More Than a Coach

Michael brings deep training expertise to PIF — a Bachelor's in Health and Exercise Sports Science, a Master's in Sports Management, and a PhD in Exercise Science. That knowledge shapes how we train every athlete, using science-driven methods rather than guesswork.

But the degrees were never the point.

Michael founded PIF as a nonprofit because he wanted to share more than credentials. He wanted to pass on the lived experience of being a young athlete — the failures that taught him resilience, the successes that built confidence, and the mentors who believed in him before he believed in himself. His goal was to mentor kids as whole people: helping them grow in character, in faith, and in their walk with Christ, while giving them the chance to compete at a very low cost.

The idea was clear from the start. Michael would pay it forward. The kids would play it forward — reaching their own potential, then giving back to the players who come after them.

Kelsey's Turning Point

Play It Forward exists because of a hard chapter, too.

Kelsey Sylvara knew the game from the inside. She loved volleyball — but she reached a breaking point in an indoor environment that had grown negative and unsupportive. Burned out and worn down, she stepped away from that world. What she didn't do was give up on the sport.

Instead, Kelsey turned to coaching and officiating in her community, and kept playing recreationally with friends and family. Along the way, she rediscovered what the game was supposed to feel like: welcoming, encouraging, and centered on the athlete's growth.

Her background gave her a rare lens for building something different. With two Master's degrees in education and a Doctorate in Curriculum Writing and Instruction, Kelsey understands how young people actually learn, develop, and thrive. She co-founded PIF for the same reason Michael did — to create the kind of program she wished she'd had.

What We Built Together

When Michael and Kelsey combined their strengths, PIF became more than a volleyball club. It became a place designed around one guiding principle: the golden rule — treat everyone the way you want to be treated.

That principle shows up in everything we do:

• Science-driven training that develops real skills, built on Michael's exercise science expertise.

• A learning environment shaped by Kelsey's education background, so every athlete is coached in a way that helps them grow.

• Whole-child development that values character, mindset, and faith alongside performance.

• A welcoming, growth-focused culture where beginners and nationally ranked players are treated with the same respect.

We group athletes by skill level, not just age, so every player is challenged at the right pace. And we keep participation affordable on purpose — because we believe cost should never keep a child from the chance to grow.