Coach Jorge Vales began his volleyball career when he was in the 5th grade. He played at all levels including travel club volleyball all throughout his high school years. Coach Jorge played for two years in college winning back-to- back championships with the CUTPO, a part of the University of Puerto Rico. Following his college career, he played semi-professional volleyball with the Liga Puertorriqueña. In 1998, he played professionally in the Liga Superior de Puerto Rico as a Libero, the first year that the position was implemented. 

 

His coaching career began in 1996, as an assistant coach for his old private school's high school team. In 1997 he was promoted to Head Coach of both the boy's and girl's middle school teams, leading the girl's program to two league championships. In 2000, Coach Jorge moved to Florida after graduating college with a degree in Physical Therapy and began his family. When his oldest daughter showed interest in playing club volleyball, Coach Jorge began coaching again. In 2010, he coached with the former Lake County Juniors. From , he coached with Sonshine Volleyball, coaching teams from 13U to 18U. In 2014, his Sonshine 14 Gold team finished 33rd place out of 139 teams in the Club Division at the AAU Nationals. This was the highest rank any Sonshine team had ever placed at Nationals. In 2017, Coach Jorge played an interval part in the transition from Sonshine Volleyball to Orlando Rize Volleyball Academy. In his last two seasons with Rize, his Rize 16 Elite and Rize 17 Premier teams finished the seasons with a combined 96 - 47 record, winning multiple championships including the ST7 Summer Cup. 

 

Coach Jorge not only coaches volleyball he is also a math teacher with Lake County Schools. He is currently an 8th grade math teacher at Minneola Charter School. 

 

We are delighted to have Coach Jorge Vales as a part of the ST7 coaching staff! We know our athletes will continue to learn and grow under his experienced and passionate coaching style.