Redwood was ranked number one in 2022 among public schools in Marin County. In line with its stellar academics and passionate students are Redwood's notable sports. The students play a critical role in dominating sports within the Tamalpais Union High School District, and could not do it without the coaching staff. Several fall sports this year, including girls’ cheer, volleyball and water polo, introduced new coaches this season. Getting to know the staff’s history provides insight on the lessons and culture that they are bringing to our athletics program.
Coach Diamond Hollis
Coach Diamond Hollis was born and raised in Kentucky. She grew up playing a variety of sports, and, when she was in her junior year of high school, she was recruited to play volleyball. However, the majority of schools in California did not recruit people that lived very far out of state, and Hollis dreamed of going to college in California. While still in high school, Hollis moved from Kentucky to California by herself to continue to pursue volleyball in hopes of playing at the next level.
“Leaving Kentucky and going to California at a young age made me grow up a lot sooner than most people have to. I learned a lot of valuable lessons along the way,” Hollis said.
After years of hard work, Hollis played NCAA DII volleyball at Fresno Pacific University, and eventually made her way to Marin County. Just before the 2022-23 school year began, Hollis looked for coaching opportunities around the Bay Area.
“[First], I applied to be the varsity coach at Marin Catholic and made it very far in the interview process. After not hearing back from them, I got a call from their new coach asking if I could be the junior varsity (JV) coach. It kind of rubbed me the wrong way because I knew I didn't get the job. I googled Marin Catholic’s biggest rival and Redwood popped up. The rest is history,” Hollis said.
After Hollis received the coaching job, she was also offered the position as the new campus supervisor.
“Now that I'm on campus all the time, it's really nice because I can just see [my players often] and I'm able to check in on them and talk to them a lot more,” Hollis said.
With her vast experience in playing volleyball, Hollis is able to bring a unique set of tools to the team.
“Part of my coaching philosophy is making sure that players know who they are, whether they identify as a volleyball player or not. I think that a lot of athletes are so used to being an athlete, and when that's taken away from them, people go through this mindset of not knowing who they are. I'm very big on self esteem, confidence, identity and mental health,” Hollis said.
Coach Brian Monty
Coach Brian Monty grew up in Lafayette, California, where he first started playing water polo. He went to Acalanes High School, and was recruited to play water polo for University of California Berkeley (Cal). In the early 90s, after playing at Cal for four years, he coached the boys’ varsity water polo team at Acalanes High School. His water polo coaching career came to a halt after 12 years at Acalanes. That is until the opportunity to coach the girls’ varsity water polo team arose over the summer.
“A couple of parents who have kids on the Redwood water polo team asked me if I knew of anyone that would be available to coach. I thought that it would be something fun to get back into, so I said that I would do it,” Monty said.
Before Monty’s guidance, the girls’ water polo team from the 2021-22 season had an overall record of 12-6 and a league record of 7-1. In order to keep up the intensity and accomplishments from last season, Monty plans to provide the girls with a positive atmosphere.
“Our goal is to continue to grow as a team in and out of the pool in order to make it to the Marin County Athletic League (MCAL) finals and hopefully win it. Part of my motivation to take this job was to make sure the kids have fun and enjoy their time here at Redwood,” Monty said.
After having taken a break from water polo, Monty is excited to compete again and go through the process of coaching once more.
“Practices have been great, the girls are working very hard, they have excellent attitudes and we have high expectations on how we’re going to do,” Monty said.
Coach Sara Solomon
Coach Sara Solomon grew up in Corte Madera, and went to Redwood High School. While at Redwood, she began cheering freshman year for the JV team. However, she moved up to varsity her sophomore year and became the captain her senior year.
“Cheering at Redwood was the best and I met all of my closest friends through that program, and Heather Long was an amazing and inspiring coach,” Solomon said.
After getting her undergraduate degree at the University of Tampa Florida in applied dance, she moved home and got her master’s degree in education from the Dominican University in San Rafael. In 2017, she worked as the assistant varsity coach and has been working with the cheer team on and off since she graduated from Redwood.
“The retired head varsity coach, Shannon McGuiness, left the cheer program last summer. I got a phone call from [a teacher at Redwood] offering me the job, and I couldn't say no. So now here I am, the head of the program, and very honored to have this role,” Solomon said.
Outside of coaching, Solomon is also a fourth grade teacher at Neil Cummins. Balancing the two jobs is very difficult.
“I don't think people realize how much goes into being a teacher and how much time is spent working on your job outside of the normal hours. It can be a lot to rush from school over to cheer three days a week. But it honestly feels like a reward. I get to do something I love and relive my high school years as a 17-year-old,” Solomon said.
Solomon is looking forward to a great season with an excellent group of talented women.
“I'm excited to bring some traditions back and get my dancing and choreographing up in running as well as some new stunts,” Solomon said.