Tag: Juniors

Volleyball Coaching Wizard Stephen Pierce

Posted onAuthorVolleyball Coaching WizardsLeave a comment

Not Letting Location be a Limit

Like many US high school volleyball coaches, Stephen Pierce coached on top of his full-time job as an English teacher. In his 20+ year career, which overlapped in the early days with fellow Wizard Jefferson Williams, he established himself as perhaps the best high school coach in any sport in the state of New York.

His resume includes:

  • Nearly 1000 victories
  • 14 State Championships, including 8 straight, the most of any New York coach
  • 2010 he was named National High School Volleyball Coach of the Year
  • The only New York juniors coach to win a USAV national championship or a USA National Qualifier at the Open level

Here’s some of what Stephen discusses in his interview:

– Being able to push players
– Developing coaching vision
– Juniors vs high school coaching differences
– Developing volleyball in the community
– Handling coaching with a full-time teaching job

Play this excerpt for a taste of the sort of insights and ideas you’ll get from the full interview:

Get access to Stephen’s interview now for just a $4.99 contribution to the Volleyball Coaching Wizards project.

Stephen’s interview is also part of the following bundles:

Volleyball Coaching Wizard Ryan Mitchell

Posted onAuthorVolleyball Coaching WizardsLeave a comment

Relentless Pursuit of Excellence

USA coach Ryan Mitchell embrace a philosophy of constantly striving to be better, to move from good to great.

His resume includes:

  • 5 straight Texas high school championships between 2008 and 2012
  • 6 Coach of the Year selections in Texas
  • 2012 NFHS National High School Coach of the Year and AVCA National Coach of the Year finalist
  • Over 400 victories and an 87% win rate in 10 seasons as a head coach
  • Consistently sees his juniors teams, no matter the age, earn Nationals qualifications.

Here’s some of what Ryan discusses in his interview:

– Being a continuous learner
– Developing players as leaders from an early age
– Season training progressions
– Try-out philosophies
– Team-building

Play this excerpt for a taste of the sort of insights and ideas you’ll get from the full interview:

Get access to Ryan’s interview now for just a $4.99 contribution to the Volleyball Coaching Wizards project.

You can also get Ryan’s interview as part of the following bundles:

Volleyball Coaching Wizard Tom Turco

Posted onAuthorVolleyball Coaching WizardsLeave a comment

Coaching the mental at least as much as the physical

USA high school coach is a legend in New England volleyball circles. A major part of his success he attributes to the mental, off-court training he has been doing with each of his teams going back 20 years. It seems to be working pretty well!

His resume includes:

  • 18 Massachusetts state high school championships
  • 110 match winning streak from 2003 to 2007.
  • 2008 AVCA National Coach of the Year.
  • 2012 NHSCA National Volleyball Coach of the Year

Here’s some of what Tom discusses in his interview:

– Tryouts and making cuts
– Focusing on the mental part of the game
– Staff management
– Working with your administration
– Creating a culture

Play this excerpt for a taste of the sort of insights and ideas you’ll get from the full interview:

Get access to Tom’s interview now for just a $4.99 contribution to the Volleyball Coaching Wizards project.

Additionally, Tom’s interview is featured in the first Volleyball Coaching Wizards book. His interview can also be found in the following bundles:

Volleyball Coaching Wizard Mike Lingenfelter

Posted onAuthorVolleyball Coaching Wizards

Finding Your Coaching Niche

USA club coach Mike Lingenfelter spent a number of years in the college coaching ranks as both an assistant and head coach following his own playing career. He has really found a home coaching younger developing players at the Juniors level, though. He’s spent over 15 years at the highly respected Munciana program – the oldest volleyball club in the US. There he feels he can have the greatest impact as a trainer and player developer.

