Volleyball

wewiegel · Post by **wewiegel** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 9:36 pm

Division I volleyball has been changing rapidly the past several years. Because of the national expansion of Junior Olympic Volleyball, 17 and 18 year old players can have the skills and training of previous college players. At every position, the game has become quicker and more technical. The level of play will continue to elevate in every conference as even bigger, more athletic girls receive better training at a younger age.

Some coaches have taken advantage of these new recruits and the faster styles of play. They are willing to adjust their coaching and recruiting to keep up with the trends.... Others will be left in the dust because they aren't ready to accept that the game is changing. Experienced setters and defensive minded players have allowed the attack to become quicker and more mature in every conference I watch.

And for what it is worth, I believe there are a number of coaches that could take this roster and make the adjustments to bring out a more competitive team. It takes a modern perspective to see that there is a healthier way to put this team on the court.

My guess is that Miya is getting a wake-up call as to the skill set, team-minded attitudes and athleticism that will be required to remain competitive in the BSC. Will she be able to make the necessary adjustments in herself and her program? Yet to be determined.......

MAGOO · Post by **MAGOO** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 9:27 am

Before going any further, I will identify myself: I'm Kemp Wilson, and I graduated from MSC in 1961; 2 of my granddaughters play volleyball, one with the Red Lodge Avalanche which is arguably the best U-14 team in Montana. I thoroughly enjoy watching volleyball, and want MSU to have the best team in the Big Sky. That said, I just familarized myself with our VB coach's resume on the MSU Athletics website, and did a little research on our former coach Dave Gantt. Now I have some nagging doubts about the manner in which our current coach was selected. Was there a national search conducted after Gantt resigned? If so, who were the candidates? Was she hand-picked by Gantt? Why go with someone whose only coaching experience after graduation was to serve as an assistant for her former coach? How much do we pay our head VB coach compared with other schools? Is VB taken seriously by our athletic department, or is it just a minor sport serving to keep MSU "equal". Sorry for the naivete of the above questions, but I would like some answers.

4everacatfan · Post by **4everacatfan** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 11:45 am

MAGOO wrote:Before going any further, I will identify myself: I'm Kemp Wilson, and I graduated from MSC in 1961; 2 of my granddaughters play volleyball, one with the Red Lodge Avalanche which is arguably the best U-14 team in Montana. I thoroughly enjoy watching volleyball, and want MSU to have the best team in the Big Sky. That said, I just familarized myself with our VB coach's resume on the MSU Athletics website, and did a little research on our former coach Dave Gantt. Now I have some nagging doubts about the manner in which our current coach was selected. Was there a national search conducted after Gantt resigned? If so, who were the candidates? Was she hand-picked by Gantt? Why go with someone whose only coaching experience after graduation was to serve as an assistant for her former coach? How much do we pay our head VB coach compared with other schools? Is VB taken seriously by our athletic department, or is it just a minor sport serving to keep MSU "equal". Sorry for the naivete of the above questions, but I would like some answers.

That is similar to my request why was she with her limited resume chosen over Jerry who had an extensive college and international coaching experience?

I am all for hiring top women coaches but I am more for hiring the best coach possible and I too looked up both coaches coaching experience and in the world of business were I work you go with the better experience that would have been Jerry. But this seems to either smell of Gantt helping out a former player or an affirmative action move.

JMO

oldcatfan · Post by **oldcatfan** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 12:09 pm

Assistant coach, Northern Montana College ... Six seasons, 1979-80, 83-86
Head coach, Havre High School ... Three (winter) seasons 1985-1987
Head coach, Northern Montana College ... One season, 1987
Assistant coach, University of Montana ... Three seasons, 1988-90
Assistant coach, Oregon State University ... Eight seasons, 1991-98
Assistant coach, Montana State University ... Four seasons, 1999-2002
Associate head coach, Montana State University ... Two seasons, 2003-04
Assistant coach, Gonzaga University ... One season, 2005
Head coach, University of Montana ... First season

Where is the extensive international experience? And I was just wondering how many conference championships Gantt won, or even how many championship matches did he ever make it to that made him such a great coach to learn from? I don't mean to sound negative about Wagner and Gantt but I'm not sure that either resume includes any kind of championship of any kind. Does it make him a better coach because he's been around longer or that players would rather give him a hug?

