During the summer of 2023, Head Coach of the Girls and Boys Varsity Indoor Volleyball teams, Mr. Aaron Hartin, had open heart surgery. Just a little over a year later, he led his team to a Division II CIF Championship. After ten years with the girls team at UC High, Hartin’s relentless dedication to the program paid off.

   Hartin has been a lifelong Centurion, first as a student-athlete, then as an educator, and now as a coach.  “I attended UC between 1986-1990, and I was also a history and government teacher between 2002-2007,” said Hartin.

   Hartin required heart surgery due to being born with an abnormal heart valve; however, this did not prevent Hartin from reaching success as a player that most can only dream of. “I was the Boys Indoor Volleyball CIF Player of the Year in 1990, and I set a San Diego Section Championship record of 41 kills in a single game, which may still hold to this day.  This earned me a D1 scholarship to SDSU, where I was a starting outside hitter from 1990 – 1992,” said Hartin.

   Hartin’s extensive playing career has played a large part in his success as a coach. “Having all this playing experience gives me a great background in skills, techniques, and all aspects of the sport,” said Hartin.

   Assistant Boys Volleyball Coach Brooke Choi has been coaching with Hartin at UC for seven years, but their coaching bond started much earlier. “I have known Coach Hartin for over 20 years; we coached our daughters on the beach before we started coaching together at UC,” said Choi.

   Choi understands the importance of a coach like Hartin better than anyone. “Volleyball is a very mental sport, and Coach Hartin is always extremely calm. His background in playing volleyball and ability to continue to learn the game make him an ideal coach and a huge contributor to the success of any team,” said Choi.

   Hartin is more than just a coach to many members of the UC volleyball community. “Coach Hartin is extremely supportive and helpful to everyone in the program. He genuinely cares about his team and helps guide them to a strong athletic and academic balance in their lives,” said Choi.

   Hartin’s ability to help others improve has not gone unnoticed. “Coach Hartin has more experience in hitting and blocking than I do; the knowledge he has shared with me has helped me become a better coach,” said Choi.

   Outside Hitter and Co-Captain of Girls Varsity Volleyball Junior Danielle Muttera shared a similar sentiment. “Coach Hartin has helped me become a better leader. He instilled the confidence in me to believe in myself and the team,” she said.

   Hartin played a crucial role in the success of the 2024 girls team. “Hartin knew we could win CIF from the beginning of the year. Even though we were a lower seed in the playoffs, he helped us believe it was possible,” said Muttera.

   Hartin’s coaching career has been filled with memorable moments, but this CIF Championship might top them all. “This season’s CIF Championship is definitely one of my best memories as a coach. However, I also coached one of the greatest high school boys’ club teams of all time back in the ‘90s.  One of my players went on to win a National Championship at the University of Hawai’i, and another one of those players went on to win a Gold Medal in the 2008 Olympics. Nothing makes me happier than seeing my players go on to accomplish great things,” said Hartin.

   While the 2024 season was a great one, Coach Hartin has decided to retire from coaching girls volleyball at UC High. “While the surgery went well and I have recovered, I do not have the energy that I once had before surgery. I realized that I need to cut back on the amount of coaching that I do to focus on my health. Starting in the 2025-26 school year, I will only be coaching the boys team,” Hartin said.  Coach Hartin’s contributions to the girls team will be greatly missed by his players, fellow coaches, and UC community members.

   Hartin’s career has been one for the record books, both as a player and as a coach. According to the CIF San Diego Section Record Book, “Aaron Hartin is fifth all time in Career Kills with 837 through two years, while all ranked above him played a minimum of three years. Hartin ranks third all-time for most kills in a season with 535.” Hartin is a four-time League Champion as the girls coach and now a CIF Champion as well.