SANTIAGO LA JARA

Coach Santiago La Jara, also known as Coach Santi, joins Loudoun Elite for the 2025-2026 season. He was born and raised in Lima, Peru, where his passion for volleyball quickly turned into a lifelong commitment. He represented Peru on both the youth and adult National Teams, competing in international tournaments across the continent. Santiago helped make history for men’s volleyball in Peru, earning back-to-back bronze medals at the Bolivarian Games and the Pan American Cup — achievements that had never been seen before in the country’s men’s program.

He later moved to the U.S. on a Division I athletic scholarship to play for Fairleigh Dickinson University, where he was an associate captain. There, he earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Sports Management. While in the U.S., Santiago collaborated with clubs in New Jersey, Virginia, and California, helping develop athletes by running positional clinics and sharing experience drawn from years of international and collegiate play.

Coach Santi is a confident and driven presence on the court. His goal is to push athletes to their next level — because he knows firsthand what it takes to get there, and he’s passionate about helping players build the mindset, discipline, and skills to do the same.

AT LOUDOUN ELITE

– 2025-26: LE14 Milly Assistant Coach, Middle Blocker Coach, Beach Volleyball Coach