The people
behind the program.
College players, national champions, and lifelong coaches — unified in how we teach the game. Put a face to the names you'll see in the gym every week.
Owners & Club Directors
4 people
Cindy Gritzman
All those shirts that read "volleyball is life"… well, I believe it. I've been playing volleyball since I was in 5th grade and am a firm believer in how important sports are in life.
My husband and I started Top Flight with the fundamental principle of providing the best for our athletes and their families. We understand that having children in club sports takes dedication from the whole family. We teach athletes life lessons through sports and create a true bonding experience with members of our club.
I coach to make a difference. I expect my athletes to work hard on and off the court. I encourage them to try new things and push themselves to be their best. I love the people that I meet, the lives that I help make a difference in, and the career that I have.
Sean Gritzman
I feel coaching is a way of giving back to the sport I am so passionate about. I have been playing volleyball since I was 15 years old. As I got older I decided to become a coach to help pass along the skills, knowledge, and life lessons I learned through my playing career. Over the past 20+ years, I have done just that.
I'm a true believer that you need to teach the "game" of volleyball along with the technical skills required to play. I spend time with my athletes teaching the tactical aspects of the game to increase their overall volleyball IQ. Understanding the game makes it easier to play — it slows it down to a manageable pace, which becomes crucial as players get older and start playing at higher levels.
Along with tactical and technical skill development, I push athletes to learn how to self-motivate, control their emotions, manage their time, and put the team before themselves. These are lifelong skills that can be used beyond athletics.
I coach both boys and girls of all ages. I've coached beginner-level players through top-level Division I recruits, and teams to undefeated seasons and national championships. It doesn't matter who you are or what level you play — I will spend the time with you to help you develop in a sport you enjoy playing.
Jason Yeates
My volleyball career began over 30 years ago when I was introduced to the sport in high school. While also involved in soccer and tennis, I developed a stronger passion for volleyball and pursued it as my main sport. It quickly became an essential part of my life, teaching me countless lessons about teamwork.
After high school, I attended the University of Kansas and played men's club volleyball as one of the only freshmen placed on the team. I also worked with the women's volleyball team for three years, involved in drills and coordinating practices. Learning from coaches at the college level showed me firsthand what it took to play at the collegiate level — knowledge I've incorporated into my own coaching style.
In 2003 I got back into coaching at a Chicagoland-area high school, working with both boys and girls. After seven years as an assistant, I took over as Boys Varsity coach at another school. In 2017 I stepped down for family and relocated to Charleston, SC, where I am currently the head Varsity coach at James Island Charter High School.
I've coached at the club level since 2007, working with boys and girls ages 13–18. I look forward to every future team I'll have the opportunity to coach, sharing my knowledge and passion to give back to the sport that has given me so much.
Mike Zimmerman
I love the game of volleyball and passing on knowledge to new generations. The opportunity to coach is something I take very seriously. I like to ensure that we, as a team, hold everyone to the highest standards of being a good teammate and a good person. It's always my goal to ensure every player is better tomorrow than they were yesterday — accomplished only through hard work, dedication and discipline.
I'm a true believer that you need to teach the "game" of volleyball along with the technical skills required to play. I spend time with my athletes teaching the tactical aspects of the game to increase their overall volleyball IQ. Understanding the game slows it down to a manageable pace, which becomes crucial as players reach higher levels.
Along with tactical and technical development, I push athletes to self-motivate, control their emotions, manage their time, and put the team before themselves — intangibles that help you achieve your goals and continue setting new ones. I've coached beginner-level players through Varsity, and it doesn't matter who you are or what level you play; I'll spend the time to help you develop.
Managers & Coordinators
2 people
Chas Kennedy
Chas brings over 27 years of coaching and playing knowledge, including several National Open Championship wins and many more top-5 finishes. He has lived his entire coaching career by the motto: "A good coach will make his players see what they can be rather than what they are." — Ara Parseghian
To me that means providing players the technique and movements needed but, more importantly, allowing that player to find the confidence and belief within themselves to be the best volleyball player and person they can be. When a player is moving confidently and in control of themselves, then they can truly understand ball control — and because the 'ball never lies,' this is key to winning points.
I ask my players for two things: effort and fun. If you can give it all you've got and enjoy the process, then once all players are moving with this confidence within a team, they can finally see what kind of legacy they can leave.
Personal Bio
- Career Club Volleyball Coach (Juniors 10–18s)
- Played Collegiate and Club Volleyball
- Head/Assistant Coach — 3 Open Division AAU National Championships
- Head/Assistant Coach — Final Four US National teams
- 6× Head Coach — AAU/US National Elite 8 Open Division teams
- 5× Head Coach — USA National Open Division Qualifying teams
- 13× Head Coach — USA National Qualifying teams (all divisions)
Omar Cortez
My passion for volleyball started the summer after 7th grade, thanks to my older sister taking me to her high school summer camp. Since then, I've been playing and coaching the sport I love for over 20 years. At 15 and 16, I was part of two AAU National Championship teams, and I still participate in adult tournaments and USAV adult nationals whenever possible.
I began my coaching career thanks to my former varsity head coach, Edward Wrather. He hired me as the JV coach for both the boys' and girls' programs, mentoring me for two years. After his retirement, I took over the varsity program. Since then, I've coached at multiple high schools and clubs throughout Lake County.
As a coach, I ask three things from my athletes: effort, discipline, and fun. If you apply these three principles to anything in life, you're bound to succeed.
Volleyball Experience
- 10 years of high school coaching (JV–Varsity)
- 8 years of club coaching (15–18s)
- Club volleyball player
- 2 AAU National Championships
Club, camp & academy coaches
The full roster of Illinois coaches who train our athletes across every program, age and level.