This season, Bluffton University’s volleyball coaching staff featured the addition of two former players — Erin Weisgarber ’19 and Mary Jo Bash ’18 — both of whom returned as assistant coaches.
Steve Yarnell photo by Aubrey Bartel
“I think it’s helpful to have coaches who have been through our program from the standpoint of they understand the culture of Bluffton,” said Steve Yarnell, head volleyball coach. “They know how we run things and run practices, so we’re actually able to catch up a little bit and advance further because there’s not that teaching aspect that they have to learn.”
Bash, who also has experience coaching at the high school level since graduating from Bluffton, saw benefits of returning to a program she played for.
“I think it makes me more passionate about because I want to see the program continue to grow and have as much success as the teams did when I was there,” Bash said. “It holds a special place in my heart, and I want the program to continue the tradition it has had.”
According to Yarnell, Weisgarber, who is a graduate assistant, does more film breakdown and game-day preparation, such as ordering meals and travel arrangements and coaching the reserve team. Bash, a supplemental coach, does more off-site recruiting.
“I think they’re intense, they’re competitive, they also care and see the bigger picture,” Yarnell said. “If you’re in the athletic world you have to be competitive, but also you have to see the bigger picture and see development and small improvements and celebrate those while ultimately trying to get to the big goal.”
Yarnell, who had a similar experience of being a graduate assistant for the men’s volleyball team at Findlay (Ohio) University after being a student-athlete on the team, understands some of the challenges that can come with the transition.
“That’s a tough transition to make, going from a student-athlete to more of a supervisor role,” Yarnell said. “That was probably one of the toughest things I did, doing my graduate assistant position at the same school I went to. It changed the dynamic.”
Weisgarber is able to see the pros and cons of coaching players she played with.
“It can be weird sometimes. I think it was helpful because I know the returners’ personalities, so I kind of know the way they need to be coached,” Weisgarber said. “It adds another dimension because I know what they can do, so they hold themselves a little bit more accountable around me.”
Yarnell said he sees the positive influence from the two assistant coaches continuing into the offseason, even as the contact with their athletes decreases.
“I think they’ll impact the team in terms of advice as a former student-athlete, saying ‘Here’s what I did, here’s what I wish I would have done,’ and continuing to try to build team culture,” Yarnell said.
The Beavers’ next game will be Nov. 6 at Earlham College for the opening round of the 2019 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Volleyball Tournament.
