Volleyball Coaching Staff

Head Coach Mike Gaffaney

Mike Gaffaney begins his first season at the reigns of the Northwest Christian University volleyball team. He is just the second coach in program history.

Gaffaney has been in the coaching profession for over 20 years, spending time at the collegiate, high school and club levels. Most recently Gaffaney was the head varsity girls coach at Pleasant Hill HS where he led the team to the 4A state tournament in 2006. He spent three seasons prior to that at Mohawk HS, leading the team to three district playoffs and to the 2003 1A state tournament.

Since 2004 Coach Gaffaney has been the director for the Storm’n West Volleyball Club in Eugene and he also coaches the U18 team. He has coached both current Beacon Cotie Howard and former NCC volleyball player Ashley Blanchfill. While in Washington, Gaffaney worked with the King County VC as director and coach for five years.

Gaffaney played collegiately at UCLA for four years and was a member of the national championship UCLA dynasty from 1981-1984. He has remained in competitive volleyball since, competing in USVBA men’s indoor volleyball for a number of years and playing men’s doubles beach volleyball which he continues to this day. Gaffaney also participated in the 2005 World Masters Games in Edmonton, Canada.

He graduated from UCLA in 1984 with a degree in Economics and then went on to Seattle Pacific University, earning a Masters of Athletic Administration in 1988. While working on his degree, Gaffaney began a women’s club volleyball team at Seattle Pacific, coaching the team for three seasons before they transitioned into a varsity sport at the NCAA D.III level.

An industry leader in private club management, Gaffaney is currently the General Manager for the Eugene Swim & Tennis Club. He has worked in the private athletic club sector for over 25 years. Gaffaney currently resides in Eugene.

Assistant Coach Jennifer Cueto

Jennifer Cueto begins her first season as an assistant with the women's volleyball program.

Cueto comes to Northwest Christian by way of Oregon Institute of Technology where she was an assistant coach in 2006, helping to guide the Owls to a 21-9 record. She had previously played three seasons at OIT, collecting 626 kills, 198 blocks and 73 service aces during her tenure.

Cueto played her freshman season at Fresno Pacific University, playing on a nationally ranked volleyball team that finished fourth at the NAIA National Championships under NAIA Hall of Fame coach Dennis Janzen.

Cueto graduated in 2007 from OIT with a Bachelor of Science in applied psychology and is currently working on a Masters degree from the University of Oregon.