Santa Cruz volleyball coach and sex offender arrested, deputies say

On Tuesday, investigators with Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office said a popular local volleyball coach was arrested for attempting to have sex with a minor.

Santa Cruz resident Kjell Nilssen, 49, is accused of contacting a minor with the intent to have sex. Detectives said they began investigating Nilssen last month.

They said Nilssen met the teen in 2012 while working as a volleyball coach and personal trainer for Shoreline Volleyball Club in Santa Cruz.

Detectives said he kept in touch with the teen through social media and in person for over a year and a half. They said that contact ended when the teen’s parents discovered their relationship and broke it off.

The sheriff’s office said Nilssen is a convicted sex offender and failed to register with law enforcement for over a year and a half.

Detectives said Nilssen has coached indoor and beach volleyball for over 20 years. They believe there are other victims who have not come forward.

Deputies said Nilssen was arrested on February 12. He was booked into the Santa Cruz County Jail.