Meet the Family Behind Back 40 Beach
Our journey began at a beach volleyball tournament in Cocoa Beach, Florida. We were both passionate competitors and kept crossing paths at tournaments throughout the state. Before long, our shared love for volleyball became the foundation of our relationship.
Together, we traveled the country, competing in some of the nation’s largest beach and grass volleyball tournaments. The sport gave us lifelong friendships, incredible mentors, unforgettable experiences—and ultimately, each other.
As life progressed, we married, built a family, and continued dreaming about creating a place where athletes could experience everything volleyball had given us.
That dream became Back 40 Beach.
Built right here in our backyard, Back 40 Beach is the result of decades spent playing, competing, coaching, learning and growing. Today, we’re excited to share that passion with the next generation by creating a place where athletes can develop their skills, build confidence, and feel like part of a family.
Coach Kim
Coach Schylar
The Lillethorups
The Coaches
Volleyball has been a part of my life ever since I can remember. As the youngest of 4, with 2 older sisters who played volleyball, I was always in a gym. I started playing on my elementary school team in the 4th grade. What started as a childhood passion became a lifelong pursuit that has shaped who I am both on and off the court.
I continued my volleyball career at the University of North Florida, where I competed as a libero for all 4 years, from 2013-2016. While I was recruited for indoor volleyball, UNF also had a beach volleyball team, which I was determined to join. Through hard work and perseverance, I earned a spot on the beach team my sophomore year and played at the 4 seed. I eventually worked my way up and played at the 2 seed for my junior and senior seasons.
Throughout my college career of indoor and beach volleyball, I was honored to be named to the ASUN conference All-Academic Team from 2014-2017. Balancing collegiate athletics with academics taught me the value of discipline, commitment, and consistency—qualities I strive to pass along to every athlete I coach.
My coaching journey began while I was still in college, coaching indoor club volleyball in Jacksonville. When I moved back to Orlando, I began coaching a middle school team and a high school team. I also joined the coaching staff a Phil Dalhausser Beach Volleyball Academy where I had the opportunity to coach alongside some of the best minds in the sport.
Life eventually took me away from coaching. As a registered nurse, wife, and mom of 3, I thought coaching wasn’t in the books anymore. Back 40 Beach has changed that for me. I now have another opportunity to help young people build confidence, resilience, and character that will serve them long after the final point. I am excited to welcome every athlete to Back 40 Beach and help them discover how much they are capable of!
Coach Kim
My volleyball journey began in 2009, but my love for the game started long before. My dad was an avid beach volleyball player, introducing me to the sand, beach lifestyle and volleyball community. While beach was always a part of my life, I chose to pursue indoor volleyball competitively.
My indoor journey earned me a scholarship to play D1 volleyball at California State University, Northridge, as a setter. Playing at the collegiate level taught me the importance of discipline, leadership, communication, and mastering the fundamentals—lessons that shape my coaching philosophy today.
After college, I returned to Florida and began my coaching career. I coached indoor club volleyball during the 2018-2019 season before transition to high school beach volleyball. Unfortunately, the season was ended due to Covid 19. However, it confirmed what I already knew, I loved watching athletes grow.
In early 2020, I was given the incredible opportunity to join the coaching staff at the Phil Dalhausser Beach Volleyball Academy. Learning under and coaching alongside Olympic Gold Medalist and one of the greatest beach volleyball players in history, Phil Dalhausser, was an experience that shaped me as both a coach and a student of the game.
As life evolved, so did my priorities. I became a firefighter, our family grew, we moved out of the city, and the commute and time commitment to the academy became increasingly difficult. I made the extremely tough decision to step away from coaching, leaving something I truly loved behind.
Back 40 Beach is a dream come true. It combines everything that matters most to me—faith, family, community, and volleyball. My goal is to create an environment where athletes receive elite level coaching while feeling encouraged, challenged, and genuinely excited to step on the sand.