Volleyball Flyby: Behind Every Good Team is a Good Coaching Staff

Sitting at 23-2, the #18 Flyer Volleyball team takes on 7-16 George Washington on the road for a doubleheader weekend in DC. If the team is focused on playing at a high level, no matter the opponent, it should be another A10 foe we sweep both matches this weekend. The players have to execute game plans and be responsible for their own performances, but behind every good team is a coaching staff that puts in the dedication and work to help each young woman achieve her potential. And, to manage the program so the team obtains their goals.

Someone early in the year commented over in the volleyball forum that they saw this year’s coacheing staff working hard during matches. So we caught up with Head Coach Tim Horsmon this week to find out how he has set up his staff and how they execute match management.

The first thing is this year the NCAA approved a third assistant coach for volleyball. UD promoted Director of Operations Kaylee Thomas to that new spot on the coaching staff in addition to her responsibilities overseeing Operations. She is the Offensive Coordinator.

Coach Tim Balice is responsible for setter training and Coach Christa Cooper is the Defensive Coordinator – both the backrow and blocking. Coach Horsmon oversees all positions, systems, and practice planning.

During matches, Coach Balice is responsible for keeping a limited list of stats the team uses, above the official stats that are kept at the scorer’s table. Anyone can access the official stats using the live stat link during the match. Balice then communicates all statistical information to the rest of the coaching staff. Coach Cooper calls out blocking and defensive schemes and Coach Thomas handles the offensive responsibilities during a match.

Coach Horsmon handles all facets of a match including substitutions, time outs, calling service zones and entering the line up card before each set. It might look like he is just sitting on the sidelines enjoying the view of a courtside seat. But apparently he is quite busy. And the staff isn’t done yet.

Six more regular season conference matches over three weekends to navigate a very talented team that's in the driver’s seat to win another regular season A10 Championship. While they are working to complete that, they are also preparing for tournament play, both the A10 and NCAAs. Will this be the year Dayton breaks through to the Sweet 16?

That UDPride poster that commented back in September how hard the coaching staff was working during matches was correct. There is an extra coach this season and I’m pretty sure everyone around this program, including the fans, knows this is one of the most talented teams in Flyer Volleyball history. And behind every good team is a good coaching staff. We are lucky ours is committed to putting in the time and work to help these young women reach their potential. But this year, they are really just getting started. August-September-October have been great. But how big of leap this team makes in November will determine their place in Flyer Volleyball history.

	George Washington GEORGE WASHINGTON Students choose from two distinct GW campuses — Foggy Bottom and Mount Vernon. Both are located in historic and prestigious Northwest Washington, DC residential neighborhoods. With 9,700 undergraduate students, GW was founded almost 200 years ago and is named after the first President of the United States. GW stands as one of the nation's premier academic institutions with dozens of famous political, social, science, liberal arts, medical and professional graduates to its credit. Fellow members of the A10 Conference. Nickname is the Colonials.