John joined the Seaside staff in 1994 after playing two years at the libero position for Grossmont College under Coach Featherstone.  John was a key player on the ’94 team that finished 3rd at the State Tournament.  

     In his first year, John coached the 16-1 team to a Bronze Medal (3rd place finish) at the Junior Olympics in Orlando, Florida in 1995.  In 1996,  John assisted Coach Featherstone with the 18 Black team at the JO’s where they finished 12th overall in San Jose, California.

     In ’97, John was the head coach of the 16-1 team, but was highly instrumental as the third assistant with an extremely talented Seaside 18 Black team that captured the Gold Medal in Denver, Colorado.  John’s 16-1 team placed 5th at the Jo’s in Denver at the same national tournament.  In addition in ’96, John was the assistant boys coach at Francis Parker High School where they won a CIF title; and then the following year (’97) with Mike Baykal at San Dieguito High School where their boys team won CIF.  

In 1998, John moved back to Orange County where he grew up and began coaching with perennial power, Balboa Bay VBC.  John coached with Balboa Bay until 2006.  John coached numerous Balboa teams to top five finishes during this span.  John was hired at Santa Marguerita High School in 1998.  He proceeded to win CIF every year until 2001.  For his efforts, John was named Orange County Coach of the Year in 2001.

John’s success and background at both the club and high school levels, allowed him to catapult to the Division I Men’s level where he became the men’s assistant at UC Irvine, Long Beach State, and USC.  During this span, John was USA Junior National Team Head Coach in 2010 – 2011; and then became an assistant men’s coach at the World University Games shortly thereafter.

   At present, John is the Assistant Coach for UCLA Men's Volleyball.  Finally, John was a key coach at the first few Seaside Next Level Summer Camps and will always be welcomed back when he can be in San Diego in August.

     Coach Featherstone on John Hawks :  “I knew from the first day I coached him as a college player that he would someday make a great coach. . .great passion, vocal with his teammates, good command of the game, solid playing ability at his position (libero). . .all the intangibles. . .as it turned out, I was right. . .John had a short stint with Seaside but it was a highly successful one. . .He taught perimeter and floor defense as well as anybody could possibly teach it. . .Tremendous gym coach. . .When I first began to assemble a staff for the Next Level Camps, John was the first guy I wanted to work with the Director, Mark Presho. . .After years of coaching at various DI colleges, the two of them had so much knowledge of the DI game, that it was a slam dunk decision. . .Fortunately, they both were real excited about doing this in San Diego. . .John is now on his way to becoming an extremely successful volleyball coach at numerous levels. . . John’s even-keeled temperament will always be a big plus as it will allow him to cross-over to coach males or females, at virtually every level. . .If we had more men’s college jobs in America, he’d already be there, but I can see him at the DI women’s level, no problem. . . John’s had the opportunity to work with many of the best minds in the men’s college and high school games. . .this should serve him well over the coming years.”