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Athletic Staff Biographies |
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| Helice Agria |
| Athletic Program Advisor |
Helice Agria was born in Alma, Michigan. The daughter of a college administrator, Helice's family moved frequently, residing in several states including: New York, Pennsylvania, Iowa and Texas. Helice received a B.A. in Social Conflict and Mediation from Juniata College in Huntingdon, PA. While pursuing her studies, she participated and lettered in the Women's Soccer team for 3 years and studied abroad in Cheltenham, England. Upon completion of college, Helice was a live-in volunteer for 6 months at a shelter for homeless families in San Antonio, Texas.
Helice moved to Phoenix in 1999 where she worked for a job service for homeless adults ands felons coordinating a variety of charity events. She transferred to the educational setting in 2001, first in a financial aid capacity at a private college and then in the admissions and records department at South Mountain Community College (part of the Maricopa Community College District).
Helice is an avid runner, competing in races throughout the valley. She recently completed the inaugural P.F. Chang's, Rock n' Roll Arizona Marathon in 2004. She also enjoys a variety of other athletic activities, including indoor rock climbing and hiking.
Helice resides in Phoenix and is married to a classical musician. |
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| Kevin Arps |
| Student Academic Success Coordinator |
Mr. Arps has been involved with the PVCC athletics department since its inception, serving since 2002 as the academic success coordinator for student-athletes. He has been a full-time faculty member at PVCC since January 1995, teaching courses in Sport Psychology, Statistics, Research Methods, and Social Psychology.
Raised in Dallas, Texas, Kevin received his B.A. degree from Trinity University – majoring in psychology and sociology. He also holds a Master’s Degree in Sport Psychology from Arizona State University and is currently working toward his PhD. in the psychology of motivation at the Union Institute.
Mr. Arps played several sports growing up, finally focusing on volleyball – which he played at Trinity, ASU, and for several years at the ‘Open’ level. He has coached at the youth, high school, Junior Olympic, college and professional levels of volleyball, and continues to work as a sport psychology consultant with athletes at all levels.
In his spare time, Kevin enjoys road biking, trail running, and hanging out with his two sons, Grant and Dominic.
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| Dave Barney |
| Head Coach: Track and
Field and Cross Country |
David Barney is the first and only cross country and track and field coach at
Paradise Valley Community College. He has developed those programs into some
of the most successful programs in the country. Since 1996, his men's and women's
cross country teams have combined to win an impressive 4 national championships,
been runners up 5 times, were 3rd once and 4th once. Three PVCC runners have
captured Individual National Championships, 31 have earned All-American honors.
The Puma cross-country teams have claimed 12 of a possible 14 Region I Championships.
Since it's inception in 1999, the PVCC Track and Field program, has also had
a vast amount of success. Barney's Pumas have 8 times been in the top 10 at the
NJCAA National meet. Numerous PVCC athletes have excelled individually, capturing
15 Individual National Championships and 75 All-American awards.
Coach Barney grew up in Arizona and has strong ties to its running community. He was a state cross country and track and field champion, as well as junior college national champion. Following his days as an All-American athlete at the University of Arkansas, he returned to Arizona. He competed in the U.S. Olympic Trials four times and twice represented the U.S.A. in the world championships as a member of the U.S. National Team. He has twice been named NJCAA Cross Country National Coach of the Year and was last March was named Indoor Track and Field National Coach of the Year. Currently, he lives in Scottsdale with his wife Tracy and their three children, Michael, Meghan and Matthew.
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| Kacey Bingham |
| Head Coach: Women's Soccer |
Kacey Bingham was born in Phoenix, Arizona and graduated from Thunderbird High School in 2002. During high school, she played with the Sereno Soccer Club and won four state championships. Bingham also played within the Olympic Development Program. After high school, she went on to play soccer for Arizona State University. In 2006, she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Recreation Management.
Bingham is entering her 3rd year as the Women's Head Coach at Paradise Valley Community College. She served as the Assistant Coach for the Pumas during the 2004 and 2005 seasons. During her first year as head coach, she led the Pumas to their first ACCAC Championship and was named ACCAC Coach of the Year. In 2007, the Pumas finished 2nd in the ACCAC and received their highest NJCAA ranking of 6th in the nation. Bingham's 2006 and 2007 teams each produced an NJCAA All-American.
Since 2004, Bingham also coaches at Horizon High School.
Kacey and her husband, Kyle, reside in Phoenix, AZ. They have one son, Braxton, who was born in February 2007.
