Rodrigo Rodrigues Gil

Rodrigo Rodrigues Gil is a Nike Volleyball Camp Director.

Rodrigo, originally from Brazil, had the privilege of playing professional volleyball for over 18 years. His journey began at just 14 when he made the courageous decision to leave home and pursue the sport at a higher level. By 15, he was already training with the Brazilian National Team, and over the next few years, he earned the title of ‘Junior World Champion’ three times—an incredible honor recognizing his skill and dedication as a junior player. At 18, Rodrigo became a top international competitor, earning a spot on the prestigious ‘World All-Star Team.’ The following year, he took his talents to Italy, where he played nine consecutive seasons in the elite A1 Italian League. During this time, he achieved numerous individual and team honors and was one of only two Brazilians competing in the league at the time. His professional career also took him to Russia, Korea, Puerto Rico, Qatar, and Argentina, allowing him to experience the game at the highest levels across the world. After retiring from professional play, Rodrigo transitioned into coaching in 2010, joining Mizuno Long Beach Volleyball Club (girls) and Team Rockstar (boys). His passion for developing young athletes quickly made him a sought-after coach and private trainer in Southern California. Over a decade of coaching, Rodrigo consistently led teams to success, qualifying for the Junior Olympics each year and earning himself Coach of the Year honors twice. Across both his boys’ and girls’ teams, several earned top finishes at the Junior Olympics, including a Gold, a Silver, and two Bronze medals, along with three strong 5th-place finishes. Regionally, he consistently kept his teams among the top competitors, maintaining high rankings in SCVA Division 1 for both programs. Beyond volleyball, Rodrigo enjoys spending time with his family, being in nature, and traveling. Fluent in Portuguese, Italian, Spanish, and English, Rodrigo values the relationships he’s built through the sport and continues to mentor and inspire the next generation of athletes.