Lady Sharks Hire New Assistant Volleyball Coaches

The Miami Dade College volleyball team hired veteran coaches Paola Ampudia and Isabella Villino to join their assistant coaching staff.  

“I’m positive they’re going to be a great addition to the Miami Dade College volleyball team,” Lady Sharks head coach Origenes “Kiko” Benoit said.

Ampudia, who was born in Colombia, played for MDC from 2006-2007, earning National Junior College Athletic Association Player of the Year honors in 2007. She continued her volleyball career at the University of Missouri where she was the Big 12 newcomer of the year in 2009. 

Ampudia played professionally in Azerbaijan, Indonesia, Italy, Peru, Poland and Puerto Rico and has coached at Stephens College and Rockbridge High School in Missouri, for the Missouri Juniors Volleyball Club and at the Gimnasio Campestre La Fontana in Colombia. 

Villino played on the Venezuelan national team from 2018-19 and in Venezuela’s Liga Venezolana de Voleibol, winning a championship in 2019.   

Most recently, she was with the Miami Volleyball Academy serving as an assistant coach for the 14 and under and 17 and under teams. This year, she was tabbed as the 2025 Assistant Coach of The Year.   

Villino has also coached at Doral Academy, the North Miami Beach Volleyball Academy and the 305 Volleyball Club.

Staff Writer Nicholas Gowdy contributed to this story.