Our head coaches
Our coaches are the heart of Defender athletics. They’re mentors and leaders who invest their time, energy, and passion into helping our athletes grow — not just in their sport, but as young people. Every coach brings their own background and style, and together they shape the culture that makes our programs thrive.
At ALA, our coaches model the RAISE values of Respect, Accountability, Integrity, Service, and Excellence. These principles guide how they teach, lead, and support our athletes, building confidence and character that lasts far beyond the season.
This page gives you a closer look at the people guiding our teams and inspiring every Defender to rise.
athletic directors
chandler evans
Defender Family,
I bring 25 years of experience in education and 14 years of experience as an Athletic Director to ALA Vistancia. Throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to serve students and athletes in a variety of roles, including CTE Sports Medicine teacher, Certified Athletic Trainer, and Varsity Wrestling Head Coach for nine years.
I am honored to have the opportunity to lead the athletic program at American Leadership Academy Vistancia. I am excited about the opportunity to build a lasting legacy that the Vistancia community can be proud of. My vision is centered on creating a positive, competitive, and character-driven athletic program where students are encouraged to grow both on and off the field.
One of my primary goals is to provide as many students as possible with the opportunity to participate in athletics and to help them compete at a high level. I believe athletics can play an important role in developing discipline, leadership, teamwork, character, and a strong sense of community.
As ALA Vistancia continues to grow, I look forward to building an athletic program that reflects the values of our school and creates opportunities for student-athletes to succeed, compete, and leave their own legacy. I want to build more than successful teams; I want to build a program that develops great people and creates experiences that our students, families, coaches, and community will be proud of for years to come.
When I’m not at work, I enjoy spending quality time with my wife, Toni, and adult children, Peyton and Logan. I love getting out on the golf course, working on my game (it needs a lot of work), and attending college football games—especially cheering on my Sun Devils! OTV!
Vision for the Athletic Program:
My vision for athletics at ALA Vistancia is to build a program that is recognized for excellence, driven by character, and centered on students. I want every student-athlete to have the opportunity to discover their potential, compete at a high level, and develop the skills and character traits that will serve them well beyond their athletic careers.
As we build the athletic program at Vistancia, our focus will be on creating a culture of excellence, accountability, teamwork, and pride. We will challenge our student-athletes and coaches to set high standards, embrace hard work, and understand that success is not measured solely by wins and losses, but by the growth, relationships, character, and experiences developed through athletics.
I want ALA Vistancia athletics to be a place where students want to participate, coaches want to coach, and our community is proud to support our teams. Providing opportunities for as many students as possible is a priority, while also creating pathways for those who aspire to compete at the highest levels.
Ultimately, I want to build more than successful teams. I want to build a legacy—one that reflects the values of ALA Vistancia and leaves a lasting impact on our students, families, coaches, and community. My goal is for every student-athlete who comes through our program to look back and say that their experience at Vistancia helped make them a better competitor, teammate, leader, and person.
Athletic Director
Darrell perkins
Bio coming soon. We’re gathering details to help you get to know the leaders behind our athletes.
Assistant Athletic DirectorFootball, cheer,
girls volleyball, cross country
darrell perkins
Coach bio coming soon. We’re gathering details to help you get to know the leaders behind our athletes.
Football
jon canyon
Jon Canyon is the Head Coach of Girls Volleyball at ALA Vistancia High School and a dedicated coach with a proven track record of success. With four years of coaching experience, he has built competitive teams while fostering a positive, team-first culture. Coach Jon has led his club teams to multiple championships and bracket wins, and he is passionate about developing student-athletes both on and off the court. He is committed to empowering players to reach their full potential and strengthening community support for the ALA Defenders volleyball program.
Girls Volleyball
Cheerkacey HOYER
Born and raised in Arizona, she got her start in gymnastics, where she built the discipline, strength, and attention to detail that still influence her coaching today. She later found her passion for cheerleading, cheering through high school and continuing in all-star cheer for several years. With over 15 years of coaching experience, she has guided teams to great success, including earning seven state titles and multiple top five finishes at the national level.
What matters most to her, though, is the impact she has on her athletes beyond the sport. She’s passionate about helping them build confidence, resilience, and respect, while teaching the value of teamwork, accountability, and perseverance. She believes in creating a positive, supportive environment where athletes feel challenged but encouraged every step of the way.
She takes pride in helping athletes grow not only as cheerleaders, but as confident, well-rounded individuals, while also building strong, lasting relationships with parents, the school, and the broader community.
Outside of coaching, she enjoys spending time with her husband, daughter, and their three dogs. She also has a background working with animals and is currently involved in the field of canine rehabilitation.
Cross Countrygreg winley
Coach Gregory Winley has a lifelong passion for running and developing student-athletes. After competing in high school track, he continued his running journey through 5Ks, half marathons, a marathon, and eventually ultramarathons, completing five 50K races. His love for the sport continues to fuel both his personal running goals and his commitment to coaching.
