Facing initial tryouts of over 100 girls and being at the helm for the first time proved to be a challenging, yet invaluable learning experience for Dustin over the course of that season, where he gained invaluable insight and confidence as a coach and program lead. He learned how to manage success not by wins and losses, but by setting realistic and actionable goals on both short term and long term scales. Through this coaching endeavor, Dustin coached against and eventually partnered with a young up and coming coach in the area who would completely change Dustin’s understanding and view of volleyball forever – Winston Stearns. After seeing Dustin run around doing a million things while St. Joseph High School girls played Santa Maria for senior night, Winston had to add Dustin to his program.

It was at this 2nd stint at St. Joseph High School where Dustin learned the most about volleyball. He was introduced to Gold Medal Squared, one of the most highly respected volleyball education and training organizations in the country. Backed by decades of research and experience from Olympic coaches and professional players, GMS is known for its systematic, data-driven approach to team and skill development. After that year, Dustin was once again thrusted into a head coach position of a varsity program, this time armed with the knowledge and confidence of a GMS coaching clinic he and his assistant attended in Nebraska. Combined with a very talented team, Dustin was able to lead this SJHS team to its first CIF title in school history in 2021, winning on the road as an underdog 4 matches in a row, capped with a thrilling reverse sweep victory in the championship match against Buchanan.

It was at this point where Dustin began to transition his coaching from the girls high school world to the club world and boys volleyball, which over this period of time drastically separated itself from the nature of girls volleyball. Working hard and establishing himself as an asset to multiple clubs in the area until he eventually found his home at Flight while transitioning back to the boys side at St. Joseph High School to assist his father, Scott once again. Armed with some of the most powerful and dominant boys that had ever come from the Central Coast (in great part due to Flight Academy), Dustin and Scott led those boys to its highest placement and finish in school history, losing to the eventual Division 1 champions of Clovis East in 2023, then getting sweet vengeance by beating that same East team in 2024 until tragically losing the next round to a very strong Clovis team.

If you haven’t seen Dustin on a volleyball court, then you’ve probably seen him wearing pin stripes on the basketball court. He has pushed himself to become one of the top high school basketball officials in the Central Coast, on top of a budding collegiate officiating career. He has spent countless hours studying, traveling, and perfecting his craft over 9 years now. He even started reffing high school and college volleyball as well over the last couple years.

Regardless of the lens that Dustin is viewed through, his dedication to the betterment of high school and club sports in the Central Coast is abundantly clear. He yearns to set a strong example of what it means to be a successful athlete, in all elements of what success means. With a foundation for hard work and thirst to get better that cannot be quenched, Dustin remains a dedicated advocate and confidant for the next generation of athletes.