Coach Bingham holds her USSF National “D” License.
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| Kristin Buchanan |
| Head Coach: Women's Tennis |
Kristin was born in Tacoma, Washington and began playing tennis at age nine. She moved to Arizona in 1993 and graduated from Desert Vista high school. She then attended Mesa Community College and played on the tennis team for two years.
In 2002, Kristin played number 1 doubles and helped her team to a fifth place finish at the national tournament. Following her two years at Mesa, she was offered a scholarship to play at Western New Mexico University.
Kristin spent the past season working as assistant women’s tennis coach at GateWay Community College. She is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree through NAU online in Hotel and Restaurant Management. Aside from tennis, she enjoys all outdoor activities including; mountain biking, hiking, and snowboarding.
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| Cindy Campbell |
| Head Coach: Women's Golf |
Cindy Campbell was born in Cooperstown, New York, resided there for 18
years and learned to play golf at the age of 10. Title 9 allowed her to
compete on the boys golf team in high school.
Upon graduation from high school, the family moved to Tucson, Arizona
where Cindy attended the University of Arizona and became a top player
on the Women's Golf team. After earning her Bachelor of Science degree
in Physical Education, Cindy's teaching career started at Salpointe>
Catholic High School in Tucson where she taught PE and coached
Volleyball and Gymnastics. Then in 1980 Cindy accepted a position at
Deer Valley High School in Glendale, Arizona. Her duties included
teaching Gymnastics, PE and coaching volleyball.
In 1992 Cindy established the Girls Golf Team at Deer Valley. Her
coaching philosophy is to teach the game of golf to any girl that has a
desire to learn.
In Cindy's tenure of teaching and coaching she has accomplished the
following: Northwest Region Representative for AIA (5 years), Arizona
Coach of the Year (2 times), Region Coach of the Year (2 times),
Arizona State High School Golf Championship Tournament Director (3
times), Northwest Region Champions (3 times), and her high school team
has qualified for the State Tournament 9 out of the 11 years. Cindy
accepted a position to coach golf in Maui, Hawaii for Tourney Sport USA
in the Summer of 2002. In 2003 she was named Coach of the Year by the
Arizona Coaches Association.
Cindy currently resides in Anthem, Arizona and is the mother of 3
young adults, Shannon, Kristopher and Lindsay.
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| Nick Candrea |
| Head Coach: Softball |
Nick Candrea was born in White Plains, New York, and then moved to New Orleans, Louisiana where he lived until 1960 when he then made his new home in Phoenix, Arizona. Upon graduation from Sunnyslope High School, he then went to Glendale Community College on a baseball scholarship. After 2 years at GCC he spent 4 years in the United States Air Force. He then attended ASU and completed his degree in education. His first high school teaching was at Moon Valley High School where he spent one year as a member of the Physical Education Department as well as coaching football and baseball.
His past thirty years have been spent at Washington High School where he has been Head of the Physical Education Department and during those years he has coached football, has been the Head Baseball coach for 28 years, Head Softball coach and Head Golf coach.
He has coached two State Championship teams-1986 Baseball Championship and 1988 Golf Championship. In Nick's tenure of teaching and coaching he has accomplished the following: Skyline Region Coach of the Year in baseball, softball, and golf. 1986 he was the Arizona Baseball Coach of the Year. He has been North All-Star Baseball Coach 4 times.
Nick currently lives in Peoria, Arizona with his wife Staci. He has six children: Scott, Christy, Jeff, Whitney, Kelsey, and Cody. He retired after 35 years of teaching. He is an avid golfer and New York Yankee fan. |
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| Jeff Griffith |
| Assistant Coach: Softball |
Jeff Griffith was born at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. He graduated from McLean High School in McLean, Virginia, in 1971. Jeff received his BA in History from ASU in 1977. He taught 8th grade at Ira Murphy Elementary
School for two years. After transferring to Cactus High School, he taught American History, AP U.S. History and coached softball for 27 years, retiring in 2006. In 23 years as Varsity Coach, his teams won six state championships and 13 region
titles.
His 2006 state title team was named National Champions by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.
“Griff” and his assistants, Pete Lara and Lori Helmer, were named NFCA Coaching Staff of the Year for 2006. Jeff
was selected Softball Coach of the Year by the National High School Coaches Association in 2004 and 2006.
Jeff and his wife of 30 years, Gail, reside in Glendale. They have two daughters, Audrey Kobsar (26), who is a loan officer at a local
business bank, and Hilary (21) who is Miss Arizona 2006. Jeff and Gail have a grandson, Jaden Kobsar, who was born in March, 2006.
