Coach Brian Murtha

Baseball

Brian was drafted out of college at Shippensburg University by the San Francisco Giants organization where he pitched for 4+ years to the AA level. After his playing career, Brian began teaching his sons the game and met former MLB player, and guest instructor Denny Doyle at a yearly church baseball camp. Denny hired Brian immediately. Brian then spent the next 10 years as a Level 1 instructor and Regional Director for Doyle Academy where he traveled the east coast and Canada putting on instructional schools for often 25-100+ players and coaches. His favorite time of year was when he would spend up to 3 consecutive weeks each July at the Detroit Tigers spring training complex in Lakeland, FL at Doyle Academy, providing 8-12 hrs a day of “Baseball Bootcamp” often with 100+ elite players ages 12-18 from all over the USA, Canada, and beyond teaching them how to play both the game of life and baseball the right way.

Brian also spent several years as the assistant National Director and pitching coordinator for US Elite travel baseball where a large percentage of players received D1 scholarships.

“It was exciting to watch and develop those types of player’s, along with helping the families through the recruiting process”, says Murtha. But his favorite aspect of the game at this point in his life is to develop the younger player’s along with their parents and coaches on the details of the game that will put them in the best position to succeed at each level, all the while developing them for the next.

“Throughout my instructional career I have always sought to surround myself with smarter and more knowledgeable instructors and coaches than myself in order to provide the best information & experience for the players and their family’s. There is an abundance of teaching available today, and being able to sift through it all and provide the truth for each individual is the difference maker”.

“It is my blessed honor to have the opportunity to share what I have learned over my career. I look forward to working with the ownership, staff, coaches, players, and their family’s at SWSA”. Together we can do some great things for the community.

Brian has just recently retired from Hiester Automotive and he and his wife Nancy use much of their time with their youngest son Corey and his wife Maggie with their 2 young granddaughter’s along with working out at Corey’s new gym in Fuquay. Additionally they travel to Tampa to visit their eldest son Brian, his wife Ally and their dogs.

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Coach Heather Newton

Softball

Head Softball Trainer –

Heather brings a lifetime of softball experience and passion to SWSA, offering instruction in all aspects of the game. She is currently entering her third year as assistant coach at Fuquay-Varina High School alongside Coach Robbie Wray and previously coached at the collegiate level at William Peace University. Heather also spent three years coaching elite travel ball with the Lady Lightning organization where she also played growing up.

A former Division I four-year starter at UNC Greensboro, Heather graduated in 2013 with a degree in Business Management with a concentration in Sports Management. She was a team captain and All-Conference selection her senior year and played primarily middle infield, while also gaining experience behind the plate and in the outfield throughout her high school and travel ball career.

Her love for the game began at a young age with the desire to be just like her older brother who played baseball at Fuquay-Varina. Heather played four years of Varsity softball at Middle Creek High School where she earned All-Conference, All-Region, and All-State honors all four years and was named Conference Player of the Year in 2009.

Off the field, Heather and her husband— also a former collegiate baseball player—are raising wild and energetic 7-year-old twin boys who are always on the move playing every sport they can. For Heather, softball isn’t just a sport; it’s a lifelong passion she’s excited to pass on to the next generation of players.

Coach Sarah Arbes

Lacrosse Coach

Coach Sarah Arbes - Lacrosse

Coach Arbes is a native to the area, grew up in Apex and played lax at Apex High School. She attended Meredith College to play lacrosse. Arbes was a 4 year starting defender and lead draw taker. She was Senior captain 2019, Defensive MVP 2019, Tournament MVP 2019, NCAA Tournament participant 2016-2019, All-Conference 2016-2019, All-Academic 2016-2019, All-Tournament Team 2016-2019, IWLCA All Academic 2018-2019, IWLCA First Team All-Region 2019, selected & played in the 2019 IWLCA Senior All-Star game representing the South at USA Lacrosse. She graduated from Meredith in 2019 with a degree in Exercise and Sports Science and a concentration in Health & Wellness. She went back for her masters and graduated in 2020 with her MAT for Health & Physical Education. Since graduating undergrad, she coached for AFA until 2021, worked at Sport HQ and The Strength Feed for strength & Conditioning/speed and agility, was head JV/Assistant Varsity for Apex Friendship Women’s Lax, taught at FVHS spring 2021, moved to Willow Spring fall 2021 and started the lax program there. We are excited to have her on board to train!

