Iona Stookey
Before every match I remind the team of a few things: This isn’t about you; it is about us. We win as a team and lose as a team. It doesn’t matter who gets the most kills or aces but it matters that we win. (more…)
State Champion Coaches »
Girls Volleyball
Head Volleyball Coach Iona Stookey has guided the Huntley Project High School Girl’s Volleyball team to the Montana Class B State Championship 7 times since 2003
Monday, April 16th, 2012Judy Kight of Mead High School in Washington has led her volleyball team to the 4A state championship in 1999, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2009
Sunday, October 17th, 2010
Our motto is HGP: Heart, Guts, and Passion. If we have talent, that's great; if we have experience and strong effort, great. But unless we play with HGP, we won't be playing to our full potential, and doing that under pressure creates champions.
Our program incorporates lots of fun with hard work, because I think sometimes coaches forget that these are kids we’re working with, and they’re playing a game they love. We should maintain that foundation. (more…)
Head Volleyball Coach Matt Chang has led Bishop Blanchet High School in Washington to state championships in 2006 and 2009
Saturday, August 14th, 2010
I believe there is one big concept of our program that we hope transfers to our players’ everyday life: Maximum effort and preparation. - Coach Chang
“Every drill that we do we score. There is always a winner and a loser. We don’t let down on the issue of competing, we’re always competing.” Coach Chang (more…)
Head Volleyball coach Sue Doering of Colfax High School in the state of Washington has led her team to ten state championships and three runner-up titles.
Saturday, August 14th, 2010
Coach Doering on mental visualization - Play the game in your head. Play the game under pressure. Win the game in your head.
“My philosophy has always been to lead kids to a state championship not force them to it or drag them through it. I have always left that last bit of push up to them and their own desire. Yes, I feel like I have helped and been huge in getting them there but ultimately it is them and their choices and behaviors that have won it for them.” Coach Doering (more…)
Head Volleyball Coach Suzanne Marble has led La Conner High School in the state of Washington to 3 State Championships, 3 Runner-ups, and 1 Fourth place finish.
Saturday, August 7th, 2010
Coach Marble- "You have to be willing to sacrifice to be successful. We have a list of guidelines for our team: 1. Family 2. Academics 3. Sports these all come before your personal life...
“If you were a stranger walking into our gym and watching us practice, you would see that our program is really based on trust and relationships.” Coach Marble (more…)
Archbishop Mitty High School in California has won 3 Volleyball National Championships and 5 State Championships. Coach Almazan-Cezar shares how they’ve achieved their success.
Sunday, July 18th, 2010
Head Volleyball Coach Brett Almazan-Cezar of Archbishop Mitty High School in California
“I believe that everyone is a leader in some way. Whether a vocal, physical, maternal, putting up or taking down nets, everyone can lead in some way. We try to guide them in their forte of leadership.” Coach Almazan-Cezar (more…)
Coach Pili of Barrow High School in northern Alaska talks about the challege of building a State Championship program without the luxury of little league or club volleyball.
Saturday, June 26th, 2010
Barrow, Alaska. Image taken from Sperling's BestPlaces at http://www.bestplaces.net/city/Barrow-Alaska.aspx
Barrow High Schools remote location in northern Alaska dictates that opponents must fly to Barrow, and Barrow teams must fly to opponents in order to compete. Yet many of the things other coaches do to build state championship programs apply even in northern Alaska. (more…)
Coach Lee Grisham of Wimberely High School in Texas talks about what hard-work means for this six time state championship winning program. “We do a lot of weight-room training. During the season we lift on Tuesdays and Fridays. We lift weights during our athletic period; take a forty minute break; then practice for two hours.”
Wednesday, May 26th, 2010
Lee Grisham Head Volleyball Coach for Wimberley High School
Coach Grisham shares how the expectation to serve others helps build good character… “We place a lot of responsibility on our kid’s to have good character. The kids serve one another by working tournaments. The girls participate in community service by running an elementary volleyball program called “The Little Diggers” program. (more…)
Stacy Wolf of Windthorst High School in Texas shares that she expects captains to lead the team on and off the court, to set the pace on the court even when my back is turned, to do their best and to not slack off.
Sunday, May 23rd, 2010
Coach Stacy Wolf of Windthorst High School in Texas
Coach Wolf shares about building character, “We try to develop their character in the classroom and on the court. We clearly define our expectations and our players usually live up to them. We do team bonding activities that force our players to work together.
(more…)
Coach Bonnie Wallin-Kuntz of Otis High School in Colorado talks about learning as a coach. “…you never stop learning. I approach the clinic that if I can learn just one thing then it is worth the time and money I put into it. I never think I don’t have to do this because I already know it all…”
Sunday, May 16th, 2010
Coach Bonnie Wallin-Kuntz and the Otis Bulldogs Colorado State Champions!
Coach Wallin-Kuntz talks about how to get players to give 100%, “I have coached for 23 years and what I have learned the most is that if you really want to get a player to give her best, you have to let her know how much you care about her. How important they are, it is more than a sport. I care about them as a person.” (more…)