Coach Ameile Giampalia is overall astounding: hardworking, understandable, and positive. In the past she struggled with having poor coaches who actually caused her not to like the sport of volleyball, so to make up for that, she decided to become what she herself never had. Many would say she has done an amazing job to prove that she’s not like those poor coaches of her past. After years of being coached by people who made her doubt her love for volleyball, Gampalia turned that into a purpose to become the kind of coach every athlete deserves.
After Giampalia graduated high school, she went to college and studied kinesiology. She has been coaching volleyball for about 11 years, helping so many young teenagers along the way. Her coming to coach at Casa was very accidental, after she had met some girls who were in the volleyball program here at Casa — Edan and Izzie — at an open gym, when they recruited her. Many students would want to show their gratitude to these two players for bringing this outstanding volleyball coach to Casa.
Giampalia mentioned that after she “came to coach at Casa Grande, the players have never been more welcoming.” When Giampalia was in high school, she played basketball, softball, and, of course, volleyball. She worked with strong coaches in softball and basketball, but not in volleyball. She mentioned that during her senior year while she was playing softball, her coach really pushed her to be the best she could be.
When it comes to her own coaching, Giampalia is a very strong speaker when she needs to be. Say her team is falling apart in the second set — she responds by pushing them to be the best they can be by being a little stern. This type of strength has made a massively positive impact on the Casa Grande volleyball program.
She is stern when she needs to be, but she can also be very heartwarming: “I have a grey cat and a dog at home!” she shared. Giampalia is very involved and understanding about students’ lives outside of volleyball, which is a good equality to having when being a coach. Being the head
volleyball coach for varsity one day is one of the many goals she has.
Giampalia states that the most challenging part of coaching is “Sometimes feeling like you care too much.” This is touching to anyone who plays sports, because sometimes when playing, the athletes may feel as if they care more than the coach does.
One of Giampalia’s players, Olivia, shared that “Her coaching style is positive and made me feel valued as a player.” She also mentioned that Giampalia is “always taking in feedback from her players to become a better coach for her future self.”
Coach Amelie Giampalia has made a lasting, positive impact on the Casa Grande JV volleyball team. Her success in coaching truly proves that becoming the coach she never had is one of her greatest accomplishments.
