Recently in Jessica Granados Category

I just got off the phone with Aquinas director of marketing Gina Roquet, who told me that Aquinas has hired Gabriel Padilla as its new boys basketball coach. Padilla, an assistant at Aquinas, will replace David Johnson, who has taken an assistant coach job with the Pepperdine women's basketball team.

Also, Aquinas promoted assistant volleyball coach Sarah Rice to head coach to replace Jessica Granados. Granados, who played with Rice at Cal State San Bernardino, left after a season to pursue professional volleyball opportunities in Europe.

After a standout career as an outside hitter for Cal State San Bernardino, Jessica Granados has decided to stay close to her alma mater for her first post-graduate job.

The 21-year old Granados was hired as the head volleyball coach at Aquinas, replacing Eric Benitez. Granados, the CCAA's reigning Female Athlete of the Year, was initially hired as an assistant coach but was promoted when Benitez left right after the school year.

"I never expected to be a head coach this quick," Granados said. "I figured I was years off from that. I'm really excited about the opportunity. A lot of these girls came to camps we had at Cal State, so it will be fun to work with them again."

Aquinas athletic director Chris Ybarra is excited about Granados' potential with the Falcons, who went 13-12 a year ago.

"Jessica has done some club coaching, so she has experience despite her youth," Ybarra said. "The girls saw how well she did at Cal State and will be excited to work with her."