Chelsea Piers Connecticut (CPCT) is pleased to announce Danny Goncalves, former University of New Haven player and Men’s Head Coach, as the Volleyball Director at Chelsea Piers Connecticut.
Goncalves has more than 11 years of coaching experience at the high school and collegiate level. After playing professionally in Portugal for a year, Goncalves returned to Connecticut to coach at Shelton High School, followed by a coaching job at the University of New Haven, his alma mater.
He served as the Men’s Head Coach and the Women’s Assistant Coach, helping to lead the women’s team to two Northeast-10 Conference championships, as well as a berth in the D2 Elite 8. Goncalves then went on to coach at Sacred Heart University as the assistant coach, where he helped lead the women’s team to an NEC Conference championship.
Goncalves started his playing career at Shelton High School, where he was named to the All SCC 2nd Team for the 2000 – 2001 season. He went on to play as a starter for the University of New Haven from 2002 – 2006. Post-college, Goncalves played professionally in Portugal for the Castelo da Maia 1st Division league.
Volleyball programming at CPCT will include instruction, private lessons, youth and adult leagues, tournaments, camps and a club team. Youth volleyball programs will feature Developmental Leagues for ages 8 – 14 and a High School League for ages 13 – 18. The adult leagues, for ages 18+, will provide a fun and competitive atmosphere for players of all levels and abilities.
The inaugural season of the Chelsea Piers Volleyball Club will also kick off this fall. The Chelsea Piers Volleyball Club will provide a premier club experience that is dedicated to the development of each athlete.
"We are excited to add volleyball to our roster of sports," commented Ryan Equale, Assistant Executive Director, Chelsea Piers Connecticut. "Danny has achieved great success as both a player and a coach for both men and women. We think this experience combined with our facilities will create one of the leading volleyball programs for this area."
“I am very excited to bring my passion, dedication and enthusiasm for volleyball to Chelsea Piers Connecticut,” said Goncalves. “Our goal is to provide an enhanced volleyball experience for all skill levels and ages, a highlight of which will be our competitive and highly trained youth programs.”
About Chelsea Piers Connecticut
Chelsea Piers Connecticut (CPCT) is a 400,000-sq-ft state-of-the-art sports and recreation facility located in Stamford, CT, just off I-95 at Exit 9. Opened in July 2012, Chelsea Piers Connecticut consists of several core sports facilities encompassing more than 20 sports.
Ice Rinks - Dual rink skating facility for ice hockey and figure skating
Aquatics Center – Olympic pool, warm water instructional and exercise pool, and 6,000 sq-ft water play area featuring three giant slides
Gymnastics Training Center – 14,000 sq-ft gymnastics training space and cheerleading program
Baseball and Softball Training Facility – Indoor turf infield and five batting cages
Field House – Indoor 100-yard turf field for soccer, lacrosse, football, field hockey, softball and baseball; hardwood courts for basketball and volleyball; and a 1/5-mile track
Squash Club – 11 singles and one hardball doubles court
Tennis Club - 7 indoor hard court tennis courts
Adventure Center – 12,000 sq-ft area featuring a recreational trampoline center, a 24-foot high rock wall, and a Little Athletes gym for children 6 months to five years
Like Chelsea Piers New York, CPCT combines athletic facilities with an extensive array of professional instructors and league programs for youths, teens and adults.
In addition to these sport offerings, CPCT is also home to:
Childcare facility and preschool - Small class sizes, certified teachers and use of the sports facilities at CPCT
Chelsea’s Table – Organic, healthy, and natural food café.
The Overlook Bar and Grill – A sit-down restaurant and bar on the mezzanine level overlooking the North Rink.
BlueStreak Sports Training – An athletic skills-development center dedicated to sport performance enhancement for dedicated athletes of every level
Stamford Hospital – An 18,500 square foot branch of Stamford Hospital focusing on orthopedic and sports medicine physicians, physical therapy services, a laboratory draw station, and imaging services (opening January 2013).
FlyWheel Sports - An intense, incredibly inspiring and empowering cardio cycling experience led by top-notch instructors in a unique stadium style studio
Pro Shop – A Harrow pro shop featuring apparel and equipment for squash and tennis.
Learn more at www.chelesapiersct.com