Coach Winley believes that running has the power to positively impact every athlete, regardless of ability or experience. His coaching philosophy extends beyond race times, focusing on teaching perseverance, discipline, patience, goal setting, and the importance of living a healthy lifestyle.
At ALA Vistancia, Coach Winley is committed to building a program where every athlete feels valued and challenged. His goal is to create a culture of hard work, accountability, and teamwork that students are excited to be part of. Success is measured not only by competitive achievements but also by athletes who develop a lifelong appreciation for fitness, personal growth, and the confidence to pursue challenges beyond the cross-country course.
As Coach Winley often reminds his athletes, "Not everyone who is successful runs, but everyone who runs is successful." His mission is to help every runner discover their potential and carry the lessons learned through running into every aspect of life.
boys & girls basketball, boys & girls soccer, wrestling, and pom
Dirk walker
I am Dirk Walker and I am honored to serve as the new Head Coach of the ALA Vistancia Boys
Basketball Program. I would first like to thank the administration for this incredible opportunity and for
trusting me to lead and grow this program.
My passion for the game began at a young age and continued throughout my playing career at the
collegiate level. As a 4-year starter at Simpson College in Iowa, I finished as the schools all-time leader in
both assists and steals. My coaching philosophy is centered on teaching life skills through the game of
basketball. Our program will be built on accountability, integrity, discipline, and relentless effort, striving to
be the hardest-working team every time we compete.
This upcoming season marks my 18th season as a head coach. In my coaching career, I have been
fortunate to achieve more than 200 career wins, while leading teams to 3 consecutive Elite 8
appearances and a 4A-6A open division post season appearance. Along my journey I have developed
numerous student-athletes who have gone on to play basketball at the collegiate level. I believe my
greatest measure of success is the positive impact we have on the lives of our players.
I am incredibly excited to build a championship culture and a strong basketball community at ALA
Vistancia—one founded on hard work, character, and competing. Together, we will create traditions,
lasting relationships, and a legacy that our players, families, and community will be proud of for the future.
Go Defenders!
Boys Basketball
gregory peters
Coach Gregory Peters leads the ALA–Vistancia girls varsity basketball program, bringing a strong track record of program growth, player development, and competitive success across Arizona.
In his first season with ALA–Vistancia, Peters guided a young JV roster to meaningful progress built on discipline, hard work, and coachability — even helping one athlete earn two college offers. His leadership has already set a strong foundation for the future of the program.
Peters previously elevated programs at Youngker High School with a school‑record 4–0 start and a playoff play‑in berth, Cactus High School with the program’s best season in five years and his 100th career win, and Southwest Leadership Academy with 80+ victories, a district title, and multiple playoff runs.
A passionate educator and leader, Peters also serves as Director of Special Education and Interim Principal. His coaching philosophy centers on an up‑tempo, team‑first style rooted in accountability, effort, and preparing student‑athletes for success on and off the court.
Girls Basketball
WrestlingAndrew miller
Bio on the way. Check back soon to meet this Defender coach.
merveil “merv”akamba bilomba
Girls SoccerBorn in Cameroon, Central Africa. Coach Merv grew up in a small city in the heart of France. It was in Tours that Coach Merv learned and played soccer for the hometown club of Tours Football Club. He attended the academy and even won the national championship in 2013 ahead of club such as Paris Saint Germain or Olympique Lyonnais. In 2017, while finishing his technical degree at the University of Tours, Merveil got offered a full scholarship to join the East Tennessee Men’s soccer program spending 2 years there before heading to Lynn University during the COVID pandemic. Coach Merv has a bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies (ETSU) and a MBA in Sport Management (Lynn University). He has coached in Arizona since 2022 both as a trainer and a youth coach.
Boys Soccerjuan tellecha
Bio on the way. Check back soon to meet this Defender coach.
Audra matthews
POMBio on the way. Check back soon to meet this Defender coach.
track & Field, baseball, softball, boys volleyball & golf
eric hills
Hello,
I am Coach Hills the Head track and field coach for both junior high and high school. I will be going into my 2nd year at ALA Vistancia and 15th year of coaching and teaching. I have coached and played nearly every sport in my career and life. I am married and have 3 beautiful children. I absolutely love ALA and the R.A.I.S.E values as they are the foundation of everything that we do. Year one had lots of success and I cannot wait to see what year two brings.
Track and FieldMatt grott
This coach’s profile is being updated. Their full bio will be available shortly.
BaseballSoftballjeanette rincon
This coach’s profile is being updated. Their full bio will be available shortly.
landon marsh
SoftballThis coach’s profile is being updated. Their full bio will be available shortly.
Boys Volleyballtbd
This coach’s profile is being updated. Their full bio will be available shortly.