Charles Gage Named Women's Volleyball Head Coach

Charles Gage has been named the new Head Coach for LA Mission Women's Volleyball.

Gage was an assistant coach with the Eagles in the 2017 season under former Head Coach Richard Barraza and now takes the helm in his second year, adding to a long list of coaching experience.

An alum of LA Pierce College, Gage played for two years with the men's volleyball team and was an assistant coach there from 1999 to 2001, helping to lead the team to two back-to-back State Championships in '00 and '01.

Gage has additionally seen much success at the club level, having coached for 12 years with Santa Monica Beach Club boys' volleyball and a decade with Malibu Volleyball Club and Southern California Volleyball Club. During this span he has coached his teams to multiple Junior National medals.

Entering his first year as a college head coach, Gage is looking forward to new challenges and opportunities.

"I've coached club for years and miss the experience of a 'normal' season," Gage said. "In club you only see players four to six hours a week and play multiple matches in one day. Those limited hours don't allow you the same opportunities to build relationships and train as LA Mission."

He describes himself as an instructor first when it comes to coaching, saying his style is to place high importance on details in practices.

"I feel the best coaches over time are the best teachers," he said. "Just as teacher, or professor, prepares their students for exams and tests, a coach prepares for competition. Players can only be expected to demonstrate skills they've practiced and trained to perform."  

Gage has already built his coaching staff. His assistant coach will be Leo Granto, who played at Pierce College and Pepperdine University, and the volunteer assistant will be Denise Torres, who played for LAMC Women's Volleyball in 2016 and 2017.  

The new coaching staff will hope to improve on an 11-11 overall record, and a 3-5 Western State Conference record from the 2017 season.

"All I can promise the players is that we will play a lot and will get better through competition," Gage said.

 Gage is currently a teacher with the LAUSD. He lives in Chatsworth with his wife Christina and their two children, Samantha (4 years old) and Charlie (9 months old).