Our Leadership
Club Director
Linda Snyder — Co-Founder
I began my interest in Volleyball back in 1977 when my High School Mother
McAuley took it’s first of many State Championships. I feel it is a great
sport for all and one you can continue to play through out your life.
I have 2 daughters who played over 11 years with various clubs on the
North Shore, I have seen the good, the bad and the ugly. After sitting in
the stands as a parent I decided to start a club, so I co-founded the Edge
Volleyball Club and got that up and running for it’s first season. Since we did
not share the same vision/philosophy 1 year later I started Energy
VBC with my
good friend and “parent in the stands buddy” Josh Pak. After years of
sitting next to each other at many volleyball competitions we both saw the
need for a new club. Together I feel we have built that club in Energy
VBC,
where it is good for the player, the parent, the coach and the game of
volleyball.
Energy has always had strong, successful teams from our first season, placing
in the top 3rd at Colorado Crossroads regional qualifier, to our most
recent season with 27 tournament wins, 95 playoff finishes, and 3 teams
qualifing for USA Nationals — all placing in the top 100 teams in the
nation.
I am committed to seeing Energy VBC continue this passion and path of victorious seasons.
I could not be more proud of our players. My goal is to see each one
achieve their dream, whatever it may be and let Energy give them the tools
to get there. We have players who have gone on to play College ball and many
players who are currently being recruited. We have put together the top
coaches and the top facility on the North Shore and we will constantly be
looking to ways to improve.
My true enjoyment comes when I hear our players
say that they cannot wait to get back to the club season and in the
facility. It tells me we have done something right and we will continue to
keep building towards a program that continues to get better with age.
Email: linda@energyvbc.com
Office Phone: 847.965.8028 (Primary phone contact)
Cell Phone: 847.910.0659 (Please call cell phone only for true emergencies)
Tournament Director
Joshua Pak — Co-Founder
Josh's bio is coming soon!
Email: joshpak@energyvbc.com
Cell Phone: 847.271.0647
Michael Sopocy
I have been an avid volleyball player since my 7th grade, and a
dedicated volleyball coach since my Freshman year in college. I have 14
years’ playing experience so far, and I continue to play competitive
indoor and beach volleyball. During my high school years, I played for
Glenbrook South High School, Sports Performance VBC, and TNT VBC. I went
on to play four years on the Bowling Green State University Club Team,
where we ranked Nationally in the top 25 and participated in NIRSA
Volleyball nationals all four years. While I have played every position,
my primary positions are setter (12 years) and right side (6 years).
I have been coaching volleyball for over 8 years now; including
coaching of the women’s Bowling Green State University (BGSU) Club team
(nationals three straight years finishing 25th, 45th, and 5th in the
nation), volunteer assistant for BGSU varsity team, and coach of the
men’s BGSU club team (leading them to nationals two straight years,
finishing 7th in the nation both years). Since 2009, I have been on the
Glenbrook South High School Coaching Staff as the Boys’ Freshman A
Coach, where I have led the team to a conference championship, and this past
year I was an assistant coach for the GBS Varsity Boys. I also regularly
participates in camps, clinics, school programs and events throughout
the Suburban and Chicago Public School Systems, looking to enrich the
sport of volleyball in the Chicagoland area. I’m a certified IHSA
official and I’m working on acheiving certification as a USAV official.
In addition to my experience as a volleyball player and coach, I also
bring to Energy a variety of leadership and management experience from
other endeavors. I served as Team Lead for a joint fishery science
research project by Bowling Green State University and Kinetrics. I also
was led a team conducting fish studies and captained a research vessel
for EA Engineering. I love to fish almost as much as I love volleyball.
I have competed in 75 Bass Fishing Tournaments (13 professionally),
winning 23. I also have run my own series of fishing tournaments on the
Fox Chain O’ Lakes. I’ve been privileged to have my bass fishing
accomplishments recognized in all major outdoors magazines and TV’s
Midwest Outdoors program.
