Meet the Coach & The Story

Jeffrey Schmitz is a six-year professional setter, National Champion, and alumnus of the University of California, Irvine.

After graduating in 2011, Schmitz played with professional volleyball clubs in Brazil, Finland, and Austria — bringing world-class competition experience back to every athlete he trains.

Schmitz has been coaching volleyball for 22 years. He started his coaching career on the club level in St. Louis at High Performance, and worked his way up to the NCAA Division I level as an assistant coach for the UC Davis women's team.

Schmitz has served as a youth coach internationally as well as at universities across the United States, including the University of Illinois and Stanford University.

With a sharp eye for detail, Schmitz brings a seasoned level of expertise. His love for furthering the game and developing athletes is serious, yet his approach to the game is a playful one — he sees the court as his playground.

He frequently incorporates innovative approaches and different tools to help athletes develop their skills. Being coached by Schmitz is often described as “focused fun” — and his athletes see improvements quickly from his high-impact solutions.

Video playback and analysis are regularly used to help athletes make changes in real time. Schmitz also offers athletes the opportunity to send game video for analysis.

In addition to game skills, Schmitz mentors his athletes through mindset work. Journaling, reframing, confidence building, and offering new perspectives are all regularly incorporated into his coaching.

He understands that what's happening in the mind can impact how the body performs. Beyond awareness, Schmitz offers solutions to these challenges — developing balanced, well-rounded athletes.

At the heart of PolyFace Volleyball is a simple yet powerful idea: volleyball is a game of many faces.

The name “PolyFace” comes from the Greek prefix “poly,” meaning “many,” and “face,” representing the different styles, skills, and approaches that athletes bring to the court. Just like no two players are alike, no two games of volleyball are ever the same. At PolyFace, we celebrate this diversity and channel it into something that helps players not only discover their unique style but also grow from it.

Each of these athletes brings a different face to the game. At PolyFace, we believe in helping players embrace the multiple sides of their game — whether it's learning to set with finesse like Emma, hit with power like Marcus, dig with precision like Sophia, or block with timing like Jay.

PolyFace isn't just about one style or one position. It's about helping athletes recognize the “many faces” within themselves, drawing from the diverse strengths of the game. Whether you're the quiet strategist, the fiery competitor, or the unassuming team player, PolyFace helps you shape your own version of excellence.