Anne-Marie Iemmolo is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism Student assigned to cover Bourgade Catholic High School for AZPreps365.com

Bourgade Catholic volleyball coach Jesse Santos and his team began scrimmaging during a weekly practice as they prepared for their upcoming game. Santos shouted at his players to stay positive as they spiked the ball over the net. 

This is Santos’ first season as head coach. His transition into the role was smooth, considering Santos had spent the past four years operating as an assistant coach for the team. 

“He's like the rock of our team,” said Kylie Bonheimer, a member of Bourgade’s varsity girl’s volleyball team. 

If you attend a volleyball practice at Bourgade, you’ll get the sense of the family dynamic established between players and coaches while they cheer each other on and assist one another in developing their skills. 

Santos, a devout Catholic, felt a connection to the school and Bourgade community. 

“I felt like I was called here for some reason,” Santos said. So, at the end of last season, when the team was in need of a new head coach, Santos stepped up. 

When he’s not coaching volleyball, Santos is working in finance. Although he doesn’t consider himself to be a teacher, Santos hopes to provide his players with valuable life lessons, applicable both on and off the court.

“You're always gonna have a new opportunity every time you step on that floor as long as you never give up and you stay hungry and never be satisfied,” Santos said as a piece of advice he gives to his players. 

Santos grew up in Northern California before moving to Phoenix for a job opportunity. He had no intention of residing in the Valley, but after 10 years, the coach plans to stay. 

As a kid, Santos preferred shooting hoops to spiking serves. Before his junior year, Santos’ main sport was basketball. He was introduced to volleyball shortly after.

From there, he shifted his focus and began developing his skills through volleyball clubs at his high school. During his college years, Santos continued to play in adult and community leagues. 

Santos and his young adult ministry from Holy Spirit Parish in Fairfield, California, in 2011.  (Photo courtesy of Jesse Santos)Santos began his coaching career when he first moved to Phoenix. It was then that he discovered Azone, a local junior volleyball club. Santos was introduced to Ferdinand Grady, a former volleyball coach and founder of Azone. 

Grady became a mentor for Santos, teaching him the fundamentals of becoming a valuable coach. 

In August 2017, Grady passed away, shortly before the start of volleyball season. Before his passing, Santos promised Grady he’d continue to grow and develop the club. 

Santos has continued to maintain his word and fulfill his promise to Grady through his work at the club. 

During the 2018 Arizona Volleyball Region Club Championship, Santos and the Cyclones, a 16-N team from Azone, claimed the championship title and dedicated the win to Grady. 

Grady was adamant on maintaining a welcoming, family-like relationship at the club, an atmosphere Santos has also maintained with his own teams. 

“He carries that on to all his teams. He's very close and follows that family philosophy,” said Keith Montoya, the current director of Azone. 

Montoya and Santos have worked together at the club for the past eight years. The two bounce ideas back and forth and consult each other on all things related to Azone. 

In recent years, the two coaches have welcomed many new members to the club, including Bourgade’s very own libero, Bonheimer. 

Following her work with Santos, Bonheimer began training and competing at Azone. 

Bonheimer met Santos the summer before her freshman year of high school. After becoming head coach, Santos trained Bonheimer to become the team’s libero, a role she had wanted to play since she since joined the team her freshman year. 

Bonheimer, now a junior, commended her coach for his positive and unifying energy. 

“There's so many girls out there who have never played in their life. But they look forward to practice because he makes them want to learn,” Bonheimer said. 

Jesse Santos during a team practice at Bourgade High School. (Anne-Marie Iemmolo photo/AZPreps365)

Off the court, Santos has continued his involvement in the Bourgade community, attending school retreats, helping with mass, and even grilling hamburgers and hot dogs at the concession stand during football games. 

Santos believes a strong relationship between his players built on trust and respect will translate to success on the court. 

As for the future, Santos plans to continue growing Bourgade’s volleyball program by recruiting new talent and further developing the skills of his current players. 

The Bourgade Golden Eagles (4-8, 5-9) have faced some challenging games throughout the 2023 season. 

Regardless, under the leadership of Santos, Bonheimer believes her team will continue to strive, all while maintaining their close bond. 

“Win or lose, at the end of the day, we're gonna go get food together.”