Post by **SonomaCat** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 12:15 pm

Well ... sweeping MSU in head to head matches in his first season at UM has to be a somewhat compelling argument. It looks like he has really improved upon UM's program in an overall sense as well (standings).

I don't have a horse in this race, and I don't want to suggest than either coach is less than stellar (as I don't know enough to opine), but I certainly don't think that any MSU supporters can say too much bad about Wagner's coaching abilities so far this season.

oldcat · Post by **oldcat** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 1:33 pm

oldcatfan,

the extensive international experience comes from recruiting. i bet jerry has more connections to other countries regarding volleyball than any other coach in the BSC. matter of fact, he had a lot to do with me going overseas. dave gantt and jerry wagner were a good combination...i learned more from the two of them my first year in college than i learned my last 3 years.

you want to talk about a better coach: playing for a coach that you enjoy playing for makes a huge difference. UM, plain and simple, sucked the past couple years. MSU has always beat them regardless of coaching. and you dont' think UM sweeping MSU during the reg season has anything to say about jerry wagner??

since you want to call out jerry wagner's resume regarding volleyball...it sounds like you know so much about it, so why don't you post yours? you seem like you know so much?

spike · Post by **spike** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 2:28 pm

oldcat wrote:oldcatfan,

the extensive international experience comes from recruiting. i bet jerry has more connections to other countries regarding volleyball than any other coach in the BSC. matter of fact, he had a lot to do with me going overseas. dave gantt and jerry wagner were a good combination...i learned more from the two of them my first year in college than i learned my last 3 years.

you want to talk about a better coach: playing for a coach that you enjoy playing for makes a huge difference. UM, plain and simple, sucked the past couple years. MSU has always beat them regardless of coaching. and you dont' think UM sweeping MSU during the reg season has anything to say about jerry wagner??

since you want to call out jerry wagner's resume regarding volleyball...it sounds like you know so much about it, so why don't you post yours? you seem like you know so much?

I totally agree with you Kamber. Jerry seemed to be open minded in bringing in athletes from all over not just the U.S. I will state again that records and accomplishments are not everything. Enjoying the game and being competitive also are important. They will lead to championships. By the way Dave Gantt had some U.S. mens team connections and Wagner was at U of M when they went to the big NCAA tourney in '91 (I could be wrong on the year). Knowing what it takes to win is huge in helping to build a program. What is ironic, i feel, is that we are weak at the setter position and Miya was a setter herself...can she not find a good setter or coach the ones that we have to produce better results. In response to the assistants...I think coach Mimick could be a real asset but do not know how much she is able or allowed to contribute. Do not know much about coach Naipo. Seems very inexperienced and not very confident.

4everacatfan · Post by **4everacatfan** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 2:39 pm

oldcat wrote:oldcatfan,

the extensive international experience comes from recruiting. i bet jerry has more connections to other countries regarding volleyball than any other coach in the BSC. matter of fact, he had a lot to do with me going overseas. dave gantt and jerry wagner were a good combination...i learned more from the two of them my first year in college than i learned my last 3 years.

you want to talk about a better coach: playing for a coach that you enjoy playing for makes a huge difference. UM, plain and simple, sucked the past couple years. MSU has always beat them regardless of coaching. and you dont' think UM sweeping MSU during the reg season has anything to say about jerry wagner??

since you want to call out jerry wagner's resume regarding volleyball...it sounds like you know so much about it, so why don't you post yours? you seem like you know so much?

My point about international experience is in the recruiting area and in development things he has worked at in. I also know several ladies who have had the opportunity to play beyond college volleyball overseas and it has been Jerry that has helped them get there. Looking at the resume the oldcatfan posted makes me like him even more lets see what is coach Miya's resume look like:

played at Oregon State
assistant at MSU for Gantt
helped with Bozeman club teams one year but quit in the middle of club season (during offseason at MSU).
Head Coach at MSU

I am sure she has more so please add to it Oldcatfan if you are going to compare you really need to put the resumes side by side. And finally it is not because he has been around longer that he is a better coach it is because of his overall success not just wins and losses but development of player who can go on.

