CR Announces New Head Coaches for Womens Volleyball and Soccer

Mar 25 2025

College of the Redwoods is excited to announce the hiring of Macy Thomas as Head Coach for Women’s Volleyball and Juan Perez as Head Coach for Women’s Soccer. Both coaches bring impressive experience as players and mentors and are set to lead their programs into a new era of growth and competition.

Macy Thomas Named Head Women’s Volleyball Coach

Thomas joins CR after serving as a Graduate Assistant Coach at Cal Poly Humboldt, where she developed her skills in strength and conditioning, practice planning, and program operations. A Denver, Colorado native, she was also a standout student-athlete, serving as President of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and leading multiple community engagement projects, including fundraising for the Make-A-Wish Foundation and pediatric cancer awareness initiatives.

During her playing career, Thomas competed as a Libero/Defensive Specialist, captaining the team in 2022. She holds both a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a focus on New Venture Management and a master’s degree in Business Administration from Cal Poly Humboldt.

“We are extremely excited to bring Macy onboard to lead our Women’s Volleyball program,” said CR Athletics Director Bob Brown. “In her brief time coaching at Cal Poly Humboldt, she clearly has made a significant impact in student-athlete success and demonstrated the kind of initiative and drive that we believe will fit in great with our department’s philosophy. We look forward to her joining our team and providing her the opportunity to establish and gain experience as a college head coach.”

Thomas is eager to take on the challenge of building a strong and competitive program at CR.

“I am incredibly honored and excited to step into the role of Head Volleyball Coach at College of the Redwoods,” said Thomas. “This program has so much potential, and I look forward to building a culture of strength, competitiveness, teamwork, and growth both on and off the court. Volleyball has been such a huge part of my life, and I’m excited to use my experiences as both a player and coach to develop our student-athletes.”

Juan Perez Named Head Women’s Soccer Coach

Perez, who has been an Assistant Coach for CR Men’s Soccer, will now take over the Women’s Soccer program. A Chico State and Cal Poly Humboldt alumnus, Perez brings a strong background in competitive soccer, playing at the collegiate and semi-professional level in the Bay Area. Growing up, he played travel soccer in Vallejo, Fairfield, and Vacaville, developing a deep passion for the sport and player development.

Perez holds a Master’s in Exercise Science, and his experience as both a player and coach will be instrumental in continuing to build a strong women’s program at CR.

“We are thrilled to provide Juan the opportunity to lead our Women’s Soccer program,” said Brown. “In his first year assisting with the Men’s program, Juan demonstrated a work ethic, enthusiasm, and leadership style in his communication with team members that we believe will translate well to our Women’s program. He has a large task in front of him to recruit and build the depth to establish and sustain the clear vision he has shown in his short time coaching at CR. His playing experience, educational background, and team-building approach will be a great fit in continuing the foundation and growth of the program.”

Brown also expressed his gratitude to the previous Women’s Soccer coaches, Taylor McMillin and Tia Graham, for their dedication and resilience in their time leading the team.

Perez is ready to take on the challenge of leading and developing the Women’s Soccer program.

A New Era for CR Athletics

With Thomas and Perez stepping into their respective roles, College of the Redwoods is reinforcing its commitment to athletic excellence and student-athlete development. “I am excited to welcome Coach Macy Thomas and Coach Juan Perez to the CR family,” says CR President Dr. Keith Flamer. “I look forward to watching them put their vision into place. They understand the importance of building a winning culture and developing student-athletes inside and outside of the classroom.”