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| Mate Kozul |
| Head Coach: Men's Soccer |
Mate Kozul has been coaching soccer since 1996. He played at the collegiate level with the Yavapai College Roughriders in 1989 and 1990 when they won their first NJCAA national championship under Coach Mike Pantalione.
After college Coach Kozul played for the Arizona Sandsharks (CISL) from 1992-1993. In 1994 he played professional soccer in Europe for the FC Westerlo 1st Division team out of Belgium and then transferred to the FC Rijeka of Croatia until 1996.
Upon returning to the United States, Mate, played defense for the Indiana Twisters (CISL) and was drafted by the Dallas Burn (MLS) in 1996. In 1998 he returned to Arizona as the Head Coach, Assistant General Manager and defensive player for the Arizona Saguaros (USISL) where he was voted at the 1998 USISL Pro League “Coach of the Year”. In 2000 Coach Kozul became the Head Coach and General Manager of the Tucson Fireballs (USL) where he also played defense.
Coach Kozul has also coached high school and club soccer. He has had numerous players go on to full-ride college soccer scholarships throughout the country including Loyola Marymont (CA), Montana State University (MT), St. Peters (NJ) and Murray State (KY).
He has coached many successful teams: U16 Girls Arizona State Runners-up (2003), U11 Boys 3rd in State (2003), and U13 Boys 3rd in State (2005). Mate is currently co-owner and operator of the Sonoran Foothills Soccer League and Camp with his partner Edson Rico.
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| Todd Lehman |
| Athletic Specialist / Head
Track Coach: Track & Field |
Todd Lehman began coaching at Paradise Valley Community College in 1999 as an assistant track & field coach. In that time he has coached 23 individual national champions, 73 All-Americans and six Academic All-Americans. His athletes have set NJCAA national records 11 times during his tenure.
Lehman was a former Arizona high school state champion and state record holder before attending the University of Southern California. While at USC he was a four-time letterman and co-captain of the track & field team. He began his collegiate coaching career as a volunteer assistant in 1992 at USC. He then came to PVCC after coaching stints at the US Air Force Academy (’93-’95) and Indiana State University (’95-’97). While coaching at USAFA and ISU, Lehman coached three NCAA All-Americans, five conference champions, and five school records.
In 1998, Lehman opened the Kiss the Sky Pole Vault Center in Phoenix, which he continues to operate out of PVCC. He gives instruction to pole vaulters of all levels and ages, including some of the best in the world.
A USA Track and Field Level II coach, Lehman was selected as the 2004 National Collegiate Pole Vault Coach of the Year in 2004 by the USATF Pole Vault Development Committee. He was also voted the 2005 Indoor Track & Field Assistant Coach of the Year by the NJCAA Track Coaches Association. Lehman serves as the Canyon Region Chairman of the USATF Pole Vault Development Committee, overseeing the four corner states.
In addition to his coaching, Lehman holds down multiple duties in the PVCC athletic department, including his role as the coordinator for Puma Athletics Student Success, equipment management, and game management duties for other sports.
Lehman has two sons, Lucas and Maxwell.
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| Jim Paajanen |
| Head Coach: Men's
Tennis |
Coach Paajanen is a graduate of Grand Canyon University (B.S. Physical Education) and earned a masters degree from NovaSoutheastern University also in Physical Education.
He has recently retired, after 30 years of teaching in the Paradise Valley School District in the area of physical education and weight training. Coach Paajanen coached tennis the past 12 years at North Canyon High School and prior to that at Paradise Valley High School.
Along with his teaching and coaching duties he is presently teaching tennis at Mr. View Tennis Center, directing the program for kids, juniors, and adults. Coach Paajanen has experience working with college players from the community college to Division I level. He is a member of the United States Professional Tennis Association.
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| Edson Rico |
| Head Coach: Men's Soccer |
Edson Rico has coached competitive soccer since 1998. A two-time NJCAA All- American, Edson played with the Yavapai College Roughriders in their inaugural season in 1989. In 1990 he led the team to their first NJCAA National Championship as their star forward and all-time leading scorer.
In 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1996 Coach Rico played pro soccer fir FC Kampenhout, 1st Division, of Belgium. He returned to the United States in 1998 as the Assistant Coach and lead forward for the Arizona Saguaros (USISL). In 2000 he transferred to Tucson Fireballs (USL) to coach and play.
