Pirates hire Lauren Quinonez as new Beach Volleyball coach
COSTA MESA -- After an extensive search, Orange Coast College approved the hiring of Lauren Quinonez as the new beach volleyball coach, according to Athletics Director, Jason Kehler.
"We are very excited to have Lauren here at OCC and we can't wait to see her lead our beach volleyball program," Kehler said. "Lauren brings championship experience, but as a coach and as a former student-athlete and we look forward to seeing her guide our beach program for years to come."
Quinonez comes to OCC while serving as assistant beach and indoor volleyball coach as well as adjunct kinesiology professor at Mt. San Antonio since 2022. As a member of the Mounties' staff, Quinonez helped lead her teams to three South Coast Conference championships for the indoor squad (2022, 2024, 2025) as well as a pair of SCC titles for the beach program (2023, 2025). In 2024, Quinonez was named the Adjunct Faculty of the Year as an assistant at Mt. SAC.
"Being a head coach at OCC for me means being able to provide women the opportunity to further their education as well as their beach volleyball skills," Quinonez said. "It also is such an amazing location to connect with the younger community to provide them another volleyball source."
In addition to her work with Mt. SAC, Quinonez was also the varsity head coach for the Los Gatos High School boys volleyball team for the past two seasons, helping that program to a 2026 Hacienda League Championship and back-to-back CIF playoff appearances.
Quinonez kicks off a new chapter at OCC for beach volleyball, taking over for longtime head coach, Chuck Cutenese and interim head coach, John Braunstein. Over the first 10 seasons of the program, the Pirates have won four Orange Empire Conference championships and advanced to the State Final Four in 2022 and again in 2023.
"My athletes would say that because I respect and understand them as individuals, it allows me to expect the most out of their performance," Quinonez said. "I want them to prove to themselves what kind of athletes they are. I'm just here to provide the tools and seeds for them to do so."
Prior to her coaching career, Quinonez played volleyball at Mt. SAC (2016-18), helping the Mounties to a 2016 SCC championship. After her Mounties career ended, she transferred to Ottawa University in Arizona, where she helped lead the Spirit to the 2019 NAIA National Championship.
"My goals for the program do involve winning and continuing a championship culture, but more importantly it involves the impact we have within the community," Quinonez said. "Volleyball is one of the largest growing sports for women and young girls, providing them a hometown team to follow and cheer for means everything. As someone who grew up in a small city and got to play for the local community college and bring in conference championships, I know the impact it can have on the youth and local schools. It brings opportunity and hometown pride. My goals are for our collegiate women to see the impact they can have beyond their athletic abilities. Inspiring the young girls that they were at one point and bringing motivation to that!"
