Coaches

Coach Kyle is the Owner and Head Coach of the VSSA Hockey Program as well as the Vail Yeti Hockey Team.

Kyle grew up in Cincinnati area before leaving to play hockey at Shattuck St. Marys in Faribault Minnesota. After Shattuck Kyle played Junior Hockey in the USHL, NAHL & EJHL before playing college hockey at Lawrence University (NCAA DIII).

After playing Kyle dove right into coaching and scouting. He has worked in the AAA hockey ranks as well as the USHL, NAHL & NA3HL and most recently in the ECHL for the Kalamazoo Wings developing players for the Vancouver Canucks in the NHL.

Coach Higgy will be an Assistant Coach for his 3rd consecutive season with VSSA Hockey. He also serves as an Academic Coach at the school, specializing in upper & lower school Language Arts/English. Higgy's experiences and expectations are what inspire our athletes' confidence & eagerness to try new things.

Higgy grew up in the Cincinnati area playing for multiple clubs, including Ohio Jr. Blue Jackets. He graduated from Ohio University in 2022 & 2023, with a Bachelor's of Science in Communication & Master's of Education in Coaching. Higgins played for the Ohio University Bobcats (ACHA Div. 1) team all five years, serving as co-captain for final two years.

Coach RJ is one of our Assistant Coaches and an Academic Coach at the Academy. He primarily supports students in grades 5-8, specializing in math, social studies, & language arts.

RJ played youth hockey for the Skokie Flyers Hockey Club before joining New Trier Hockey Club, winning two Illinois state championships.

Since moving to the Vail Valley in 2021, RJ gained coaching experience as the on-ice Program Director for the Vail Recreation District Mite Program & as Head Coach for Battle Mountain Huskies JV team. Currently, a Head Coach for the Vail Mountaineers Hockey Club.

Coach Zionts will be the Goalie Coach for his 4th consecutive year with VSSA Hockey. Also serving as the building permanent guest teacher, Jacob also teaches high school Ecology & Health.

Zionts has also held the position of Goaltending Coach for the Mountaineers youth hockey organization for the past 5 seasons, and has coached several goalies to move on to the Tier 1 level in Denver. Attention to detail, technique, & creativity are what excites our young goalies to continue to work with Coach Z.

Coach Z grew up in the Los Angeles area playing for the L.A. Jr. Kings, Long Beach Prep High, & Long Beach Bombers programs. He graduated from Colorado University-Boulder in 2021, with a Bachelor's of Arts and Sciences in Environmental Studies. Zionts also played for both CU-Boulder (ACHA Div. 1 & 2) teams.

Tara grew up in Chicago, began skating at age 7, and started her coaching career in 1988. Tara coaches figure skating and power skating for hockey players/teams of all ages and levels. Tara has held many successful Power On Ice power skating clinics/camps here in the Vail Valley, works with Vail Mountaineers, Glenwood Springs Grizzly’s, many of the Thunderbirds players, and coaches the Mountain Women’s Hockey league training clinics.  

Tara is also the head power skating coach for the VSSA hockey program. She has coached with nationally recognized power skating programs (Laura Stamm and Robbie Glantz) and worked closely with Monty, Rocky and NHL Hall of Famer Bryan Trottier to provide power skating instruction for TNT summer hockey camps, 1999 – 2002. Tara has mentored with the Chicago Blackhawks Power Skating Coach, Kevin Delaney (owner of Delaney Hockey) and has co-coached hockey programs with Geno Parrish. Most recently she was the power skating coach at the 2025 Colorado Avalanche Development Camp.

Coach Trace will be joining the VSSA coaching staff where he will work as an Academic Coach in STEM courses. He grew up in St. Louis playing roller hockey and for the Jr. Blues AAA program. He went on to to play for Endicott College (NCAA DIII) & CU Boulder (ACHA D1).

At CU, he served as the Assistant Captain his Senior year and received his undergraduate degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. He went on to earn a Master’s in Integrative Physiology, while serving as the Assistant Coach for a season before leading as the Head Coach for the ACHA D1 team for two seasons.

Coach Trace is excited to bring his knowledge and experience to the staff and to focus on the skills and mental side of the game. He takes pride in teaching players to keep a balanced, focused mindset while pursuing excellence in the details of the game.

Coach Dave is going into his 5th year on the VSSA coaching. He grew up in the Vail Valley playing hockey before leaving to play for Team Colorado and followed by Junior Hockey.

Outside of VSSA Coach Dave serves at the Bantam A Head coach where last year he won the league Championship. He has been coaching in the Valley for the past 10 years as well as helping with select teams.

Coach Dave brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the staff takes pride in teaching players how to get the most out of their development both on and off the ice.