In 2006 Edson was inducted into the NJCAA Hall of Fame. He has coached numerous players to full-ride collegiate scholarships throughout the country including St. Mary’s (TX) and the University of Bridgeport (CT). Edson is currently a co-owner and operator of the Sonoran Foothills Soccer League and Camp with his partner Mate Kozul.
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| Greg Silcox |
| Athletic Director |
Silcox grew up in LaCrosse, Wisconsin
and came to Phoenix in 1977 to attend GCC.
He stayed at GCC for two years, where he
played baseball for both seasons.
His experience includes 11 years as assistant Athletic Director and 18
years as head coach of the women's basketball team at Glendale Community College (GCC).
Coach Silcox helped bring success to Glendale Community College's women's
basketball team, leading them to three division II national basketball tournament
appearances from 1996 to 2001. the National Junior College Athletic Association
(NJCAA) recognized his accomplishments by naming him NJCAA District coach
of the Year in 1996, 97 and 2001.
Coach Silcox also coached 10 Academic All-Americans and six basketball All-Americans during his stay at GCC.
He now makes his home in Glendale with Denise, his wife of 17 years, and their
two children, Andy, 15, who loves baseball and hockey, and Kaitlin, 12, who is
pursuing gymnastics and dance. |
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| Victor Solis |
| Head Coach: Baseball |
Victor Solis comes to Paradise Valley Community College after spending many years in the Valley of the Sun. He was born in Douglas, Arizona. Upon graduating from Brophy College Preparatory, Victor attended Glendale Community College and was a member of the baseball program. After completing two years at Glendale Community College, Victor attended Grand Canyon University where the Antelopes competed in the National Championships during his senior year. After three years of coaching baseball at Brophy College Preparatory and Glendale Community College, he attended Oklahoma City University where he served as an assistant coach and graduated with his MBA.
Victor has coached for over 15 years including five years at the University of Arizona and two years at the United States Military Academy at West Point. Victor brings his experience of starting the baseball program at GateWay Community College to Paradise Valley Community College. During this time, he was honored as being named the head coach for the USA Junior National Team (18 and under) in the summer of 2007. The USA Junior Nation Team competed in the Pan American Games in Ixtapa, Mexico winning the Bronze medal, thus qualifying the USA Junior Nation Team for the World Championships in the summer of 2008.
Victor currently resides in Phoenix, Arizona with his wife, Alice, and son, Alejandro.
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| Rick Wade |
| Athletic Trainer |
Rick comes to the Pumas from Chandler-Gilbert CC where he was the Assistant Athletic Trainer. He earned his bachelor's degree in Athletic Training at Vanguard University, where he also played intercollegiate soccer.
He will complete his master’s degree in Sports Healthcare from A.T. Still University in the Summer of 2007. Rick is a native of Southern California and has lived in Arizona for 2 years.
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| Tom Walker |
| Assistant Women's Tennis Coach |
Thomas grew up in Kansas City as a multi-sport athlete. In 1982, he turned pro in baseball when he was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds out of Maple Woods Community College. After his release, he finished his Bachelor's degree with a major in P.E. at Emporia State University in 1987.
Walker came to Arizona with a job transfer in 1990, first moving to Glendale and then to Ahwatukee in 1993.
Coach Walker is currently a USTA tournament 4.5 rated player and has been ranked as high as 3rd in the Men's 40 division in the Southwest Section. Walker
made the finals of the Arizona USTA tournament held at the Tucson El Conquistador in 2006. He is a 10 year member of the United States Tennis Association
and a lifetime member of the Association of Professional Baseball Players of America.
He and his wife Martha have two boys, Andrew and Nicholas.
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| Heath Van Patten |
Strength and Conditioning Coach Men's and Women's Soccer, Softball, Baseball
Assistant Coach and Goalkeeper's Coach - Womens Soccer |
Heath received his Business degree from Northern Arizona University and is a Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) and Performance Enhancement Specialist (PES) from National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM). He has received his Masters of Science in Exercise Science: Performance Enhancement & Injury Prevention from California University of Pennsylvania.
Van Patten has trained many top athletes in high school and college. He owns a local sports training facility that focuses on speed, power, quickness, strength, and flexibility. Heath has a passion to get the most out of athletes both on and off the field. He is anxious to assist the PVCC Men’s Soccer team as the Fitness Coach.
In his spare time, Heath is involved in soccer, baseball, softball, strength training, cycling, and triathlons. He also enjoys being outdoors hiking, camping, running, biking and spending time with family and friends. He makes his home in Phoenix with his wife, Jackie.
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