Maccabi Volleyball

Coaches

Jon Aharoni - USA Beach Volleyball - volleyzen@mac.com (310) 849-9229
Men's Beach Team Member/Chairperson: Maccabi Games Israel 2005
Men's Beach Team Member/Chairperson: Pan-Am games Argentina 2007 (Gold Medal)
Men's Indoor Team Member: Pan-Am games Argentina 2007 (Bronze Medal)

Doug Beal - USA Volleyball - doug.beal@usav.org 719-228-6800
Men's Team Member: Maccabi Games Israel 1969

" It is hard for me to over state the impact of my experience in participating in the Maccabi Games in 1969. It was my first real exposure to international sport as a participant and ignited a passion for the unique mix of competition, travel, culture and world wide friendships that have been my life ever since. Going to Israel, experiencing the other teams, foreign values, different cultures, shared priorities, and the broader world of international sport can be a life changing event. The mixture of Jewish heritage and history makes this event that much more special. This trip helped me grow and helped shape my view of the world and life, unlike any since ." - Douglas P. Beal (CEO USA Volleyball)

Ian Blanchard - UMBC - iblanch@umbc.edu 410-455-3241
Head Women's Coach Maccabi Games Israel 2005

Steve Carlat - Arizona (Men) - scarlat@dakotacom.net
Men's Team Member: Maccabi Games Israel 1965,69,73 (Bronze medalists)
Assistant Men’s Coach: Maccabi Games Israel 1985 (Bronze medal)
Head Men’s Coach: Maccabi Games Israel 1989 (Bronze medal)
Head Men’s Coach: Maccabi Games Israel 2001 (Silver medal)
Co-Head Women’s Coach: Maccabi Games Israel 2001 (Silver medal)

"My experiences both as a player and coach have had a significant effect on me from multiple standpoints. The deepening of my awareness of the difficult life the Israeli people live day to day and the enormous challenges facing them and the country, the experience of seeing how all the participants from various countries join together through sport, yet step beyond the bounds of the games to celebrate their love for the country and the spirit that the Israeli people display, and lastly my time in Israel had a profound impact on my personal level of pride that I have as a Jewish man and the commitment to stand up for all people's right to live freely without persecution because of their beliefs.” - Steve Carlat

Head Men’s Coach: Maccabi Games Israel 2005 (Bronze medal)
Assistant Men’s Coach: Maccabi Games Israel 1997 & 1989
Assistant Women's Coach: Maccabi Games Israel 1985

Sam Shweisky - Princeton - Shweisky@Princeton.edu 513-280-0273
Men's Team Member: Maccabi Games Israel 2001, 2005 (Silver & Bronze Medals)
Men's Indoor Team Member: Pan-Am games Argentina 2007 (Bronze Medal)
Junior Girl's Team Head Coach: Israel 2005 (Silver Medal)
Women's Team Assistant Coach: Pan-Am games Argentina 2007 (Silver Medal)

"Being given the opportunity to wear a Maccabi USA-Jersey and represent America in the sport of volleyball has been one of the most gratifying experiences of my life. Helping to facilitate young athletes to achieve the same dream has been extremely rewarding as well. I feel honored and privileged to be able to give back to an organization that has given me so much." - Sam Shweisky

Dane Selznick - USA Volleyball teamselz@aol.com 310-666-7247 Men's Team Member: Maccabi Games Israel 1973

Gene Selznick - Gene’s Team - geneselz@dslextreme.com 323-464-1699
Men's Team Member: Maccabi Games Israel 1957, 1961, 1973
Men's Team Head Coach: Israel 1957, 1961, 1973

To be involved with the Maccabi games was a great honor for me. They are the Jewish Olympics and they were the second biggest event next to the Olympics. I feel very fortunate to have been able to play, to coach, and to coach my son Dane in the Maccabi games in Israel." - Gene Selznick

Greg Spector - Bridgewater College - gregjspector@yahoo.com 317-938-2506
Men's Team Member: Maccabi Games Israel 1989, 1993, 1997, 2001 (Silver Medal)
Men's Indoor Team Member: Pan-Am games Argentina 2007 (Bronze Medal)
Men's & Women's Team Assistant Coach: Israel 2001 (Silver Medal)
Women's Team Head Coach: Pan-Am games Argentina 2007 (Silver Medal)

"The Maccabi games have helped shape me as an athlete and continue to guide me as a coach. Through my involvement in these events I have learned how truly small the world is and how strong and united the global Jewish community is. I have a terrific sense of pride in my heritage and I owe a great deal of it to the Maccabi Experience!" - Greg Spector

Mike Spector - Maccabiah USA - mspecs2@cs.com 310-477-9766
Volleyball Chair: Israel 1997, 2001, 2005
Volleyball Chair:

Pan-Am games Mexico City 1999 & Argentina 2007

"My wife, daughter and I went to Israel in 1989 to support my son Greg who played on the open men's volleyball team. We went again in 1993 and for 1997 they asked me to chair the volleyball teams. I gladly accepted and have chaired all the volleyball competitions for Israel and Pan Am since (except for Chile in 2003). Why do It? Three reasons, I love being jewish, I love Israel and I love sports. The Maccabi games fulfill all three loves." - Mike Spector

JT Wenger - UCLA Men - jtwngr4@hotmail.com 847-207-9717
Men's Team Head Coach: Pan-Am games Argentina 2007 (Bronze Medal) Men's Indoor Team Member: Pan-Am games Argentina 2007 (Bronze Medal)
Men's Beach Team Member: Pan-Am games Argentina 2007 (Gold Medal)

"Being a part of the Pan-American Macabbi games in Buenos Aires was an excellent experience. The competition was great and the team camaraderie was fantastic. The best part was being able to meet people from different cultures, and learn about other parts of the world. It was an honor to represent the US Jewish community overseas." - J.T. Wenger

USA Jacket, Ball, and Silver Medal (Israel 2005)