Michael Pollack

Varsity Basketball Head Coach - Boys

Michael Pollack is one the few alumni (if not only?) on our staff who graduated from the YULA class of 2003. He's coming on close to 10 years of coaching experience within our program. Mike played collegiate basketball at Yeshiva University where he studied Finance and Accounting and when moved back from NY, Coach David Winik immediately brought him on to the program. He coaches the JV Boys Basketball and has been a Varsity Assistant under Coach Dave Winik, Coach Eli Hami and now Coach Vince Oliver. He played under Coach Ed Gelb and Coach Winik and was part of the last Liberty League basketball championship in 2003. Mike's passion for being part of the program helps connect the past YULA basketball family into the present.

Gil Dalva

Varsity Basketball Coach - Girls

Gil Dalva was born and raised in Los Angeles to Israeli parents. His father played professional soccer in Israel and his grandfather was a pro boxer in Turkey. Gil played high school basketball for current Yula Varsity head coach Motti Meisels back in 1996-1997, where he flourished as a tremendous scorer. While in his first year in college, Gil began coaching basketball in youth and club teams. Shortly thereafter, Gil moved on to coaching high school teams at the JV and Varsity levels. Gil is an absolute basketball fanatic who believes that athletics lays the groundwork for tremendous personal growth. As an advocate for student athletes, Gil preaches sportsmanship, teamwork, fundamentals, and positive thinking. Gil currently lives in Encino with his wife and three kids and enjoys watching basketball (of course), bike riding, and training his nine-year-old daughter as she pursues her passion for basketball.

Daniel Lapson

Varsity Basketball Assistant Coach - Boys

Daniel was born and raised in Skokie, Illinois and graduated from Ida Crown Jewish Academy in 2009. He played basketball all four years and was part of Ida Crown’s only Saracheck championship in the school's history. He loves the game of basketball and hopes to instill the love of the game in all of his players. Daniel is looking forward to getting his coaching career started with Coach Mike!

Luis Cendejaz Mendez

Varsity Flag Football Coach - Girls and Boys

Sophomore Basketball Coach - Boys

Track & Field Assistant Coach - Boys

Football enthusiast and student of the game, Luis epitomizes the phrase “seize every opportunity.” He was introduced to Football at age seven and never looked back. He’s no stranger to being the  “smallest guy on the field.” Being the youngest of three boys, Luis had to constantly earn his spot. His hunger for success allowed him to lead a youth flag football team to a championship during his first year as a head coach. He also lead a middle school team to an undefeated season and division championship despite limited resources, which ultimately landed him an assistant coaching job for Sylmar High School. In his short tenure there, two players under his leadership were recruited to the University of Arizona. Lastly, Luis has over seven years of experience coaching athletes K-12 to develop their football skills in all areas of the game and, of course, to have fun! When Luis isn’t coaching or playing football, he enjoys hiking, content creating, and traveling to new spots.

Julia Noguchi

Varsity Fencing Head Coach - Girls and Boys

Ms. Julia Noguchi has over twelve years of fencing experience. She is a former college D1 fencer from Duke University and received her BA in Chemistry in 2022. Ms. Noguchi has received numerous medals at the local, regional, national, and international level, earning her a spot on the Japanese National Team. As a member, she competed in World Cups and Circuits, placing in the top 5 in her age division. She is currently a student at the UCLA School of Dentistry and hopes to create an environment that promotes sportsmanship and integrity at YULA. We are delighted to welcome Ms. Noguchi to YULA, where she will serve as the Head Coach of both the boys’ and girls’ Varsity Fencing Teams.

Yaelle Shaye

Frosh/Soph Volleyball Coach - Girls

Ms. Yaelle Shaye is a proud YULA alumni of the Class of 2022 and is now a Senior at UCLA. After playing both volleyball and basketball throughout her four years at YULA, she is excited to be back and continue her journey with YULA athletics as the Frosh/Soph Volleyball Coach. Ms. Shaye is eager to pass on her love for YULA and for volleyball to her players and is looking forward to an incredible season!

Chris Coy

Varsity Soccer Coach - Girls

Coach Chris has been passionate about soccer since the age of 6 and has extensive experience as a player across AYSO, Parks & Rec, All-Star Teams, high school JV and varsity, club teams, and travel teams. Coach Chris began coaching while in college, working with 3rd and 4th graders at his former elementary school and eventually progressing to coaching 5th-8th grade boys and girls. This solid foundation led Coach Chris to a successful tenure as the head coach of the JV Girls Soccer team at a different local high school, where he built several years of experience. Alongside team coaching, Coach Chris has also offered private one-on-one soccer fundamentals training to students from ages 5 to 16, excelling at breaking down complex skills into small, accessible steps that empower players to master any skill. Coach Chris is thrilled to join YULA’s Varsity Girls' Soccer program, bringing a commitment to player development and a passion for fostering growth and skill mastery.

Chris Marrone

Flag Football Assistant Coach - Girls

Will Hewitt

Frosh Basketball Coach - Boys

Golf Coach - Boys

Eli Hami

Varsity Basketball Assistant Coach - Boys

Moshe Darvish

Golf Assistant Coach - Boys

Jennie Bautista

Varsity Volleyball Coach - Boys

Jenn Pedersen

Varsity Soccer Head Coach - Girls

Coach Jenn is a former club, ODP, and college player, and has played and coached soccer for nearly 40 years. She was a member of the 1994 bronze and the 1996 gold medal girls’ soccer teams at the JCC Maccabi Games in Cleveland, Ohio and New York/New Jersey. An enthusiastic coach of players from Lil’ Kickers to college women, Ms. Pedersen is excited to be coaching high school-aged girls for the second time in her coaching career. Ms. Pedersen is passionate about the success of her players as student-athletes and instilling the values of personal accountability, teamwork, respect, and perseverance both on and off of the pitch. Her plans for this season include cultivating individual skills and strengthening team dynamics. We are delighted to welcome Ms. Pedersen to YULA, where she will serve as the Head Soccer Coach.

