Lena Chan enters her fourth year as the head coach at her alma mater, and is working to transform her young Pacific program into a dynamic presence in the Northwest Conference.
The former Boxers’ standout has mentored the program through three transitional seasons, reaching a high water mark of 7-17 during both the 2008 and 2009 seasons. Throughout her three years, the Boxers have performed well against some of the nation’s top Division III programs, including Wartburg, Central (Iowa) and La Verne.
Chan also continued to develop some key young players whom she hopes will be the foundation of future success of the Pacific program. She has coached outside hitter Kelsy Takashima to All-Northwest Conference honors in each of her first three years. Outside hitter Alexa Block and libero Jade Thompson have also earned all-conference accolades under Chan.
Chan arrived at Pacific in 2008 with a well-documented track record of success. She spent the previous six seasons at Mt. Hood Community College in Gresham. The three-time NWAACC Volleyball Coach of the Year led the Saints to NWAACC championships in 2002, 2006 and 2007 and a second place finish in 2005. Chan amassed a 193-48 record at Mt. Hood, finishing with a .800 winning percentage.
In 2007, Chan led the Saints to a 34-4 record en route to the NWAACC championship. In addition to being named NWAACC Coach of the Year, Chan saw the selection of Beth Perkins as the NWAACC Southern Division Player of the Year and as a Second Team Junior College All-American by the American Volleyball Coaches Association.
Overall, Chan saw 15 of her players move on to four-year programs, including five who matriculated to NCAA Division I programs. Her successful charges included 2003 AVCA First Team All-American Amy Bell, who went on to a successful career at Weber State. She also coaches four NWAACC Most Valuable Player selections and numerous conference players of the week.
Prior to her arrival at Mt. Hood, Chan spent three seasons as the head volleyball coach at Beaverton’s Southridge High School, where she has been on the teaching staff since 1999.
In addition to her college coaching duties, Chan has operated the 10-team Athena Volleyball Academy since 2002. She has also worked as a clinician in camps all across the Northwest as well as camps at Baylor, Pepperdine and Washington.
Chan’s successful coaching career followed a highly successful playing career that saw the former Lena Kaer excel at both the NAIA and NCAA Division I levels. Chan began her college career at Pacific, where she helped lead the Boxers to a third place Northwest Conference finish in 1993 and a second place finish in 1994. An outside hitter, Chan was an All-Northwest Conference selection in 1994 and ranks among the Boxers’ all-time single season leaders in kills and blocks.
Chan moved to Baylor University in Waco, Texas, in 1996, fulfilling a dream of playing Division I volleyball. A two-time letterwinner, Chan was a First Team Big-12 All-Academic selection in 1996 and 1997 and led the Bears in service aces during the 1996 season.
Chan continues to play volleyball competitively as a member of the elite Team Nike program. In 2001, Chan also had a try-out for the United States Professional Volleyball tour.
A native of Mililani, Hawaii, Chan graduated from Baylor in 1997 with a degree in mathematics. She and her husband, Alex, are the proud parents of two daughters, Malia, 8, and Maile, 5.
