Peter Boulware
Founder and Owner
Peter Boulware is the director of Community Leadership Academy and vice president of Legacy Toyota in Tallahassee. He graduated from Florida State University in 1997 with a bachelor’s degree in Management Information Systems. As a junior, Boulware totaled 68 tackles, a school record 19 sacks, 20 tackles for losses, seven forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries. He was a consensus first-team All-American, All-ACC, ACC Defensive Player of the Year, as well as National Defensive Player of the Year by Football News. His 19 sacks were the most in the nation. That same year, he was chosen by the Baltimore Ravens as the fourth overall pick in the NFL Draft. During his nine year career with the Ravens, he was selected to 4 Pro Bowls, was the 1997 Rookie of the Year, and played in and won Super Bowl XXXV.
While in Baltimore, he founded the Peter Boulware Charitable Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides mentoring for underprivileged children in the inner city schools. He also sponsored 16 youth tackle teams through Baltimore City Parks & Recreation, was the spokesperson for the NFL “Punt, Pass & Kick” Program, annually hosted a group of children at “Camp Sunrise” which is a program through the American Cancer Society and hosted the JC Penny “Take a Player to School” Program. He is a former Board Member of the University of Maryland Medical Children’s Hospital, a current member of the Florida State University Athletics Committee and was appointed by Governor Charlie Crist to the Florida State Board of Education. Peter is married to Kensy Boulware and has five children.
Kensy Boulware
Founder and Owner
Kensy came to Tallahassee and Florida State University in 1997. She played volleyball for FSU and graduated in 2000 with a degree in Audiology & Speech Pathology. She is married to Peter Boulware and is currently raising their five children.
1998 ACC champion
1994 and 1995 California Division IV State Champion
Sheila Roberts
Director
Coach Sheila Roberts is married to her husband of 25 years, Jason, and has two daughters, Ashlyn and Taylor. Jason works in public safety and risk mitigation. Ashlyn played volleyball at the University of South Alabama. Ashlyn was one of the only players to ever earn over 1000 digs and 1000 assists at USA. Taylor is a junior and plays volleyball at Florida State University. Taylor’s 17’s Club team was the first team in Tallahassee’s history to earn a podium finish at the USAV Girls Junior Nationals when they won the bronze medal in 2017. When the Roberts family is not working, training, or in the gym, they all enjoy spending time together on their boat.
Coach Roberts received her bachelor’s degree from Florida State University in Movement Science and Physical Education. She later completed her master’s degree in Emotional Handicaps. Sheila taught in the classroom for 13 years before moving to Physical Education.
Sheila Roberts began coaching when she was 22 years old. She has coached and taught in Florida’s schools for the past 30 years. Sheila began her coaching career in LaBelle, Florida, her hometown. She helped her Alma Mater earn great success in her three years at LaBelle. LaBelle is where she signed her first collegiate athletes. She later coached middle school and varsity volleyball in Wakulla County. Sheila took 5 years off while her children were young and in 2004, she returned to volleyball as the head volleyball coach for the Sneads Pirates. During her 14-year stint at Sneads, Sheila and her teams won 5 consecutive state championships. For the past 2-1/2 years, Sheila has been the head coach at Florida High. Combined, Coach Roberts’s teams have been to the Regional Final match for 12 consecutive years. She has helped countless girls receive volleyball scholarships at every level. Coach Roberts considers this to be one of the greatest blessings throughout her career.
“The most important part of coaching is the relationships coaches have with their players. Through athletics, coaches and players build a relationship on trust, discipline, and love. After this foundation is complete, the coach can assist the athlete in striving to reach their full potential in sports, and in life. Joy is found where the work is hard, pure, unified, and complete.” – Sheila Roberts
Awards:
- FHSAA Volleyball Coach of the Year 2017-2018 for Florida
- July, 2018 – Selected to coach the FACA All-Star Match in Lakeland
- NFHS Volleyball Coach of the Year 2017-18 for Florida
- 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 Dairy Farmer’s 1A Volleyball Coach of the Year
- 2015 NFHS Volleyball Coach of the Year for the SE United States
- Regional Finalist Combined Florida High and Sneads (Elite 8) – 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
- Final Four Appearances- 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
- Florida High School Volleyball 1A State Champion– 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
Joy Becker
Coach Mentor
Coach Joy Becker’s coaching career has spanned 5 generations. The work ethic and values players have gained by being in her programs have produced 100’s of successful women. The common denominator for most of these players is that they have experienced much success, and they are proud of who they have become. Many tribute their success to the values they gained from their families and from playing ball for Coach B.
“It always surprises me what kids can do. Pushing athletes to reach their potential in all phases of their lives has always been tantamount to what we teach them to being successful on the volleyball court. Teaching the qualities of exceptional work ethic, positive mindset, being a good teammate, self-discipline, building an understanding of the game’s technical and tactical phases, teaching on the court and off the court communication, and developing positive leadership qualities, all while having fun, helps prepare our players to be successful in all life situations. Putting the person and their growth first wins every time!”
Brooke Niles
Co-founder & Co-director
Brooke Niles is a co-founder and co-director of Tallahassee Volleyball Academy and also serves as the Head Beach volleyball coach for the Florida State Seminoles. Niles, who earned a law and society degree from UC Santa Barbara in 2003, was a third-team All-American while playing for the Gauchos where she also was a three-time All-Big West selection and named conference freshman of the year. Brooke began a successful professional beach volleyball career in 2007 that saw her win numerous pro tournaments along with being named the AVP Beach Defensive Player of the Year in 2009. While climbing to a top five ranking in the National Volleyball Beach League and spending 2010-13 as a member of the USA Beach National Team, Niles was a first alternate for the USA 2012 London Olympic Beach National team. Brooke has coached at the collegiate, club, and high school levels working with both indoor and sand volleyball teams. She earned the 2016 AVCA coach of the year award and led the Seminoles to become runner up national champions! In 2018 she led the Seminoles to the NCAA Championships where they finished as runner up! Brooke is a California native and is married to Olympic Athlete Nick Lucena; they have two sons, Gunnar and Cole.
Nick Lucena
Coach
Nick Lucena attended Florida State University, where he graduated with a degree in Sport Management. He made his AVP main draw debut in 2003 at Belmar, where he partnered with Phil Dalhausser. Lucena has three AVP tournament wins to his name, with his first coming in 2005. In 2008, Lucena was named both the AVP’s Most Improved Player and Best Defensive Player. During the 2008 season, Lucena ended the year with 16 AVP top-5 finishes. In 2013, Lucena teamed with Theo Brunner ending the season with five top-3 finishes. Lucena has also found success internationally with sixteen top-5 finishes in FIVB competition. Nick represented the United States of America in the 2016 Olympics in Rio. Nick is married to Brooke Niles and they have two sons, Gunnar and Cole.