Matthew “Dezy” DiStefano was a beloved coach and director at Academy Volleyball, who lost his battle with cancer in January 2020. In his hour of need, he chose to help others by starting the DezyStrong Foundation which helps those affected by cancer. He believed strongly in the value of having a strong body AND a strong mind. He also helped us realize that everyday is a GREAT day… A day we GET to do something or be with someone.

We encourage you to take some time to watch the videos below to learn more about Coach Dezy and his foundation.

Hear from Dezy himself about his story and his DezyStrong Values.

See some of the amazing impact that Dezy’s legacy has had in the community.

Our Boys Coach, who played four years for Dezy, shares a personal story about one of the lessons that he learned from him.

At Academy Volleyball, we honor his legacy by wearing his DezyStrong brand on the second day of our three-day tournaments (after our “sea of red” first day).