His resume includes:

  • Four national championships, four national runner-ups, and three third place finishes with his Juniors teams
  • Three Indiana state high school championships.
  • Indiana state high school Coach of the Year on three occasions.
  • Regular coaching clinic presenter

Here’s some of what Mike discusses in his interview:

– Evolving as a coach
– Having a culture
– Structuring and managing team tryouts
– Developing team culture and cohesion
– Managing the demands of a long season
– Having a player-first mentality

Play this excerpt for a taste of the sort of insights and ideas you’ll get from the full interview:

Get access to Mike’s interview now for just a $4.99 contribution to the Volleyball Coaching Wizards project.

Mike’s interview can also be found in the following bundles:

Volleyball Coaching Wizard Jim Stone

Posted onAuthorVolleyball Coaching Wizards

Following Collegiate Success with National Team Work

After a distinguished career coaching in one of the strongest conferences in NCAA Division I volleyball, Jim Stone has turned his focus to working with the future of the USA national team program.

His resume includes:

  • Over 500 wins in 26 year coaching NCAA Division I volleyball, including 3 Big 10 titles and 15 trips to the NCAA tournament
  • Coached two AVCA Players of the Year and 19 All-Americans.
  • Regional and conference coach of the year on four occasions
  • Member of the US National Team coaching staff.

Here’s some of what Jim discusses in his interview:

– Making player assessments in tryout situations
– Putting together a coaching staff
– Managing players who have never failed before
– Developing as a coach
– Comparing the US and other systems

Play this excerpt for a taste of the sort of insights and ideas you’ll get from the full interview:

Get access to Jim’s interview now for just a $4.99 contribution to the Volleyball Coaching Wizards project.

You can also get Jim’s interview as part of the following bundles:

Volleyball Coaching Wizard Jan De Brandt

Posted onAuthorVolleyball Coaching Wizards

Men’s Coach Makes the Move to the Women’s Game

Belgian Jan De Brandt is another Wizard who followed a career playing volleyball for club and country with a transition to into coaching. After several years coaching in the men’s game, he made the switch to coaching women and never looked back.

His resume includes:

  • Coach of the Hungarian Women’s National Team and the Belgian National Team
  • Has coached professionally in Belgium, Italy, Turkey, Spain, Azerbaijan, and Germany
  • Winner of the European Volleyball League
  • CEV Champions League Silver Medal
  • CEV Cup Bronze Medal
  • 2 league championships, 1 cup, and 1 Super Cup in Turkey

Here’s some of what Jan discusses in his interview:

– His philosophy of practice organization
– Coaching men vs. coaching women
– Making coaching more than just volleyball
– Coaching across cultures
– Managing the non-starters
– Building a coaching staff

Play this excerpt for a taste of the sort of insights and ideas you’ll get from the full interview:

Get access to Jan’s interview now for just a $4.99 contribution to the Volleyball Coaching Wizards project.

You can also get Jan’s interview as part of the following bundles:

Volleyball Coaching Wizard Simon Loftus

Posted onAuthorVolleyball Coaching Wizards

Coach of Scotland’s First Ever International Trophy Winners

Simon Loftus started his coaching at the youth level in his native Scotland, but soon was on to bigger things. He developed the Leeds Metropolitan University program which dominated U.K. university volleyball for several years. He then went on to lead the Scottish men to their first ever trophy in international competition. After spending time coaching in the US, he returned to England.

His resume includes:

  • Coach of the England Men’s National Team
  • 2012 Novatel Cup winner as Scottish National Team head coach
  • 6 U.K. university championships (BUCS) and 5 Volleyball England Student Cup titles
  • NCAA tournament appearance while coaching in the US
  • Also coached professionally in Sweden

Here’s some of what Simon discusses in his interview:

– Developing a coaching style
– Working with male vs. female athletes
– Comparing the US and European systems
– Coaching against lower caliber opposition

Play this excerpt for a taste of the sort of insights and ideas you’ll get from the full interview:

Get access to Simon’s interview now for just a $4.99 contribution to the Volleyball Coaching Wizards project.

You can also get Simon’s interview as part of the following bundles: