Excited to join the LASA Athletic Program and the Volleyball Family!
As I start the 2020 school year at LASA, I am very excited to be in the position of Head Volleyball and Head Basketball Coach for the LASA Raptors and be in the teaching position as SCORES Special Education teacher.
Growing up in a 3A school in Colorado City, TX, I played volleyball, basketball, track, and was very involved in high school activities such as student council, cheerleading, and band. After graduation from high school, I continued my athletic career by playing college volleyball and basketball at Sul Ross State University in Alpine, TX. Throughout my 4 year college athletic career at Sul Ross State University I played middle blocker, outside left and right hitter, middle back defense and was able to accomplish 1st Team All-Conference, Conference Player of the Week, and also named Team Captain for 3 years and received Best All-Around Player of the Year Award for Sul Ross State University.
Upon graduation from college in 1991 and receiving my Bachelor of Science with a Minor in Political Science and Masters of Education with Principal Certification, I then followed my dream of coaching at the high school and college level. Over the 28 years in education I have been given the opportunity to experience coaching at the 2A-5A high school level as a Head Volleyball, Head Basketball, and Assistant Coach in the areas of track, softball, and golf. I was also very fortunate to reach my goal of coaching in college as a Division III Head Volleyball Coach at Hardin-Simmons University and then continuing on to be the Head Volleyball Coach at Division I Centenary College of Louisiana where I gained the experience of coaching Division I athletes and competing against other Division I college teams such as LSU, Tulane, and branches of Texas A&M University and University of Texas.
As I approach year 29 in my career of education, I have gained many valuable experiences as a Head Coach at Austin High School and Travis High School within Austin ISD; however, during my time as a Principal of the Discipline Alternative School in Del Valle ISD, I also implemented strategies of empowering team concepts within groups of people to focus efforts on the daily process of work ethic and accomplishment. With all those experiences, I have learned to value all types of teams, successes and challenges with each team, and to always strive to unite players and teams to be competitive athletes, great students, and graduates ready for society. My challenge to all athletes is to be the best person, best teammate, best game and practice player you can be to achieve an overall competitive atmosphere and Team Success!
Athletes and families are invited to meet Coach Tarter and bid farewell to Coach Juan Beltrán Pujol on a video call scheduled for Friday, June 12 at 10:00am. Details available under Events.