Denver East’s Vanessa Espinoza named WBCA high school Assistant Coach of the Year

DENVER — Denver East girls basketball assistant Vanessa Espinoza doesn’t fit the narrative that great athletes don’t often make great coaches. 

A former All-American at Douglas County High School turned Colorado State University women’s basketball standout, Espinoza transitioned to coaching soon after and success has followed. While she doesn’t teach the game in hopes of earning personal accolades, it came as an “honor” when the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) named Espinoza the 2023 high school Assistant Coach of the Year on March 21. 

“It’s been my passion just wanting to help kids, and I know what it takes,” said Espinoza, whose Angels finished 12-12 (3-2 6A Denver Prep). “I’ve played at the highest level and had great coaching along the way. I’m really just wanting to help the kids get to the next level.”

Espinoza had just wrapped her first season at Denver East under Carl Mattei, who was Espinoza’s head coach during her senior year at Douglas County in 2000-01. Prior to that, she had played three seasons at Highlands Ranch High School and won a Class 5A state championship in 2000. Following Espinoza’s college career, she joined Mattei’s Regis Jesuit staff for a few seasons and won the 2009 girls 5A title. 

Both Espinoza and Mattei are flying to Dallas for the NCAA Division I women’s basketball Final Four where she — along with coaches of the year from the JUCO, NAIA, Division I, II and III ranks — will be presented the award on Friday during the WBCA Convention’s opening session. 

Mattei, of course, was proud of his former point guard’s latest coaching achievement. 

“I’ve known her a long time and when you have one of your own win something, you’re so excited for her, you’re so proud of her,” Mattei said. “The hard work she’s put in, all the extra work — she’d be sending me videos of her and the girls running the mountains. All the stuff that she was doing to help my team be successful, I’m in the wins and loss columns, I’m the head coach, but you have to have somebody like that to be successful.”

For Espinoza, joining Mattei at Denver East was largely influenced by a desire to mentor student-athletes who come from a largely disadvantaged community. 

“Being at a city school, I really want to make an impact on some of these kids that can’t afford to play club ball and play at the next level,” Espinoza said. “So many of those kids that are less fortunate, they fall through the cracks. Even though they have the talent, they just don’t have the resources like everybody else, so that is a big thing that I want to help.”

Espinoza was tested in her first year at Denver East with multiple acts of violence and lockdowns keeping the Angels off the court. But in the midst of another difficult stretch for the Denver East community, Mattei said that Espinoza was a valuable resource for players. 

“Vanessa was a big part of being able to calm the kids down and work with the kids and help them get through the fears of going to school,” Mattei said. “That connection she had was almost partnered with her ability to connect with the kids on the court because the court’s one thing, but life is another thing.”

Along with Mattei, Espinoza was grateful to have been mentored by club coach John Nillen, who’s currently the general manager for the Colorado Xplosion, and former Colorado State coaches Tom Collen, Nikki Collen and Curt Miller. 

“I’ve been really lucky to have just an amazing line of coaches my entire life,” Espinoza said.

Outside of basketball, Espinoza is a personal trainer and the founder of Plant-Based Muscle, which educates people on employing a plant-based diet. She also co-authored a book, “Plant-Based Muscle: Our Roadmap to Peak Performance,” and travels to fitness events to educate athletes on building muscle through plant-based means.