This is my first full year as the club director and my 2nd
involved with club volleyball at the YMCA.
I love to learn and hope I am making improvements with the program. I think we have the best coaches and I really
learn so much from them and they are great to work with. As always the challenge is in the business
end the paperwork, communication and of course money. The fun part is the game, I love that I was
able to see all the teams compete and the improvement of individual
improvements. I finished the 14's season as the coach so proud of how strong they finished.
Especially with Rianne
last year she was such a weak server. In
her final tournament (6 matches) she only missed one serve. Her team had another 2nd place
finish! Brant and I play a few city
league games when we can. Heath’s Junior
league team won the championship. He is
actually pretty good. Bennett doesn’t
know how to catch because if you toss him a ball he hits it. I guess none of us can get enough volleyball.
In March, Coco’s head coach wanted to meet about spring
& summer volleyball. I was just sick
I love to coach but I just need an environment that is more my style so I was
prepared to tell her I would not be coaching with her next year. At the meeting she said she wouldn’t be
coaching. I felt relief. I knew when Amanda applied (the year we
adopted Bennett) that they only had 3 apply.
I didn’t want these girls my girls to go to just anybody especially
after last season. The excitement
started to build to have it be my program the talent we have (Thanks to Club)
and the seniors would be my girls from my first season with Coconino High
school. I had some apprehensions I knew
it would take a great deal of time but I felt ready to come out of the
background. Then the anticipation I put
together my coaching portfolio I know every program I have coached in I leave
them better than I found them and that is true of my time at Coconino too! I love the team aspect of volleyball at the
high school level. After much
deliberation and prayer I felt really good about it. Needless to say I applied and interviewed. I felt like my interview went really
well. When I left I really felt like I
was the next coach for Coconino Volleyball.
Two days later I got a call from the Athletic director telling me how
great I was with that being said (here it was the offer) “we decide to go with
someone in building” It was a blow the
disappointment ripped me up. He asked if
I would consider coaching with the new coach I told him I was very disappointed
give me a few days and then I would be willing to talk with her. Not
even 2 hours later I had a message from her on my phone. Then I felt bitter and disrespected. As more things came into light and as usually
there are political agendas that I don’t fit into. I realized that although I was better choice
better prepared and better for the girls by all accounts I won. However the trophy was already engraved with
a different name on it. I am also disappointed in the lack of integrity/honesty with a gut-less administration. To add insult to
injury they said they really didn’t want me to go anywhere and staying with the
program would be advantageous for my future well if my 3 years in the program
through 2 coaches didn’t give me an advantage, I don’t see how one more season
will. They went with someone who stepped
away from the program for 10 years but is "in the building". Which is easier/ better for the admin but may not be better for the volleyball program. If
you do what you have always done you will get what you have always gotten.
Don’t get me wrong I don’t think they picked a bad coach in
fact I really like her. I expect the
girls to do well and I want them too. I
know their talent. This could be our 3rd fall being married without
volleyball, oh the possibilities! I like to learn, this experience has shown me sometime your best isn’t good enough. I am still learning but it has actually made me more confident in my coaching abilities. I still don’t know why I felt good about it. I do know everything happens for a reason. I won’t be stepping away from the sport and looking forward to club volleyball J. I will keep learning and loving this game. I still can’t get enough it.
