Mamba VolleyballRegister for Tune Ups and TryoutsTune Ups + TryoutsAbout Mamba Volleyball Academy
Building better athletes.
Better people.
Our mission is to grow and promote boys volleyball by building better athletes and better people.
It is that simple. And that revolutionary.
Develop the person, and the athlete improves too.
We are helping boys grow into confident leaders, better teammates and stronger young men.
The goal has never been only to win matches. Volleyball is temporary. Leadership, mental strength and the ability to respond the right way will serve athletes long after their playing days end.
Where athletes grow and leaders rise.
Our story
We saw the gap. We filled it.
In the summer of 2023, when traditional coaching was not enough for our own family, we did not just complain. We created the solution.
“This will never work. You’re trying to be more than just volleyball.”
That is what people told us when we started. Our initial goal was 40 players. We welcomed 90 in year one. More than 90% returned for year two, and Mamba grew to nearly 130 players. Today, more than 170 athletes are part of Mamba.
Families were hungry for exactly what we were offering. Boys volleyball deserves better than being second fiddle. Parents deserve to be partners in their son’s journey, not spectators on the sidelines.
Families as partners
Parents are part of the journey.
Athletes grow best when coaches and families understand the path and pull in the same direction. Mamba strives to give parents clear expectations, consistent communication, and a meaningful connection to the community surrounding their son.
This is more than watching from the sideline. It is supporting the habits, values, and response that help a young man grow on and off the court.
Proven growth
The results speak for themselves
2024–2026
What makes us most proud is watching players transform from the inside out. Athletes who struggled with confidence become team leaders. Players who used to shut down under pressure learn to thrive in difficult moments.
“If I had remembered to control the controllables like we talk about at Mamba, that never would have happened.”That is when volleyball becomes more than a game. It becomes a life skill.
National recognition
JVA Club of the Month
In March 2024, the Junior Volleyball Association recognized Mamba Volleyball Academy as its Club of the Month. The feature highlighted Mamba’s intentional skill development, leadership and mindset training, recruiting support, and the unity shared by athletes, coaches, and families.
The recognition came during Mamba’s first season, when the program grew from an initial plan for four teams to eight teams and nearly 100 athletes.
Read the JVA FeatureThe Mamba difference
Our Three Pillars of Training
Master the Game
Build the skills to compete and the composure to keep competing when things go wrong. Alongside volleyball technique and game understanding, we teach athletes how to snap back from mistakes, refocus, and be ready for the next play.
Lead with Purpose
Our leadership training teaches Maxwell Leadership principles, connecting those lessons to the situations athletes face as teammates. Taking responsibility, encouraging others, and leading through their actions become things to practice, not just words to hear.
Own Your Future
Each athlete identifies personal goals alongside volleyball goals. We help players take ownership of their preparation, apply feedback, and recognize that their choices shape their progress in the gym, at school, and beyond volleyball.
Better athletes. Better human beings. That’s what we train for.
Investing in the person
Leadership worth practicing.
We invest in Maxwell Leadership training and guest speakers because developing young men deserves the same intention as developing volleyball players.
Through Maxwell Leadership principles, athletes learn to take responsibility, communicate with purpose, encourage teammates, and lead through their actions. We connect those lessons to everyday moments: receiving feedback, responding to a mistake, and choosing what the team needs.
Guest speakers, including WON80, bring additional perspectives on leadership, character, and sportsmanship. These experiences reinforce the habits we want athletes to carry into their teams, classrooms, and communities.
What athletes learn
- Reset after a mistake. Refocus on what you can control and get ready for the next play.
- Learn how to lead. Take responsibility, support teammates, and set an example through your actions.
- Growth mindset vs. fixed mindset. See challenges and feedback as opportunities to improve, rather than limits on your ability.
- Goal setting. Set meaningful goals and connect them to daily habits and actions.
What Mamba means
Better than yesterday.
Mamba means striving to be better every day. Not perfect. Not compared to someone else. Just better than yesterday.
It means understanding that your mind is your most powerful tool on and off the court. It means leading by example, supporting your teammates and refusing to give up on your potential.
Most importantly, it means you are not alone in this journey.Experience that serves the athlete
Our Leadership Team
Mamba is led by coaches and educators who care about how athletes develop, compete and carry themselves.
Club Director
Tony Jalan
Tony Jalan brings more than 28 years of coaching experience to his role as Mamba’s Club Director. His teams have earned multiple conference championships and numerous tournament titles, including Brew City Battle and Dennis Lafata, along with a 2024 national runner-up finish in Boys 18 Premier.
With certifications in leadership development, positive coaching and USA Volleyball’s Coaching Accreditation Program, Tony connects volleyball instruction with the mindset, confidence and leadership skills athletes can carry into everyday life.
- Maxwell Leadership Certified Coach, Speaker and Trainer
- Certified Positive Coaching Alliance Trainer
- USA Volleyball CAP I, II and III certified
Director of Operations
Danielle Jalan
Danielle Jalan coordinates the details that keep Mamba running, from scheduling and tournament coordination to travel arrangements and communication with families. Her work helps athletes and coaches focus on volleyball while keeping parents informed and prepared throughout the season.
As a volleyball parent, Danielle understands the planning and commitment that club volleyball requires. She brings that perspective to Mamba’s daily operations, helping families navigate the season and feel connected to the club.
Technical Coordinator
Jeff Thomas
Head Coach at Edgewood University, CSCS and CPT. Jeff is a 2011 WVC Hall of Fame inductee and earned a USA National Team practice-roster spot in 2006.
- 2006 NIRSA First Team All-American
- WVC MVP in 2005 and 2006
- Four-time WVC all-conference selection
- 2005 MIVA MVP
Youth Coordinator | Mamba 18 Black Head Coach
Gabrielle Strasser
Gabrielle Strasser brings a decade of coaching experience to her roles as Mamba’s Youth Coordinator and head coach of our 18 Black team. She also mentors and supports our coaches working with athletes ages 15U and younger, helping them grow as coaches and develop their players.
Outside of Mamba, Gabrielle is the head girls varsity volleyball coach at Greenfield High School, where her teams have won conference championships.
She brings 15 years of competitive playing experience, including nine years of club volleyball and two years of collegiate club volleyball. Her playing accomplishments include a Chicago Qualifier championship, Conference Player of the Year honors, and four All-Conference selections.
Her work as a coach and educator has earned recognition as Woodland Conference Coach of the Year, Teacher of the Year, and 2026 Badger Region Boys Club Coach of the Year.
Your next step
Find your place at Mamba
Explore team levels and upcoming tryouts for the 2026–27 club season.
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