Jade "JaeJae" Laikona
Assistant Coach
18s Mana Wahine
**Aloha! My name is Jade Laikona**, and I’m excited to be part of the AZ United Volleyball ʻOhana. Volleyball has been a huge part of my life, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue giving back to the sport that has given me so much.
I was born and raised in **Phoenix, Arizona**, and have called the Valley home my entire life. I graduated from **McClintock High School**, where my love for volleyball continued to grow. After high school, I went on to play one year of collegiate volleyball at **Park University**. Although I eventually decided to step away from playing competitively, my love for the game never left.
I played volleyball for approximately 10 years, and for most of that time, my dad, **Coach Jacob Laikona**, was my coach. He played a huge role in helping me fall in love with the sport. He believed in me, supported me, challenged me, and always pushed me to become a better player. He even created a club for my cousins and me because he saw our potential and wanted to give us an opportunity to grow, compete, and succeed.
Looking back, those experiences shaped much more than the volleyball player I became—they helped shape the coach I am becoming today.
For the past two years, I have had the opportunity to coach alongside my dad as an assistant coach. I’ve worked with both boys’ and girls’ teams and have had the chance to experience different age groups, personalities, and levels of competition. Being able to learn from my dad while also developing my own coaching style has been an incredibly rewarding experience.
One of my favorite parts of coaching is watching athletes grow—not only as volleyball players, but as people. Seeing an athlete gain confidence, overcome a challenge, or finally have that **“aha!” moment** is one of the most rewarding parts of being a coach. I understand firsthand how much of an impact a coach can have on an athlete because I experienced it growing up.
Outside of volleyball, family is a huge part of my life. I love spending time with my family and my dogs, and I’m also preparing for my newest—and probably biggest—role yet: **becoming a mom!** My baby is due November 8th, and I’m incredibly excited to enter this new chapter of life. 🥹💗
As I continue my coaching journey, I’m excited to keep learning, growing, and helping athletes discover their confidence and love for the game. I’m especially grateful to be part of an ʻOhana that values family, hard work, development, and creating meaningful experiences for our athletes.
I’m excited to meet everyone, hear your stories, and see what this season brings!
**Excited to be here! 🤙🏽🏐❤️**