Coaches’ Representative
Stephanie Contreras – Facilities Coordinator
Steve Fox – Website Coordinator
Kris Johnson – Chairman
Linda Lucido – Secretary and Public Relations Coordinator
Sara Medina – Treasurer and Uniforms Coordinator
Kim Wilkes – Equipment Coordinator