I am excited to be a member of the Energy
VBC Leadership team! As Director, Girls’ Volleyball, I am responsible
for implementing and overseeing the Energy Girls’ Volleyball Program. I also am a
recruiting professional and lead Energy VBC’s college recruiting
services, liaising with volleyball program recruiters for Division I,
II, and III colleges and universities and showcasing Energy VBC athletes
to those recruiters. In this capacity, I create showcase videos for
Energy VBC student-athletes who request to be marketed via our college
recruiting services. In addition to my responsibilities as a member of
the Energy VBC leadership team, I
coach multiple Girls’ Energy VBC teams
and teach private lessons and clinics for all levels. I also help out
Linda and Josh with Energy VBC operations as needed.
Like Linda and
Josh, I have a vested interest in both the immediate and long term
success of Energy VBC, and I will continue to put maximum effort into
ensuring Energy continues our success at the local, regional, and
national levels.
Email: sopocy@energyvbc.com
Cell Phone: 847.951.1601
Edward Wrather
My first introduction to the sport of volleyball was when as a young
man growing up in Chicago, when my babysitter taught me the basics of
how to pass and hit. This babysitter went on to coach at Oak Park River
Forest and holds the all-time winning record in school history. She’s
taken her teams to state 5 times, won it twice, placed twice and gone to
the semis once. Not bad for my first teacher, I didn’t train with my
second coach until I travelled to Europe and joined the Heidelberg
Generals (Army Post team) in the 26th SUPCOM division, where I was
coached by Coach Mike Pagia who played for the USA Armed force team and
was a National player himself.
I plan to take the Boy’s program recruiting to a whole new level,
since I already have a personal connection with most of the NCAA
Division I and Division II Men’s Volleyball coaches, like Ball State,
George Mason, Grand Canyon University, Long Beach State, Lewis
University, Loyola University, Ohio State, Rutgers, UCLA, Pepperdine
University — and that’s just to name a few.
I’m very knowledgeable about the NCAA Recruiting process, since I’ve
been through the process several times and twice as a parent and I’m
willing to help answer any question parents may have regarding the
college recruiting process.
I’ve a passion for helping young athletes achieve their highest level
of competition. I believe that volleyball teaches and tests life
skills and believe that it’s my job to assist in the preparation of our
young men and women for the future. I feel there is no greater reward
then watching a kid who couldn’t achieve a skill at the beginning of a
season, by the end of the season master it!!
As Director, Boys’ Division, I am responsible for implementing and
overseeing the Energy Boys’ Volleyball Program. In addition to my
responsibilities as a member of the Energy VBC leadership team, I
coach
Boys’ Energy VBC teams and teach private lessons and clinics for
all levels.
Email:
wrather@energyvbc.com
Cell Phone: (847) 980-5077
Allen Adams
Growing up, I always enjoyed sports, whether it be playing or just
watching. I developed a passion for basketball at a young age and played
for my school team, travel teams, and also attended several camps. When
my older brother hit high school, he began getting me involved in
volleyball. He had been playing club volleyball for a few years prior to
when I began my involvement. The competitive nature, along with the
speed of the game and aggression involved is what drew me to the sport.
I gave up basketball and began focussing solely on volleyball. I
eventually received several college scholarships, but was cut short by a
seven month long injury. This is when I began coaching. I started
coaching my senior year of high school and instantly developed a passion
for it. The joy of seeing your knowledge passed down to a younger
generation felt extremely rewarding.
I began working with Linda and Josh in Energy VBC’s inaugural
year and have been with them ever since. Through the years I have helped
transfer my knowledge of the AAU basketball programs, along with what I
learned through involvement in other club programs, over to Energy VBC
while also learning the business aspect of the game. For me, this is
going to be a lifelong involvement; and as long as there are kids that
want to learn the sport, I will be teaching not only the sport, but life
lessons that come with the developing athlete.
I am both an Assistant Director and a
Coach for Energy VBC. In
addition to my responsibilities at Energy VBC, I am pursuing a degree in
Physical Therapy.
Email: aadams@energyvbc.com
Cell Phone: 847.899.1687