Coach Camille McDaniel

Basketball Coach

Coach Camille McDaniel - Basketball

Coach McDaniel is the JV Women’s Basketball Coach at Willow Spring High School. Next season will be her third season coaching at Willow Spring High School. Before that, she coached AAU travel basketball with the Viper Organization located in Fuquay/Angier. She has coached recreational and AAU for ten years in Wilmington, NC and locally here in Fuquay. She is a Fuquay-Varina born and raised gal, where she graduated from Fuquay Varina High School. She was a two sport athlete all four years there and played tennis and basketball. She scored 1,000 career points as a Bengal. After high school, she went to UNC-Wilmington and pursued her education, and was the team manager for the women’s basketball team for 2 years. Basketball has been apart of Camille’s life since as far back as she can remember, and she loves the community that has embraced the sport for our youth!

Coach Melissa Wilson

Basketball Coach

Coach Melissa Wilson - Basketball

Coach Wilson is a Greenville native but moved to Raleigh to attend and graduate from Leesville Rd High School. During the time she was a 3x CAP-9 All-Conference player. During 2003-04 she attended Lees McRae College on a basketball scholarship then transferred to the University of North Carolina at Pembroke where she graduated in 2007. Wilson began her coaching career at Southeast Middle School in Kernersville NC before transferring to Southeast Raleigh Magnet High School where she served the assistance coach from 2014-2019. During her time as an assistance under Nicole Meyers, the team won 4 4-AAAA Eastern Regional Championships and competed in 4 NCHAAS 4-A State Championships. Wilson is now serving as the head coach for Willow Spring High School and just 2 years since the school has opened, Wilson’s team were the GRNC Regular Season Champions and GRNC Tournament Championships. During the 2022-2023 season she named GRNC Coach of the Year.

Coach Allena Heath

Volleyball Coach

Coach Allena Heath - Volleyball

Coach Allena Heath is from Texas where she played volleyball all throughout high school, along with playing for Texas Advantage Volleyball Club where her team finished 2nd and 3rd place in the nation in 2014 and 2015. Heath was coached by some of the best coaches in the nation, from players who played in college all the way to the USA level. She continued her volleyball career with a full ride scholarship to play D1 Volleyball at Campbell University. Allena started her freshman year as a right side hitter, and after the injury of a teammate, she transitioned to the outside position. Allena played all around the court all 4 years she was at Campbell where she was awarded the 1,000 kills honor and is currently 7th place in all time volleyball history for amount of kills (her total being 1,184). Allena was also awarded All Freshman Team, First Team All Conference, Second Team All Conference and other individual accolades while being at Campbell. During her time at Campbell she was lucky enough to travel to Europe where she was able to play against the Italian and Slovenia National Teams. Coach Heath graduated from Campbell with a Bachelors of Arts in Elementary Education where she currently teaches at West Lake Elementary School. After graduation, Coach Heath secured her position at the new Willow Spring High School – as the Head Varsity Volleyball Coach and is now entering into her third year in this role.

Coach Zach Boraski

Baseball and Softball

Coach Zach Boraski - Baseball

Pitching, Hitting, Catching and Fielding for all ages.

Zach focuses on both baseball and softball. He is a former collegiate athlete that played baseball for Limestone University, Lenoir Community College and Averette University. Zach began coaching at FVHS in 2013, and spent 2018-2021 as head coach. During his time there, he Coached them to two state titles – 2018 and 2021. He has helped produce over 40 collegiate players as well as their continued development during college.

Coach Rudy Bautista

Baseball – Pitching Coach

Coach Rudy Bautista - Baseball

Pitching for all ages.

Raised in San Diego playing baseball from the age of 10 at North Park Little League, learning the game from the “Old School” perspective. All CIF Team as a Hoover Cardinal, member of League Championship team as a Southwestern College Apache, all GSAC honors as a Pt. Loma Nazarene College Crusader. NAIA College World series participant 93,94. Drafted in 95′ to the Golden State league and continued on to play 6 professional seasons throughout the US, Japan and Mexico. Professional pitching instructor for the last 21 years with youth, high school, College and professional clients. Coaching experience at Westview High school as Varsity Pitching coach from 04-07 as well as Westhills High school. Married to wife Nicole with a wonderful 10 year old son Brayden.

Pt. Loma Nazarene University 93-95, San Diego, CA

Southwestern College 91-92, Chula Vista, CA

Hoover High School 83-87, San Diego, CA

Coach Sammy Serrano

Baseball – Catching and Hitting Coach

Coach Sammy Serrano - Baseball

Hitting and Catching for all ages.

Sammy Serrano was All-American at Stetson University. He was drafted in 1998 by the San Francisco Giants as the 68th player taken overall and the first catcher selected in the MLB draft, retiring in 2002. He is a current Team USA Coach, PRO5 Baseball Academy Catching Coordinator, Central Region Director for the Canes and former college recruiting coordinator. Sammy’s focus is Catching and Hitting.