Teddi Esko was named Head Volleyball Coach in February 2024 and leads the program into a new era.
Esko brings more than two decades of collegiate coaching experience to Dominguez Hills, most notably from Rio Hondo College where she served as Head Women’s Indoor and Beach Volleyball Coach beginning in 2003. During her tenure, she elevated the program’s competitive standards while fostering a culture committed to academic and athletic excellence. The vast majority of her student-athletes successfully transferred to four-year universities to continue both their academic and volleyball careers, with placements across the country including New York, Vermont, Delaware, Kansas, North Dakota, Arizona, and California.
In 2013, Esko founded Rio Hondo College’s beach volleyball program, expanding dual-sport opportunities for student-athletes and significantly increasing retention and transfer rates.
Her coaching success has been recognized extensively. Esko earned Foothill Conference Coach of the Year honors in 2010 and 2015, South Coast Conference Coach of the Year in 2019, 2022, and 2023, and Southern California Regional Coach of the Year in 2023. That same year, her team advanced to the SoCal Elite 8 and the State Sweet 16 while capturing the South Coast Conference Championship.
Beyond collegiate volleyball, Esko has coached in the local club system with Club Beach, Ohana, Apex1, and Golden West. Her diverse coaching background also includes serving as Head Coach for Men’s Golf at Santiago Canyon College from 2014–2016, where she led teams to multiple conference and regional playoff finishes and guided athletes to the CCCAA State Championships.
Esko is an active member of the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA), serving as a Mentor Coach in the Match Point Program. She is also heavily involved in the CCCWVCA and CCCBVCA, and served as a conference representative and executive board member/secretary for the Beach Volleyball Association.
In addition to coaching, Esko was a Professor of Kinesiology at Rio Hondo College. She taught Principles of Strength and Conditioning and Sports Nutrition, is a certified online instructor specializing in distance education course development, and served on the Kinesiology Advisory Board for Career Education and Training.
Esko earned her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and Health from Arkansas State University and later completed her Master’s Degree in Administration and Physical Education at California State University, Dominguez Hills.
A former standout student-athlete, Esko attended Long Beach Wilson High School, where she was a multi-sport athlete in soccer and volleyball, earning two All-CIF selections and Moore League MVP honors in volleyball. She continued her playing career at Arkansas State University on a Division I scholarship, starting as a freshman, winning a Sun Belt Conference Championship, and competing in the NCAA Tournament.
On a personal note, Esko had the unique opportunity to coach against her father, Larry Chowen (Long Beach State Men’s Volleyball, 1971–72), during his 14-year tenure as Head Coach at Chaffey College before his retirement in 2016. She remains actively involved in the sport, competing in indoor leagues as well as grass and beach tournaments, and resides in Huntington Beach with her husband and two daughters.
COACHING EXPERIENCE
- 2003–present Rio Hondo College (Indoor & Beach)
- Southern California Regional Coach of the Year 2023
- Coach of the Year 2012, 2015, 2019, 2022 && 2023
- SoCal Regional Playoffs Advancements
- 2023 SoCal Elite 8 & State Sweet 16
- South Coast Conference Champions 2023
- 2021-present-APEX1 VBC
- 2022 SCVA Soiree Gold Medal 15U division
- 2014-2016-Santiago Canyon College (Men’s Golf)
- 2015 Finished 3rd in the Orange Empire Conference & 5th at SoCal Regional Playoffs
- 2015 Lead 2 golfers to the CCCAA State Championships Tournament
- 2016 Finished 2nd in the Orange Empire Conference & SoCal Regionals Playoffs
- 2016 Finished 5th in CCCAA State Championships
- 2002-06 – Magnolia High School (Varsity Boys & Girls)
- 1999–2002-Club Beach VBC
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
Long Beach Wilson High School
- Multi-sport sport athlete, participating in soccer & volleyball; two-time all-CIF selection in volleyball; Moore League MVP-volleyball.
Arkansas State University
- Starter as a freshman, Division 1 scholarship
- Sun Belt Conference Champions & NCAA Tournament
On a personal note:
Coach Esko had the pleasure of coaching against her father (Larry Chowen-LB State Men's Volleyball '71-72) for 14 seasons while he was the Head Coach at Chaffey College. Coach Chowen retired in 2016. Teddi still actively participates in volleyball, playing in indoor leagues, grass and beach tournaments and resides in Huntington Beach with her husband and two daughters.
