Carly Rivera

CARLY RIVERA

CLUB OWNER & TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

Carly Rivera is the only coach in the NJ/NY region to have ever developed players who went on to become NCAA All Americans; he’s done it 3 times. While the VB Rags VB Academy has traditionally been one of the smallest clubs in the region, Carly’s Best in Class training has had an enormous impact on hundreds of players he’s worked with over the years. Since his arrival in the GEVA Region in 2013, no other coach has come close to Carly’s achievements on the court. Between 2015 and 2020, teams coached by Carly earned 10 bids to USAV Nationals in multiple age categories.

His teams won multiple GEVA Regional Championships at the Open level, including 15’s, and 17’s.

Before moving to the GEVA Region, Carly founded Team VB Rags in Puerto Rico and in a period of three years it became the most decorated junior team on the island. Achievements included:

• Top 10 Ranking in 16 Open in USAV Nationals in 2010
• Gold Medal at Lone Star Qualifier in 16 Open (2010)
• Gold Medal in 16 Open at JVA’s World Challenge 2010
• 3rd place at AAU Nationals in 16 Open (2010)
• 2d Place in 17 Open at NEQ (2011)
• Puerto Rico National Championship in 21Under Open in 2011
• Puerto Rican National Championship in 18 Open (2012)

In addition to his indoor coaching experience, Carly has trained junior beach players for years, and in 2005, he launched a Junior Beach Volleyball Academy, working with some of Puerto Rico’s top Beach Volleyball talent, including one of Puerto Rico’s first Beach Volleyball Professionals, Madamo del Valle; Former UCLA Star Rick Amon, and Puerto Rico’s Beach Volleyball team at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Raúl Papaleo and Ramón Hernández.

Carly Rivera began playing volleyball at the age of 9 and eventually became starting setter and captain of his alma-mater Cornell University. While Carly’s professional career took him first through Human Resources, Marketing, and then General Management roles for global companies like Nabisco, PepsiCo, Cadbury, and Fiji Water, his passion for volleyball only grew with time. Over the years he has become a student of the game, often breaking paradigms, always seeking to exceed expectations. Carly’s coaching philosophy is a melting pot of volleyball, management and life learnings, that he share with his club players at the VB RAGS Volleyball Academy.

When Carly is not on a volleyball court you can probably find him working on building the VB RAGS brand, a volleyball apparel company that he launched when he was 26 years old.

“Volleyball is so much more than a game for me. Teaching the game is about teaching young people Resilience, Commitment to Excellence, Work Ethic, Accountability, Teamwork, Kindness, Positive Energy, Conflict Resolution, and so many other lessons and values that will help them grow into happy, productive adults. I am eternally grateful for the opportunity to spend most of my time doing what I love and loving what I do, surrounded by a special group of talented folks who are as passionate as I am about making a positive difference in people’s lives.”

-Carly Rivera