May 17, 2004
LAS VEGAS - First-year women's volleyball coach Allison Keeley announced the hiring of Jose Gandara and Elaini Kollias as assistant coaches, completing her staff for the 2004 season.
Kollias will come to the Rebel coaching staff from West Virginia, where she spent the last three years as a graduate assistant for the Mountaineers. While at West Virginia, Kollias was responsible for on the court coaching and for actively recruiting on the West Coast.
Before joining the coaching staff with the Mountaineers, Kollias spent the eight previous years with the Saddleback Valley Volleyball Club as a head coach for all age levels. She has also assisted in a number of volleyball summer camps including the Junior National Performance camp and the South Coast Beach Volleyball camp over the past 6 years.
Kollias started her playing career at Saddleback Junior College where she was team MVP twice, and a two-time all-conference selection. She then went on to play for Concordia University, in Irvine California and set a school record with most kills in a match, with 34, and holds the career record for kills and is third in all-time assists for the Eagles.
Kollias a Dana Point, California native received her bachelors' degree in Elementary Education from Concordia in 1996.
Gandara comes to UNLV from UC Santa Barbara where he spent the last five years as the Head Assistant Coach of the Men's Volleyball Team. While Gandara was with the Gauchos, he had several coaching duties including recruiting, fund raising and game day preparations.
Gandara who was an All American in 1988 as a Gaucho, brings valuable experience at all levels, including being a member of the USA National Team from 1990-92. Most recently Gandara has played in the Puerto Rico Professional League, with his team finishing in second place last season.
Gandara began his coaching career at UC Santa Barbara with the volleyball teams, spending betwen 1992-93 with the men, and 1994 with the women as an assistant coach. He also spent one season as a Head Coach and player with the San Joan Volleyball Club in the Puerto Rico Professional League.
Gandara received his bachelors' degree in Geography from UC Santa Barbara in 1999.
