You’re initially from Australia and have traveled extensively in your profession. What drove you to make this newest transfer?
I’ve been out of Australia for 20 years and in Europe, the place I each performed and served as a coach professionally, so I might name myself somebody who sees residence as the place they’re in the mean time. I actually miss Australia. It’s a good looking nation, however there are locations that provide extra for volleyball on this planet. From my perspective, having the chance to return to the United States on the proper time when volleyball is the most important sport for ladies in collegiate athletics … it was only a good probability to get on the bottom flooring of the professional league.
You performed 10 seasons professionally after which started your teaching profession shortly afterward. What was the most important factor you realized early on from the sidelines that you just hadn’t realized as a participant?
I don’t know if I didn’t comprehend it as a participant, however I actually didn’t give it some thought as a participant. Coaching is a sport the place you’re working with others, so it’s actually essential to know that information has no energy with out belief. Of course, it’s essential to be educated in your craft and to know techniques. I’ve put lots of time and effort into engaged on that. But in the event you can’t construct these relationships with the athletes and the opposite folks working round us, then you definately’re going to have a tough time getting your message throughout. That was a fast realization for me, that the way in which that I work together with the folks round me goes to affect whether or not they even hear the information that I’ve to share.
What hurdle you’ve confronted has helped form the way you lead and coach right now?
I don’t know if it’s tremendous related within the United States, as a result of there are lots of females teaching right here, however in Europe, I used to be alone in most leagues I used to be teaching. Even if I used to be in a global competitors there, if I used to be fortunate, I used to be possibly considered one of two girls teaching. It’s all the time been actually essential for me to keep in mind that I’m able—with the work that I do, how I do it, and who I present up as—to encourage girls. I can have an effect on the way in which folks understand females as coaches, particularly in Europe.
What is your earliest reminiscence of volleyball?
I bear in mind simply being so annoyed in a sport one time that I went off and I booted the volleyball. My mother completely ripped by way of me, letting me know that I wouldn’t be doing that once more. Now I’m completely calm, and I hold myself underneath management on the sideline.
In many sports activities, the model of play internationally could be very completely different from the model within the U.S. Is that the identical for volleyball?
I’ve coached in males’s volleyball as nicely. On the worldwide stage, it’s extra inventive, extra aggressive, and extra centered on discovering options than it’s within the U.S. I need to carry that spirit to Indiana; there’s a motion towards altering girls’s volleyball to be extra like that. We’re very athletic and highly effective, simply as a lot as a person, and we’d like to have the ability to make the most of that sort of play. Generally talking, the U.S. is among the leaders in volleyball. USA volleyball has a specific model of play, and it’s introduced them good outcomes with a silver and a gold medal, so I feel we will actually say no matter they’re doing is true.
The Indy Ignite skilled lots of success of their first season final 12 months, advancing to the championship. How a lot simpler does that make your transition into head coach, working with expertise that isn’t solely returning however can be fueled by a powerful runner-up end?
There are two components that I’d like to the touch on. The first is that I agree that efficiency is essential, and I’ve spoken to the women, they usually’re very hungry to take it to the subsequent step. I do know additionally they need to enhance their report and ensure they’re in a very good place to be in the perfect playoff scenario. On the flip facet, what Indy did each on and off the court docket has given them a fantastic popularity, so I had a simple time convincing gamers that the Indy Ignite could be a very good workforce to return to. The organization treats its athletes nicely and has the precise values. Though efficiency is an important factor in sports activities, folks respect how they’re handled, so entering into this setting has been optimistic for me in recruiting due to the nice illustration behind me. You can’t win with out that in the long run.
When you take a look at the seven returning gamers, what stands out to you about their capacity on the court docket, and what excites you most about the place you and your teaching workers can take them subsequent?
I needed to maintain all seven of those athletes due to their mindset. I need to carry a extremely daring, aggressive sport. You must be able to fail. You must be able to get inventive, and all of them are completely burning to take that subsequent step and to study new issues and to push ahead.
You haven’t had lots of time to tour Indiana, however from what little publicity you’ve had, what’s your greatest takeaway up to now?
The neighborhood. I knew I used to be going to return to a spot that loves sports activities. Volleyball is in style right here, however I don’t suppose I fairly understood how huge sports activities total are in Indiana. I’ve already been to a few Fever video games, and I went to the TED sports activities convention. Since, on the finish of the day, every thing we do relies off the individuals who assist us, to see that individuals are actually invested could be very thrilling.
What are you most desperate to study and expertise about Indiana as you proceed to settle in?
I feel integrating into the sports activities tradition. We’re in a novel place as skilled athletes {and professional} coaches. My view is that we’re on the high of the highest in influencing how issues go right here, each in volleyball and in the way in which we play, the character, and the model that we present. Understanding our affect is essential for me. To see that the neighborhood is so deep and there’s such a giant volleyball tradition right here and imagining what we will do from the highest down … the significance of our function is simply an exhilarating factor.