This is my first post! I played my college ball in the 80's and was introduced to Knoxville volleyball by Earl Sharp, Smoke, the Sparkman's and others. I have coached and recruited at the collegiate level and have worked with club teams in Louisville and Nashville but Maryville has been home for 10 years. I follow Alcoa football and saw this thread.
My first advise is DON'T hire a club coach. It ALWAYS ends bad. Look at Bearden. Was the priority KVA or Bearden High School? Also, the club coaches in Knoxville have little to no actual coaching experience. For the most part they worked at church leagues or are former players. KVA at least has three coaches with actual "coaching" experience, but most have zero training. K2 is no better. The Hames left SMACK and Carmen to make money. Kris does a great job, and they run a solid young club (much better club than KVA) but I wouldn't take a second look at any of their coaches for these jobs.
Knoxville volleyball is red hot! Having three clubs is making a difference! What also makes a difference is high school coaching.
Don't get on this board just to attack a high school coach you don't like. Coaching is hard! Trust me. Coaching High School is the hardest of all.
Don't evaluate a high school coach by one or two years. See how they do over 5 years. Are they competitive when they don't have the most talent? Do their players go onto college? Do their players quit or do they play four years? Would you want your daughter to play for her or him? What do other coaches say about them? What do the refs say?
A club coach will use the high school to promote their club. If a girl plays for the "wrong" club it will have a negative affect. Their are no club coaches in Knoxville not already coaching that have any business coaching a high school team. Hames, Foster and Petrik are doing solid jobs, but private schools are different than public, and Petrik and Foster have no financial investment in the club they coach for.
The most successful high school program in the Knoxville area is Anderson County High School. In Nashville and Louisville they know about this school. It is unheard of the sheer number of college players they produce, year in and year out, and almost none of them play club. They have down years, but look at how good they were this season playing freshman and sophomores. I was at the Regional Tournament (Wanted to watch the Bearden and Farragut match) but found myself blown away watching AC vs Bearden.
Bearden won because they were bigger, senior heavy, and had better more experienced players. Still, the freshman heavy AC team with their starting Middle on crutches took control of the game at the whistle and punished Bearden every time they made a bad choice. Had AC had a setter they win.
They had four involved "coaches" making adjustments and coaching up the girls even when the match was decided. Zero quit,they coached, and played hard, until the end. Since I have been around they have had four different head coaches, but maintained continuity. Obviously having a veteran like Cantrell on staff helps, but they bring in experienced head coaches, who played at AC, and the school pays them well and supports them. I love having four coaches. They also bring in former players and train them as coaches. They leave then come back. They have it figured out. Copy that model.
Catholic, use Mike Jones. Next to the AC coaches he is the best I Have watched in Knoxville. Get his guidance. See if he would mentor a young coach like Cantrell does at AC. He is a powerful asset to have on staff. Find a young coach who wants to STAY.
Parents, let the ADs do their job! It is hard to find quality coaches. People with actual ties to the school do better, and I think they need to teach or work at the school and not just show up for practices!
Great discussion board. Now that I've found it ill be back!
