Club Director
Jeff Liker
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Jeff has been involved with volleyball for a large portion of his life. After playing at Wauwatosa West, he came back to his alma mater and was the head boys' varsity volleyball coach for five years. In those five years, he helped lead Tosa West to two Sectional Finals and two State appearances (one semi-finalist and one runner-up). Jeff decided to resign from coaching to help raise his young family. Jeff loves to spend time with his family (wife and two daughters), travel and play volleyball.
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13's Head Coach
Eric Bachar
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Eric's playing days were in the days of side out scoring and no libero. When his oldest child decided to play volleyball, and his school asked for volunteers with knowledge of the game, Eric got into middle school coaching. He has coached 13 seasons of middle school volleyball.
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13's Assistant Coach
Jenna Lahmann
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Jenna comes from a volleyball family and she couldn’t be more excited to help coach the B13s this year! She started her volleyball career in middle school, and has been playing ever since. She is a graduate of UW-Oshkosh and also played on the women’s club volleyball team there for four years. While at UW-Oshkosh, she was club president and was honored as a Second Team All American selection. Jenna's infectious energy and keen knowledge of the game is definitely an asset to her players and to Spike Milwaukee.
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15-Brandon Head Coach
Brandon Nelsen
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Brandon is a volleyball guy. From streaming international volleyball matches to listening to volleyball podcasts, he immerses himself in the game. Brandon brings a balance of skill development and winning to the Spike Milwaukee program. Furthermore, he prides himself on always being focused on creating a fun learning experience for his players and building a successful team atmosphere. Brandon is also in charge of Spike Milwaukee's website. He is now entering the world of girls volleyball as he gets the chance to coach his grade school daughters team as well!
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15-Brandon Assistant Coach
Matt Fibich
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Matt grew up involved with volleyball in Wauwatosa - playing middle hitter for four years at Tosa East from 2002-2005. Later, Matt played with the UWM Club Volleyball team. He presently lives on the East Side and enjoys playing pick up games at Bradford Beach during the summer months. He believes in a well-rounded, active lifestyle, regularly hiking, biking & swimming as well as playing tennis and softball for recreation. Matt is an educator who enjoys working with youth and is grateful and excited to be a part of the Spike VBC family!
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15-Pam Head Coach
Pam Lahmann
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Like many of our coaches, Pam brings a ton of experience to Spike Milwaukee. Pam started her coaching career as the boys’ JV coach at Waukesha North for one year, then became the girls’ head coach for 13 years. After taking a break to raise her family, she got back in to coaching. In addition to her coaching, Pam has literally been ensconced in volleyball since her playing days in high school and at UWWC and watching her son and daughter become very accomplished volleyball players in high school and college. Pam continues to play at a national senior level. She brings loads of enthusiasm, knowledge, strives to stay on top of the current practices in the sport and is incredibly dedicated to her players and volleyball.
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15-Pam Assistant Coach
Jessica Thomas
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Jessica Thomas has been a dedicated and passionate volleyball coach for over 18 years, bringing experience, energy, and heart to every team she works with. She spent 14 seasons coaching JV girls volleyball at Wauwatosa West High School, where she was known for her focus on fundamentals, teamwork, and player development.
In addition to her time at Tosa West, Jessica coached both her niece and nephews at Grace Lutheran for four years, and has worked with athletes of all ages and skill levels through club coaching, including a previous stint at Spike. After a well-earned break from the sidelines, she came out of retirement for “one last season” to coach alongside longtime friend and fellow coach, Pam. Volleyball has been a lifelong part of Jessica’s world — from growing up in a volleyball family to competing at UW Waukesha and playing in numerous local leagues. That deep-rooted connection to the game fuels her coaching style and commitment to her players. What Jessica values most about coaching is watching her athletes grow — not just in skill, but in confidence and connection as a team. Her love for the game and her players makes her a respected and inspiring presence wherever she coaches.
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16's Head Coach
Jerry Lahmann
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Jerry has made volleyball an integral part of his life, and for 50+ years he has been a player, coach, clinician, official and advocate for the sport. He has been coaching with Spike Milwaukee/Trojan VBC since 2008. Jerry is well-respected by his players and the parents for his volleyball savvy and his ability to make huge gains with each of his athletes, leading to many tournament successes. During his tenure at Waukesha North as varsity coach, he led his team to four State semi-finals appearances and one State runner-up. Jerry is, without question, one of the most accomplished coaches that Southeast Wisconsin has seen.
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16's Assistant Coach
Mike Guilfoyle
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Mike is a lifelong volleyball enthusiast. While his high school did not have a boys volleyball team, it did not stop him from learning the game. Over the course of time, Mike picked up the game and became a student of the game while playing in multiple leagues. In fact, he met his wife playing volleyball. He is a big fan of all things volleyball - beach, indoor, college, club, high school or recreational. He enjoys teaching his players the technical aspects of the game, but as his players progress he loves teaching the mental aspects of the game to them. Mike's gentle approach with his players and volleyball savvy are two of his many great attributes he brings to the table.
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17's Head Coach
Ken Latus
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Ken is an enthusiastic volleyball player, fan, and longtime coach of many different sports. He was an all conference outside hitter during his high school volleyball career at Waukesha North, where he learned from the best under head coach Jerry Lahmann. Ken is passionate about coaching youth sports, and is a big believer in teaching kids fundamental skills, teamwork, and sportsmanship, all while having a blast on the court! Outside of volleyball, Ken has been a baseball coach, basketball coach, is an avid tennis player, and loves spending time doing all of the above with his wife and two sons.
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17's Assistant Coach
Andy Latus
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Andy grew up playing volleyball with his two older brothers. He attended Waukesha North high school where he made varsity his sophomore year, was a two-time team MVP and an all-conference setter. Andy also played two years of club volleyball at Southwest VBC. He attended UW-Madison where he played intramurals and he is an avid fan of Badgers volleyball. Andy still enjoys playing volleyball recreationally and is excited to help coach the 15's this year alongside his brother Ken.
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18's Head Coach
Mitch Lahmann |
Mitch is an avid volleyball player and has accomplished many achievements in that time. He started his career at Tosa West and was on varsity for 4 years--3 years as a starter. There, he was the middle blocker/hitter, but played all six spots on the court. As a senior, he was named to the 2nd Team All State team. Mitch also played club volleyball at UW-Oshkosh and in his first three years, helped his team win two national titles. There he was team captain and honored as an all American Honorable Mention. Mitch brings tons of experience and knowledge as a player and is a coach that athletes will instantly know commands a presence.
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18's Assistant Coach
James Petersen
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Coach James brings a lifelong passion for volleyball and a strong leadership background to Spike. His journey in the sport began in middle school and quickly grew into a competitive career. James played high school volleyball at Catholic Memorial High School and further honed his skills with Spike Milwaukee.
James continued his volleyball career at the collegiate level, competing four years on the University of Wisconsin La Crosse Division II men’s club volleyball team. During his time there, James served as a leader on and off the court, helping the team reach back-to-back national championship appearances, including a 1st place finish his senior year in 2022. His performance also earned him Second Team All-State honors. James remains active in the volleyball community, participating in grass tournaments and sand leagues throughout the year. Now turning his focus to coaching, Coach James is driven by a purpose to pass down the leadership skills and values taught to him by his mentors. He understands the level of commitment each athlete makes by joining the club and is fully dedicated to helping each player improve and reach their potential—whether that is sharpening fundamentals, elevating game IQ, or preparing for the next level in their volleyball journey. |
