Tag: university

Volleyball Coaching Wizard Peggy Martin

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Tried retirement, but didn’t like it

USA college coach Peggy Martin spent 33 years at NCAA Division II Central Missouri before retiring. That retirement only lasted a few months, though, before she was back on the court at a new school with the same level of success.

His resume includes:

  • Winner of more than 1300 college matches (mostly NCAA Division II)
  • More than 20 conference championships and 25 straight trips to the NCAA Division II tournament (6 Elite 8s)
  • 22 Coach of the Year Awards including the 1987 NCAA Division II National Coach of Year Award
  • AVCA Hall of Fame inductee

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

– Early-career coaching development
– Changes in the coach-player dynamic
– Working with and managing captains and team councils
– Recruiting good people
– Hiring good staff
– Dealing with the pressure to maintain a high level of success

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

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

Peggy’s interview is also featured as part of the following bundles:

Volleyball Coaching Wizard Bill Neville

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Looking back and looking forward

Bill Neville is one of the most respected coaches in US volleyball coaching circles, and probably beyond as well. His long experience in the game provides him a perspective on the sport and on coaching that few can match.

His resume includes:

  • Olympic coach for both the Canadian and US national teams, including for the 1984 gold medal winning USA.
  • Over 15 years coaching NCAA Division I women’s teams.
  • USA Volleyball Technical Director
  • USA Volleyball National Commissioner of Coaching Education
  • Developer of the Coaches Accreditation Program (CAP)
  • Author of Coaching Volleyball Successfully

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

– His favorite memory for the 1984 US Olympic team
– The qualities of a great setter
– Key factors in good coaching education
– Being an innovative coach
– How the game has developed and where it might be headed

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

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

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

Volleyball Coaching Wizard Bob Schneck

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Life decisions and coaching

USA coach Bob Schneck spent his entire 35 year college coaching career at the University of Rhode Island. In the early days he had the unfortunate situation of having to face Penn State in conference each year, resulting in him accumulating a lot of second place finishes. Along the way, though, he did manage to get little URI into the national rankings.

His resume includes:

  • Over 600 NCAA Division I victories
  • Coached 32 All-Conference performers, 6 conference Freshmen of the Year, and 2 conference Players of the Year.
  • NCAA District I Coach of the Year twice
  • Long-time member of the USA Volleyball CAP cadre
  • Outstanding high school coaching record before moving to college.

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

– The off-court demands of college coaching
– Work/life balance
– Assistant coach development
– Program building
– Recruiting foreign players

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

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

Bob’s interview can also be found as part of the following bundles:

Volleyball Coaching Wizard Mike Lingenfelter

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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 Joel Dearing

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Coaching as Teaching

American coach Joel Dearing spent 30 years coaching the women’s team at Springfield College in NCAA Division III. He also coached the Springfield men for 7 years before handing them off. All of this was while teaching. Joel is one of the most respected coaches in the Northeast of the USA, not only based on the performance of his teams, but also for his efforts in helping other coaches develop.

His resume includes:

  • Ranks in the top 10 in NCAA Division III victories with over 700
  • Lead the Springfield men’s team to a final #1 ranking in his final season
  • AVCA Regional Coach of the Year 5 times.
  • Coached 10 All-Americans
  • Author of Volleyball Fundamentals and The Untold Story of William G. Morgan – Inventor of Volleyball
  • On the board of the Volleyball Hall of Fame
  • 2019 Inductee into the AVCA Hall of Fame
  • Long-time member of the USA Volleyball CAP Cadre

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

– Volleyball history
– Having protocols
– Coaching blind spots
– Reinventing yourself as a coach over time
– Developing your best players, not just improving your weakest
– Gender differences in team bonding
– Developing captains and team leaders

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

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

You can also get Joel’s interview as part of the following Bundles:

Volleyball Coaching Wizard Marilyn McReavy-Nolen

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A Long-Term Perspective on Coaching

Marylin McReavy-Nolen’s history in the sport of volleyball goes back to the 1960s. She’s coached at a variety of levels, helped develop some of the bigger collegiate programs, and has had the opportunity to work with a number of other great coaches along the way.

Her resume includes:

  • Became the 3rd coach to reach 800 wins in NCAA Division I
  • Member of the inaugural AVCA Hall of Fame induction class in 2003.
  • Women’s Sports Foundation Hall of Fame
  • USA Volleyball All-Time Great Coaches Award winner

Here’s some of what Marilyn discusses in her interview:

– Making important coaching career decisions
– Changes in physical and technical training in volleyball
– The challenges for women in coaching
– The changing influences on the practice of coaching
– Expectations and playing time

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

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

You can also get Marilyn’s interview as part of 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 Jenny McDowell

Posted onAuthorVolleyball Coaching Wizards

Lots More Yet to Come

American collegiate coach Jenny McDowell has already inscribed her name in the record books and looks far from done. Despite coaching at an academic rigorous institution, she has amassed and impressive track record of success.

Her resume includes:

  • Over 700 wins in NCAA Division III
  • 23 straight trips to the NCAA tournament, making the round of 16 on 19 occasions, with 6 trips to the Final Four and two national championships.
  • Has had nearly 50 All-American player selections
  • Coached two National Players of the Year

Here’s some of what Jenny discusses in her interview:

– Working in a demanding academic environment
– Selecting captains and responsibilities
– Keeping non-starters happy in a big squad
– Goal setting
– Structuring training through the season

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

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

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

Volleyball Coaching Wizard Ruth Nelson

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Developing Volleyball’s Future Generations

Ruth Nelson coached at the highest levels of the sport in the college, professional, and national team ranks. Recently, though, she has turned her attention to coaching kids at the very beginning of their journey and says she’d never go back.

Her resume includes:

  • Over 500 wins in 16 years of NCAA Division I coaching
  • US Women’s National Team assistant coach under Arie Selinger and Head Coach of the US Junior National team.
  • Coached in the US professional league Major League Volleyball
  • AVCA Hall of Fame inductee

Here’s some of what Ruth discusses in her interview:

– Being a new sponge in terms of your development
– Reasons for avoiding early specialization in young players
– Being a trainer vs. a coach
– Working with the new generation of athletes

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

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

Additionally, Ruth’s interview is featured in the first Volleyball Coaching Wizards book. You can also access it as part of the following bundles:

Volleyball Coaching Wizard Iradge Ahrabi-Fard

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Volleyball Coach and Researcher

Iranian Iradge Ahrabi-Fard started his career in his native land, but rose to international prominence while coaching in the US. As a professor of physical education, he has helped link coaching with research. He has published numerous volleyball coaching related articles.

His resume includes:

  • Member of the inaugural class of AVCA Hall of Fame inductees
  • Over 500 NCAA Division I victories in 19 seasons
  • 1999 AVCA Division I National Coach of the Year
  • 1997 AVCA Excellence in Education Award winner
  • Consultant and coach for USA Volleyball

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

– Adapting what you learn to your own coaching
– The importance of proper rest/recovery for athletes
– Coaching across different cultures (and sports)
– Being a professor and a coach
– A number of research observations

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

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

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