Cieana Stinson

Varsity Volleyball Head Coach - Girls

Ms. Stinson was born and raised in the San Fernando Valley, and has played a number of sports throughout her life, including basketball, cheerleading, soccer, track & field, and volleyball. Ms. Stinson started playing volleyball in high school, and then received a full scholarship to play volleyball at CSUN. She graduated from CSUN in 2016 with a Bachelor’s in Psychology and worked in the Mental Health field. Ms. Stinson began coaching in 2015 at Supernova and coached there until 2020. In 2021 she began coaching club volleyball at LAVA; Ms. Stinson also was an assistant coach at Alemany High School from 2016-2019. Ms. Stinson then moved onto the Varsity Head Coaching Position at Heritage Christian in 2019-2021. We are delighted to welcome Ms. Stinson  to YULA, where she will serve as the Varsity Girls Head Volleyball Coach.

Ariel Sokol

JV Basketball Head Coach - Boys

Varsity Basketball Assistant Coach - Boys

Ariel Sokol is a graduate of Hillel and YULA. He deeply understands the value of a strong foundation in education and personal growth. His journey has continued at Yeshiva University, where he not only earned his degree but was also an NCAA athlete. His experience taught him the importance of teamwork, dedication, and discipline. He is thrilled to have the opportunity to bring his passion for basketball to YULA as a coach. His unique blend of academic achievements and athletic prowess has prepared him to guide and inspire young athletes. We look forward to the contributed growth and success of the YULA sports program led by Coach Sokol.

Rafael Meghnagi

Varsity Soccer Coach - Boys

Rafael Meghnagi started playing soccer at six years old and fortunately my body has let me continue on playing until today. I began coaching at age 16, volunteering to coach AYSO youth teams. I then founded an adult soccer club in Los Angeles in 2007 called Dogtown Athletic. I oversee all three teams within that club, managing over 60 players year round. I started the YULA Boy's soccer program in 2008 and we've just completed our 14th season.

Jason Schoen

Varsity Baseball Head Coach - Boys

Chet McLees

Varsity Baseball Assistant Coach - Boys

Varsity Soccer Assistant Coach - Boys

Varsity Flag Football Coach - Boys

Chet McLees brings a diverse background in education and sports to his role as an assistant coach. With deep roots in both his alma maters, Emek and YULA, Chet's journey has been defined by a commitment to learning, leadership, and teamwork. Having completed his K-8 education at Emek, Chet now gives back to the school community as a shadow teacher. His experience in this role has honed his ability to connect with individuals and provide personalized support, skills he leverages in his coaching approach. Chet's athletic prowess was evident during his time at YULA, where he served as the captain of the baseball team. This leadership experience, combined with his passion for the game, has fueled his desire to guide young athletes in their own journeys. After his time at YULA, Chet pursued higher education at Excelsior College, further deepening his knowledge and commitment to personal growth. His well-rounded background makes him an ideal mentor for players both on and off the field.

Kevin Rose

Varsity Basketball Assistant Coach - Girls

Coach Rose played college basketball at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). Where he walked on to a Division I program following his freshman year. After college he started Coaching high school basketball at Crispus Attucks where he helped the program win the Class 3A State Championship the first state title for the Tigers since 1959 with Oscar Roberson. In 2020 he moved to California to work at Mamba Academy for basketball training. After that he went independent and partnered with Handlelife where he has worked with multiple NBA All Stars, elite college players and youth athletes. Coach Rose is great at building confidence, creating a competitive learning environment, team building, and challenging players to help them reach their full potential.

TyLeah Hampton

Varsity Cross Country Coach - Boys

Alex Maldonado

JV Volleyball Head Coach - Girls

Volleyball Varsity Coach - Girls

Kiyae White

Varsity Basketball Assistant Coach - Girls

Track & Field Head Coach - Girls

Coach Kiyae' White, known professionally as Coach Kiy, is a highly accomplished educator and coach with a strong background in athletics and leadership. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master's in Adult Education from Auburn University, where she was a student-athlete from 2017 to 2022. During her collegiate career, Coach Kiy was recognized on the SEC Academic Honor Roll and named to the SEC Community Service Team. She also served as the SEC Women's Basketball Representative for the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Student-Athlete Engagement Group and was an active member of the SEC Leadership Council and the SEC Equity and Inclusion Committee.

In addition, Coach Kiy is a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success and served as the co-chair of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee's Subcommittee on Equity and Inclusion. After completing her playing career, Coach Kiy transitioned into coaching as an Assistant Women's Basketball Coach at California State University, Northridge, where she worked for two years. In her professional endeavors, Coach Kiy also works with Legend Agency, where she collaborates with agents and brands to support professional athletes. She has further contributed to the development of young athletes through her involvement with the Los Angeles Lakers Youth Foundation Clinics. Additionally, she serves as the Head Coach for the 13U/14U club team at Sports Academy, where she continues to mentor and develop the next generation of athletes.

Dvauntes Smith Rivera

JV Basketball Coach - Girls

Ben Meyer

Tennis Coach - Boys