Volleyball

Aaron Mansfield is in his third season as Santa Clara Volleyball Associate Head Coach and fifth season overall with the Broncos. The Sunnyvale, California came to Santa Clara after working three previous five years at UC Santa Barbara with the men’s volleyball program.  He was also training with the US National team and playing on the AVP during that span.

Santa Clara got off to its best start in program history at 9-0 in 2016. The Broncos upset No. 7 USC on the road during opening weekend; the Trojans are the highest-ranked team the Broncos have defeated in SCU regular season history. Following its ninth win, the team was ranked 17th in the AVCA Division I Coaches Poll — its highest mark since 2006. The Broncos lost 2015 all-conference and all-region setter Kirsten Mead to injury after the sixth match of the year, and Mead missed 14 matches before returning to the lineup. They finished the season at 16-14 overall and 7-11 in conference play.

The Broncos had an exceptional campaign in 2015; they went 22-9 (13-5 WCC) to finish with the fourth-best winning percentage for a single season in program history and reached the NCAA Tournament for the third time in four years. Their .710 overall winning percentage and .733 regular season winning percentage were the best marks since 2006, and their .722 conference winning percentage was the best mark since 2007. Santa Clara tied single-season program records with 11 home wins and 13 conference wins.

Santa Clara posted an overall record of 22-10 in 2014, including a 12-6 mark in the WCC to finish third in conference. The Broncos earned an at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament — the 15th bid in school history — and fell to No. 8 Oregon in the opening round. Santa Clara began the season at 9-1 and went on to notch four victories against Top 25 opponents and six victories over Top 50 opponents.

Four Bronco volleyball players were honored by the West Coast Conference as part of an 11-win season in 2013. Haley Cameron and Taylor Milton were both named to the All-WCC Honorable Mention team and Hess and Sabrina Clayton were named to the WCC All-Freshman team. With Cameron headlining the First Team honorees list for the Broncos, the Broncos put three players on the 2013 WCC Volleyball All-Academic Team. Katherine Douglas and Katy Schatzman were also named to the Honorable Mention All-Academic Team. 

In 2012 the Broncos advanced to the NCAA tournament for the 14th time in school history, falling to No. 8 Hawaii in the first round. Megan Anders was named to the WCC First Team and it was the 15^th straight season the Santa Clara volleyball team has placed at least one player on the WCC First Team.  In addition, Taylor Milton was named to the All-WCC Honorable Mention team.

In 2007, Mansfield was invited to train with the USA National Team where he played for two years. Mansfield has also competed on the AVP since 2008 and led the AVP tour in digs in 2010. During that time, he spent two years coaching club at Manhattan Beach Surf where he led his teams to two silver medals in the 17U Open Division of Jr. Nationals, and also coached at Loyola High School where they earned a CIF and state championship.

While in Santa Barbara, he also worked as the Boys Volleyball Director and as a coach of the Santa Barbara Club Team.

Mansfield played volleyball at UC Santa Barbara where he was a four-year starter, three-year team captain, and in 2005, he earned All-American honors as a libero. He was selected to the All-MPSF Team all four years and is the all-time dig leader at UCSB. Mansfield ranks as UCSB's all-time digs leader with exactly 1,000, over 200 more than the next closest player. He graduated from UCSB with a degree in cultural anthropology.

Mansfield is originally from Northern California where he attended and played volleyball at Homestead High School in Sunnyvale/Cupertino.   He played under Roger Edwards and Jason Mansfield at Homestead High School where he helped lead the Mustangs to league championships in each of his four years on the team.  He was named all-league four straight years and named the De Anza League MVP three times.  He set the school record of kills in a match with 45.

While attending UCSB, Aaron was also the head coach for Club Santa Barbara’s boys 18’s team from 2001-05. After graduating from UCSB he took the assistant coaching job with UCSB women’s team for one season. Following that season, he was hired as the first assistant with the UCSB men’s team where he spent two years working with the men’s team (2005-07).

He married the former Lindsey Spainhour on May 16, 2014 and they reside in Los Gatos.

WHAT OTHERS SAID ABOUT COACH MANSFIELD WHEN HE WAS HIRED IN 2012

Keith Busam, teammate at UCSB

“Aaron is the most hard working, professional coach I know, whose passion for the game of volleyball shows in everything that he does. His ability to identify talent and coach it to its fullest potential is second to none. He has been a winner at every level of volleyball and I expect nothing but continued success for the Santa Clara Women's Volleyball program with Aaron on the staff 

“Santa Clara is one of the premier volleyball programs in the country and they only made themselves better with the addition of Aaron Mansfield.”

Rick McLaughlin, UCSB Head Men’s Volleyball Coach

“Aaron is an exceptional coach.  We will miss him very much here at UCSB, but we understand that this is a great opportunity for him to get experience in the women's game.  He will be a very good Head Coach at the collegiate level in the women's game down the road.  I'm excited for him.  Jon and Matt are getting not only a great coach, but a solid person.”

Jarred Godinez, teammate at UCSB and coached him at UCSB as well

“My wife and I are happy he is joining the Santa Clara staff! He will be a welcome addition I’m sure! Aaron is arguably one of the best liberos to play in NCAA Division I Men's volleyball. When the libero position was accepted back in 2000, he set the mold for the position.  From there Aaron used his athletic prowess, ball control and court leadership to earn All-American.  He also set the record for most career digs at UCSB, usurping prior record holder, Beach Volleyball Gold Medalist Todd Rodgers.   

As a teacher of the game, Aaron excels in communication. Not all great players make great coaches because they aren't able to convey their information effectively.  Aaron is able to transfer his decades of playing and coaching knowledge in a clear and understandable way. With his strong work ethic and high standards of training I'm sure his impact in the gym should be felt immediately.”