Frankie Valdez

C O A C H

SUNSHINE

Frankie valdez

Frankie Valdez

Club Director

sunshine years

7 Years and counting!

Playing Background

Played for 14 years on the youth, junior, and senior national teams on Dominican Republic
Playing on the international stage garnered him more exposure and he was recruited by Long Beach State University
Played professionally in Venezuela, Turkey, Spain, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic
Won many tournaments and awards, including best scorer, best spiker, and best server

Coaching Background

In 2021 his 18s won the bronze at the nationals in Columbus, Ohio and the 17s took home the gold at the nationals in Las Vegas
His team at Harvard Westlake won the 2021 D1 CIF State Championship in his first year as a high school coach

Coaching Philosophy

bio

About Frankie

Frankie Valdez grew up the Dominican Republic where he played for 14 years on the youth, junior, and senior national teams. Playing on the international stage garnered him more exposure and he was recruited by Long Beach State University. After graduation in 2008 with a BA in communication and Media Studies, Frankie played professionally in Venezuela, Turkey, Spain, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic. Through his years of play he won many tournaments and awards, including best scorer, best spiker, and best server.

He never intended to become a coach but after surgery on his shoulder gave him too much free time, he thought coaching would keep him occupied while he healed. That decision changed his life forever; he never returned to professional play. While he has coached younger players, he now focuses on the 16-, 17-, and 18-year-olds and helping them prepare for collegiate play. Frankie began coaching for Sunshine in 2017. In 2021 his 18s won the bronze at the nationals in Columbus, Ohio and the 17s took home the gold at the nationals in Las Vegas. His team at Harvard Westlake won the 2021 D1 CIF State Championship in his first year as a high school coach. Currently, Frankie is the head coach for the Louisville High School program and is the Club Director for Sunshine Volleyball Club in the Valley.

Frankie’s coaching philosophy is defined in three words: respect, love, and communication. Players and coaches need to respect each other, there needs to be a love for the game, and communication needs to be open and clear. If the players know you care, you are already winning!
He loves to see the happiness on his players’ faces when they accomplish something, whether it is big or small. He believes, as coaches, you are all successful just by making one athlete smile and learn.

Frankie’s catch phrase is “stay amazing.” To him being amazing is a state of mind; he teaches that everyone is unique, beautiful, and amazing. “Staying amazing” is what you put out to the world and how the world perceives you.