Monte Vista Christian earlier this month announced a trio of new hires, including the school’s newest athletic director for the upcoming 2025-26 school year.
Dustin Mones was officially named the Mustangs’ director of athletics on June 12, replacing long-time director Matt Coleman.
Joseph Cassius Lampkin on June 6 was named the boys’ basketball head coach, while Zachary Thomas officially took over the girls’ volleyball program as of June 11.
Mones spent the past nine years at The Stony Brook School in Long Island, NY. He started off as head coach of the baseball team for the first five years, and then transitioned to athletic director and a lesser role as an assistant baseball coach for the remaining four.
Prior to his departure in 2016, Mones and his wife, Kylie, served at MVC as teachers, coaches and members of the school’s boarding team.
“I’ve always had a special place in my heart for Monte Vista,” Mones said to The Pajaronian. “The faculty and the students there were just amazing to work with. I love the mission of the school and its focus on the Christian mission, and it also has an outstanding athletic program.”
Mones, 39, grew up in Trumbull, Conn., and attended Notre Dame Prep–Fairfield where he played ice hockey, baseball and football. He also spent one year at post-graduate school playing hockey at Northfield Mount Hermon, and attended Wesleyan University in Middleton, Conn.
Mones, who is scheduled to arrive on campus mid July, said his goals are to carry on MVC’s school mission and give student-athletes an incredible athletic experience they’ll remember for a lifetime.
“I’m really looking forward to building community, getting to know the student-athletes and just being part of a vibrant culture at Monte Vista,” Mones said.
MVC Assistant Head of School Susie Swing said Mones brings both experience in the field of athletics as well as just a genuine love for athletics, and the school.
“We’re looking forward to the new athletic season,” Swing said. “We have some experienced and committed coaches for the fall and winter seasons.”
Lampkin led Oakwood School out of Morgan Hill to its first-ever Central Coast Section Division V boys’ basketball title in the program’s history in 2024. He also guided the Eagles to their first-ever California Interscholastic Federation NorCal D-V Regional semifinals appearance.
“Coach Lampkin’s passion for basketball goes beyond the game itself,” said Coleman on MVC’s athletics website. “It’s about using the sport to teach young men invaluable life lessons, to push through adversity, and to do so within a Christ-centered environment. We couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome him to Mustang Nation and are confident his leadership will greatly benefit our student-athletes and the boys’ basketball program.”
Lampkin is founder and director of Hard2Guard Hoops, a nonprofit Amateur Athletic Union program focused on high-level skill development and youth mentorship. He’s organized tournaments, clinics and travel competitions for multiple age groups.
Prior to his championship run at Oakwood, Lampkin led Pac Point Christian School’s boys’ basketball team to a pair of CCS playoff appearances for the first time in the program’s history.
According to MVC’s athletics website, Lampkin also served as a skills development coach at Gavilan College, specializing in player development, game IQ and advanced offensive reads as a collegiate-level trainer.
Thomas is a lifelong volleyball enthusiast who played competitively throughout high school and college, according to a press release on the MVC’s athletic website. During his playing career, Thomas discovered a passion for the lessons it teaches of growth, leadership and teamwork.
“I’m incredibly excited to join the MVC family,” Thomas said in the press release. “My goal is to build a program that not only competes at the highest level, but also creates a lasting impact. I want to help shape our student-athletes into Christ-centered teammates, leaders, and people. For me, this is more than just a game, it’s an opportunity to help build them for life.”
