About Us
Built Here. Proven at the Highest Level.
Our Story
Matt DeMarcus grew up in the Santa Ynez Valley. He played on these fields, in these gyms, and dreamed on these same roads every athlete in this community drives today. He went on to play basketball at UCLA and professionally — earning everything through hard work, discipline, and a relentless belief in what was possible.
Sara came from a different road to the same destination. A standout volleyball player who competed at UCLA and went on to play professionally, she brought the same drive and love for the game that defined her career.
When their playing days were over, the question wasn’t whether to coach — it was where. For Matt, the answer was simple. He came home.
Together, they founded SYV Sports Academy with a single belief: that the kids growing up in this Valley deserve access to the same elite-level coaching and mentorship that shaped their careers — right here, without having to leave for the Valley to find it.
What We Believe
We started SYV Sports Academy because we believe sports are about more than scores and standings. We’ve seen firsthand what happens when young athletes are challenged, believed in, and pushed to discover what they’re truly capable of — on the court and beyond it.
Our programs are built around five things:
Love of the Game
We want every athlete who trains with us to leave each session loving the sport more than when they walked in. Joy is not optional — it’s the foundation on which everything else is built.
Character First
The habits you build in sport — discipline, resilience, accountability, teamwork — are the habits you carry into every room you’ll ever walk into. We coach the whole person, not just the player.
Real Competitive Development
We respect the game too much to water it down. Our athletes train hard, compete with intensity, and are held to high standards — because that’s what real growth requires.
College Opportunities
We know what collegiate coaches look for because we lived it. We help serious athletes understand what the path to a scholarship actually looks like and what it takes to walk it.
Community
The Santa Ynez Valley is a small place. The connections athletes make here — with teammates, coaches, and competitors — last a lifetime. We’re proud to be part of building that.
Meet Our Coaches
SYV Sports Academy was founded by two former collegiate and professional athletes who know exactly what it takes to compete at the next level. They came to the SYV to help the next generation get there.
Matt DeMarcus
Matt grew up right here in the Santa Ynez Valley — the same community he now coaches in every day. After a standout high school career, he played basketball at UCLA before competing professionally.
He knows this Valley. He knows what it’s like to be a young athlete here with big dreams and limited resources. That’s exactly why he came back.
As head basketball coach, Matt brings a player’s perspective to every session — understanding not just the mechanics of the game, but the mindset, the pressure, and the discipline it takes to truly level up. His athletes don’t just get better at basketball. They get better at competing.
Sports: Basketball | Background: UCLA, Professionally in New Zealand
Sara DeMarcus
Sara competed at the highest levels of volleyball — first at UCLA, then professionally. She’s faced the pressure of big stages, high expectations, and the grind of a long season. She brings all of that to her coaching.
What sets Sara apart isn’t just her technical knowledge — it’s her ability to connect with athletes. She understands the mental side of the game as deeply as the physical side, and she knows how to help players unlock confidence they didn’t know they had.
As head volleyball coach at SYV Sports Academy, Sara is building something the Valley has never had before: a genuine pathway for volleyball players of all levels to develop, compete, and pursue the game at the highest level they choose.
Sports: Volleyball | Background: UCLA, Professionally in New Zealand & Austria