Background

Wayne has been in the sport of volleyball for 21 years as a player and coach. As a volleyball player, he began learning the game in 1989 on the beaches of Rhode Island and within a year began competing in tournaments throughout the northeast.  In 2006, he resigned his law partnership in New York City, moved to Florida, and began training and competing full time on the AVP Professional Beach Volleyball Qualifier Tour against the best amateur and professional players in the country.  On the AVP Q Tour, Wayne earned career high finishes at the AVP Atlanta Open (2006); AVP Louisville Open (2007) and AVP Esurance Tampa Open (2007).  He continues to train for and play in select AVP qualifier events throughout the country.

Current Coaching Positions

Wayne is currently in his fourth season as Head Coach of the Chariho High School boy's volleyball team (RI) and is the Head JV Coach and Assistant Varsity Coach of the Chariho High School girl's volleyball team. 

At the club volleyball level (USA Juniors), Wayne has held head coaching positions with all three area NERVA volleyball clubs.  In 2007, Wayne head coached the CT Stars Girl’s 16-2 Club Volleyball Team.  In 2008, he simultaneously head coached both the R.I. Blast Boy's 18 Black Club Volleyball Team and the CT Velocity Girl's 18-1 Invitational Team.  In 2009-10, Wayne returned to the CT Velocity Volleyball Club for a second season as head coach of the 18-1 girl's volleyball team.  He is currently in his first season as club director and third season as a head coach at CT Velocity.

Recent Coaching Accomplishments

In 2010, Wayne was selected as the RIBVCA Division I Volleyball Coach of the Year after coaching the Chariho Chargers to the Division I state championship match and a runner-up finish - the Chargers most successful season in nearly a decade.  The Chariho volleyball team also won the Team Sportsmanship Award for 2010.

Since 2008, Wayne has coached 8 All-State volleyball athletes, including two outside hitters, a setter, a middle blocker and four different liberos, three of which were 1st Team All-State players and named the best libero in the state (2009 - best male libero) (2009 - best female libero) (2010 - best female libero).

In addition, Wayne has coached and trained 10 players over the last three seasons who have gone on successfully to play college volleyball in various NCAA sponsored programs.  Former players under Coach Holly are now competing in the following Division I, Division II and Division III volleyball programs: 

Sacred Heart University (D-I), University of the Sciences in Pennsylvania (D-II), Salve Regina University (D-III), Mount Ida College (D-III), St. Anselm College (D-III), Franklin & Marshall College (D-III), Keene State University (D-III), Susquehanna University (D-III); Clarke University (D-III); and Suffolk University (D-III).

Volleyball Training Experience

In addition to coaching teams, Wayne provides year round private instruction and training to area athletes and small groups on a compensated and volunteer basis in Rhode Island and Connecticut.  He is the director of the Northeast Volleyball Training Academy and regular instructor of the specialty clinic, Quickness, Balance and Agility for Volleyball.  Wayne is the founder and head clinician (with Chris Safford) of the NVTA Beach Volleyball Juniors Program (entering its fourth season in 2011), which teaches the skills and strategies of beach volleyball (doubles) to area youth.

As a volleyball camp clinician, Wayne has experience in the Connecticut College pre-season high school volleyball camp hosted by the Connecticut College Women's Volleyball Program.

Certifications and Education

Wayne is IMPACT, Beach IMPACT and CAP I Level certified by USA Volleyball and certified as an athletic coach by the State of Rhode Island.  He is Red Cross certified in First Aid, CPR and AED.  He is a certified personal trainer and currently is studying for certification as a strength and conditioning coach.  Wayne holds a B.A. degree (Philosophy and Political Science) and a J.D. degree (law).

Chris Safford

Chris has been involved in the sport of volleyball for more than 20 years as a high-school and collegiate player, coach and clinician.  As a Chariho High School volleyball player, Chris was one of the most dominate players in Rhode Island boy’s volleyball history and was a perennial First Team All Stater at the setting position.

Between 1991 and 1994, Chris was a four year varsity letter winner and starting setter for the Springfield College Men’s Volleyball Team.  During his collegiate playing tenure, Chris helped lead Springfield to a Division I top 20 ranking in 1991, two Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA) New England Conference Championships (1992-1993), two EIVA Division II Championships (1991 and 1993), an EIVA Open Championship (1991) and EIVA Open and Division II Runner Up positions in 1994.

Individually, Chris was the Springfield College Volleyball Rookie of the Year and the winner of the Freshman Male Athlete of the Year for Team Sports Award.  In 1992, Chris again won the Team Sport Male Athlete of the Year Award – this time as a sophomore.  He captained the team in 1993 and 1994 and in each year was voted to the EIVA Division II Championship All Tournament Teams, making a total of 6 All Tournament Teams during his four year collegiate career.   

Following an illustrious collegiate playing career, Chris joined the coaching ranks, where he has made his greatest mark in the game of volleyball.  In 1994 he returned to Chariho High School and became the Head Boy’s Volleyball Coach.  During the proceeding 14 years, he coached 16 All-State athletes and received Coach of the Year honors three times (1994, 1998 and 2002) until retiring from the position following the 2007 season.  While he was not coaching high school volleyball, Chris indulged his coaching passion at the collegiate level.  Between 1996 and 1999, he was Assistant Men’s Volleyball Coach at Johnson & Wales University and Head Coach from 1999 through 2002.  Most recently, Chris took on a new challenge in 2007 as Head Girl’s Volleyball Coach at Chariho High School where he immediately excelled winning Coach of the Year honors in his inaugural season.