
COACHES

COACHES
Clifton Bergfeld

My volleyball philosophy consists of three important ideas: 1. Work Hard: Effort, purposeful actions and knowledge of the sport will create success, play as if your next coach is watching from the stands; 2. Be a Leader: in the classroom, on the court, the bench, and at home, be the role model you want to have; and 3. use the gym as a classroom to learn life's best lessons; teamwork, goal setting, sportmanship, success, failure, etc. My day job is as a healthcare executive and attorney for one of the nations largest healthcare organizations. Volleyball Coaching is my avocation. However, please know, I am passionate for the sport, I am dedicated to the athletes and I am an advocate for youth athletics.
My volleyball career began as a player. I competed at the varsity Junior College level from January 1995 through May 1996 for Ohlone College in Fremont, California and received 2nd Team All Conference honors. I competed as a member of the University at Buffalo Men's Volleyball Team from January 1997 through May of 1998. During the 1998 Season UB achieved a conference championship, and 8th Place overall at NIRSA Men's Club Nationals. Additionally, I competed as an Open/AA level Grass and Beach Volleyball player for many years in events like the AVP Qualifier Tour, NCVA Grass Doubles Series, NOVA Beach Series, and the Motherlode. My coaching career started as Head Coach of the Mission San Jose High School (Fremont, Ca.) Women's Volleyball Team in the fall of 1995. Returning home to Austin, I worked for Coach Lietzke as a coach for the University of Texas Summer Camp programs and coached a 14 and under team at Austin Junior Volleyball in Spring 1997. After moving to Western New York, I was Head Coach for the Depew High School Women's Volleyball Program (Depew, NY) in the fall of 1997; served as Assistant Coach for D'Youville College Women's Volleyball Program, winning a conference championship with three athletes achieving all conference honors and one receiving National Small College All American accolades in 1998. I then spent time as an Assistant Coach for the University at Buffalo Women's Volleyball (MAC Conference Div I.) during the 1999-2000 season.
Presently, I live in Buda, Texas with my wife, Deborah and two daughters. We are a busy family who like to travel, play outdoors, golf, hunt, snow ski and of course play volleyball. I look forward to helping all the AJV athletes achieve their best and teaching the sport of volleyball to all the AJV athletes.