Downstate Juniors VBC, Inc.

Dennis Adams - As a player, Dennis Adams performed at New York’s highest levels of competition at the Empire State Games (Bronze Medal), IREVA Regional Championships (winning Gold) and participating at National Championships with Co-Sun Men's A/AA club. Dennis played in college as player/coach at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute/RPI Club Team in Upstate NY. Dennis played and coached with various Men's teams while on active duty in the Navy, and returned to playing again about ten years ago in the Peekskill League. Dennis has been coaching with Downstate since 2007 with great interest and enthusiasm, and has brought his volleyball coaching skills to Peekskill H.S. as well.

Valerie Scafidi - in her first year as a head coach for Downstate Juniors, comes with a decade of volleyball experience for the 2012 season. Beginning as a middle-hitter for Mahopac High School, she continued to play for the University at Albany club team. Currently, she plays for the Downstate Adult team as well as various leagues around the Hudson Valley.

Valerie brings passionate energy and a positive demeanor to the game. She emphasizes, a significant and often overlooked factor in an athlete’s success, self-belief and power of an athlete’s mind, which can help them accomplish anything.

A 2007 graduate of University at Albany, she earned a dual Bachelor's Degree in Communication & Rhetoric and in Journalism. She is currently working toward her Master's Degree in Business Administration at New Paltz College.

In addition to volleyball, she enjoys practicing yoga and volunteering as a personal trainer and fitness instructor certified through the Aerobics & Fitness Association of America.

Joel Stanford - Joel has an extensive background in athletics since his collegiate playing days at the University of North Texas where he was a member of the soccer team. Following his collegiate soccer career, he played in the Lone Star region of USA Volleyball (USAV) where he won four regional championships as a player prior to beginning his coaching career. Joel began coaching boys' and girls' junior programs in USA Volleyball where he has won five regional championships and one Junior National Championship.

In 2006 he began working as the Garden Empire Volleyball Association's (GEVA) Junior Competition Director. Joel either directly runs, or helps organize, about 100 junior volleyball tournaments each season.

Joel is now preparing for his first season at the collegiate level as the head coach at NCAA Division II Concordia College, in Bronxville, NY.