CARDIAC_CATS · Post by **CARDIAC_CATS** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 2:50 pm

I don't like talking about replacing coaches in mid season as it doesn't do any good. ALL I will say is that when Wagner was at MSU you could really see that he was a hands on coach/stickler for funamentals before/during/after the game. He is a DETAILS man and that was very evident during the warmups/pregame/game/endgame to me. I'm not an expert at Volleyball by any means, but a coach working hands on seems like a better teaching/coaching to me. I hear a lot of comments from current coaching that they just weren't sharp hitting etc. etc. but that has continued over the course of the season. All I am saying is what is the reason for this?

Again, I am not a volleyball expert, but you could really see Wagners passion for teaching the fundamentals. That is all I am saying.

Ponycat · Post by **Ponycat** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 5:29 pm

I don't know much about Volleyball or what it takes to be a good coach so I have to go by results Mia's results just aren't there. It appears she is a good recruiter but doesn't do much with the talent once she has it. Also, Kamber isn't the first person conected to the program that I've heard negative things about Mia from.

Again I don't know much about coaching volleyball but watching Mia on the sideline doesn't impress me much.

MAGOO · Post by **MAGOO** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 5:40 pm

I'm not advocating that the present coach be replaced in mid-season; I am in favor of the AD being completely aware of the situation as soon as possible, in order that he can fully evaluate the matter, and make his decision as to whether or not to make a coaching change immediately at the end of the season. It will not help the recruiting situation if we have to go for several months before a new coach is in place.

PS -- I would still like some discussion as to the circumstances surrounding the hiring of the present coach; from what I am able to gather, it is suspect. If so, then MSU's womens' athletic program has been shortchanged, and that is as much a dark cloud as the "equality" issue.

oldcat · Post by **oldcat** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 6:16 pm

I don't think the AD will do anything regarding the VB coaching position. I don't think anybody will ever know the true doings behind the hiring of miya either. i think it will be a question unanswered for a long time.

I am not an advocate of replacing coaches just because their team loses...there could be many reasons...however, when there is the talent in the athletes, but nothing comes out of it....something is wrong. Bottom line Jerry is a good coach....many former players would agree. That is what MSU misses the most.

one thing I must say, I wouldn't see why some inside people within MSU athletics wouldn't have an account to login under to see what is said on this site. It would be some good info just to keep up on what the supporters are thinking. with that being said...I sure hope that from posting my 'opinions' that information read does not affect my sister in an way. if so, that would be extremely unprofessional. players cannot explode with frustration while playing or they will be let go. i hope that carries through to the administration. i can only hold in my opinion for so long, especially when it has been brewing up for the past 2 years.

wewiegel · Post by **wewiegel** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 8:37 pm

Old Cat,

What makes you think that the AD will not do anything regarding a VB coaching change?

Obviously high School VB is really big in Montana and the public has shown great support for Bobcat VB over the years. I'm sure that the public expects to have confidence that the coach is effectve and representative of the other qualities associated with MSU. There are very proud people involved in this university.

Are you feeling like the AD will NEVER address this issue or just that you doubt that it will be addressed in the near future"

Post by **kmax** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 9:21 pm

oldcat wrote: one thing I must say, I wouldn't see why some inside people within MSU athletics wouldn't have an account to login under to see what is said on this site. It would be some good info just to keep up on what the supporters are thinking. with that being said...I sure hope that from posting my 'opinions' that information read does not affect my sister in an way. if so, that would be extremely unprofessional. players cannot explode with frustration while playing or they will be let go. i hope that carries through to the administration. i can only hold in my opinion for so long, especially when it has been brewing up for the past 2 years.

I will say that I completely agree, and if in any way this comes back to affect your sister it would be beyond unprofessional. I know for a fact there are people within MSU athletics here, and I would hope that this would not even have to be worried about. I think it is great you were willing to put your name to your opinions, and now I hope there is no reason you should have to regret doing so.