Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy Appoints Heather Collins as Head Volleyball Coach

Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy (FSHA) has appointed Heather Collins as the new Head Varsity Volleyball Coach, effective immediately. With an impressive background that spans over 30 years in coaching and playing at elite levels, Collins is expected to significantly enhance the school’s volleyball program.

Collins, a former NCAA Division I player and team captain at UC Santa Barbara, brings a wealth of experience from both collegiate and international volleyball. After her playing career, which included professional stints in both indoor and sand volleyball, she transitioned into coaching. Her career started shortly after college when she accepted an assistant coaching position that eventually led to a lengthy tenure in collegiate coaching.

From 1997 to 2010, Collins served as the Assistant Coach at Loyola Marymount University. In 2011, she took the helm as Head Coach of the volleyball program at Occidental College, a role she held until 2024. Throughout her career, she has also played pivotal roles in elite club programs and has coached internationally in countries such as Italy, the Dominican Republic, Australia, and Costa Rica.

Collins is renowned for her competitive spirit and a player-centered coaching philosophy. She emphasizes the importance of long-term athlete development, accountability, and growth within her teams. “I’m super competitive and I’d love to win, but the best part about coaching is when you’re working with a player and they’re struggling through a certain skill, but you see the progress that they’re making,” Collins shared. “When it finally clicks, you can see it on their face. That light-bulb moment—when they understand why the work matters—is what coaching is really about.”

The addition of Collins marks a significant milestone for FSHA athletics. Her extensive experience and leadership qualities are anticipated to inspire student-athletes and reinforce the academy’s commitment to cultivating well-rounded, high-performing young women both on and off the court.

About Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy

Located in La Cañada Flintridge, California, Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy is an all-girls, Catholic, Dominican, independent college-preparatory day and boarding school. The institution focuses on educating young women to lead lives of faith, integrity, and truth.

For further inquiries, please contact Sandra Millett, Director of Communications at FSHA, via email at [email protected] or by phone at 626-685-8392. More information can be found on their official website at fsha.org.