After working at Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) since 2001, Ruben Nieves retired as PCA National Director of Training in 2024. As Director of Training, Ruben was responsible for overseeing the recruitment, training, and support of PCA Certified Trainers around the country. Ruben oversaw the execution of thousands of PCA workshops, while delivering over 1,000 himself.

Ruben earned his Masters Degree in Education from Stanford University in 1982. He coached collegiate volleyball for 18 years including stints as the Head Men’s Coach at Stanford and the Head Women’s Coach at Fresno State. Ruben was twice named NCAA Men’s Volleyball Coach of the Year, in 1992 and 1997. He guided Stanford to the Cardinal’s first men’s volleyball NCAA championship in 1997.

Ruben also has extensive experience and success in international volleyball. He spent the summer of 2001 as Head Coach of the USA Men’s Volleyball World University Games Team which captured the Gold Medal in Beijing, China, thus becoming the first and only American squad in history to accomplish this feat. Ruben was also an advisory staff member for the 1996 U.S. Olympic Volleyball Team. In 1995, he was Head Coach of the USA Boys Youth National Team that competed in the World Championships in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

In addition, Ruben has seven years of physical education teaching experience at all levels K-12. As a parent and coach, he has been involved in many youth sports including track and field, soccer, baseball, softball, basketball, swimming, water polo, tennis and cross-country.

PCA was founded in 1998 by Jim Thompson. The mission of Positive Coaching Alliance, a national non-profit, is “to change the culture of youth sports so that every child , regardless of social or economic circumstance, has access to a positive youth sports experience.”