Tom Pestolesi began his volleyball career at Huntington Beach High School, graduating in 1978. He then attended Long Beach State, majoring in Physical Education and competing in volleyball. 

 

Pestolesi transferred to the University of Hawaii and earned his degree in Physical Education in 1983. Tom was an All-American in volleyball at Hawaii in 1982 and 1983. He earned his Masters Degree from Long Beach State in 1989.

 

He coached girls and boys volleyball for 15 years at the high school level at Estancia and then Newport Harbor with good friend Danny Glenn.

 

Pestolesi started the men's volleyball program at Irvine Valley in 1991. He was hired full-time in 1998 to coach both the women's and men's volleyball teams. He has led the men's program to state titles in 1993, 2007 and 2008 and the women's team to state championship appearances five times.

 

The women's team finished second in the state in 2003 and third in the state in 2009 and 2013.

 

He is currently the Director of Volleyball at IVC, acting as an assistant coach for the men's team and the head coach of the women's indoor and beach teams.

 

Many of Pestolesi's former players have gone on to have successful volleyball careers. Some of his former players include John Wallace, Adam Lockwood, Todd and Brandi Brooks, Matt Feurbringer, Melissa Schutz, Misty May and Jennifer Carey.

 

Pestolesi has also coached professionally on the four player pro beach tour and has had the good fortune to coach players such as Kim Oden, Stephanie Cox, Joy Makenzie, Antonette White, Janet Cobbs and Wendy Stammer.

 

And he is currently working with the women's and men's national teams during their summer training.