1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:03,560 Speaker 1: From a player to a coach to now starting a 2 00:00:03,600 --> 00:00:07,520 Speaker 1: program from the ground up. He is University of San 3 00:00:07,600 --> 00:00:12,479 Speaker 1: Diego Beach volleyball head coach Derek Olsen, and he talks 4 00:00:12,520 --> 00:00:15,680 Speaker 1: about his unique journey and is now progressed to start 5 00:00:15,720 --> 00:00:20,640 Speaker 1: a program next on episode eighty four of the Masters 6 00:00:20,680 --> 00:00:22,040 Speaker 1: in Coaching podcast. 7 00:00:22,800 --> 00:00:23,440 Speaker 2: Let's go. 8 00:00:25,640 --> 00:00:28,639 Speaker 1: Well, welcome into episode eighty four the Masters in Coaching 9 00:00:28,720 --> 00:00:32,199 Speaker 1: podcasts Here on iHeartRadio or wherever you are consuming, we 10 00:00:32,280 --> 00:00:34,839 Speaker 1: certainly appreciate it. I am Tim Kates from A five 11 00:00:34,880 --> 00:00:38,519 Speaker 1: seventy LA Sports and iHeart Radio, and we are so 12 00:00:38,720 --> 00:00:41,080 Speaker 1: honored to have another guest here on the Masters in 13 00:00:41,120 --> 00:00:43,680 Speaker 1: Coaching podcast. And we've talked to a lot of coaches 14 00:00:43,800 --> 00:00:48,720 Speaker 1: and administrators, folks that have extended their careers into retirement, 15 00:00:48,760 --> 00:00:51,240 Speaker 1: those who are in the middle of their careers and excelling. 16 00:00:51,600 --> 00:00:53,440 Speaker 1: And it is so excited to talk to this week's 17 00:00:53,520 --> 00:00:56,440 Speaker 1: guests because not only he has he excelled everywhere he 18 00:00:56,520 --> 00:00:59,120 Speaker 1: has been, but now he's starting a new endeavor where 19 00:00:59,120 --> 00:01:01,680 Speaker 1: he's actually long. She need a Division one program that 20 00:01:01,760 --> 00:01:04,959 Speaker 1: doesn't start until twenty twenty seven, so we're gonna get 21 00:01:04,959 --> 00:01:08,200 Speaker 1: a fresh perspective on starting a program in twenty twenty 22 00:01:08,240 --> 00:01:11,080 Speaker 1: six and twenty twenty seven at the Division one level. 23 00:01:11,160 --> 00:01:13,840 Speaker 1: He of courses Derek Olsen, and he joins us now 24 00:01:13,840 --> 00:01:16,120 Speaker 1: from the University of San Diego. Derek, how you doing. 25 00:01:16,640 --> 00:01:17,920 Speaker 2: I'm doing great. Thanks for having me. 26 00:01:17,959 --> 00:01:22,160 Speaker 1: Tim absolutely looking forward to this conversation. We've talked to 27 00:01:22,200 --> 00:01:24,680 Speaker 1: a lot of coaches and administrators, as I mentioned, and 28 00:01:25,040 --> 00:01:29,160 Speaker 1: none we're in that first phase of starting a program 29 00:01:29,200 --> 00:01:32,880 Speaker 1: maybe maybe first time coaches, maybe first time coaches at 30 00:01:32,880 --> 00:01:35,440 Speaker 1: a different level, and tried to figure it out. But 31 00:01:36,120 --> 00:01:39,880 Speaker 1: last fall you were named the new beach volleyball coach 32 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:42,200 Speaker 1: in charge of the entire program at University of San 33 00:01:42,240 --> 00:01:45,679 Speaker 1: Diego and it's not starting until twenty twenty seven. So 34 00:01:46,120 --> 00:01:47,960 Speaker 1: what is it like for you right now? 35 00:01:49,600 --> 00:01:52,120 Speaker 2: Well, it's different, right it's a unique opportunity. 36 00:01:52,120 --> 00:01:54,440 Speaker 3: As you said, we don't have a team this year, 37 00:01:54,480 --> 00:01:57,960 Speaker 3: we're not competing, but it does provide me, you know, 38 00:01:58,040 --> 00:02:01,160 Speaker 3: a unique opportunity to have a runway to build this 39 00:02:01,160 --> 00:02:02,919 Speaker 3: thing out and do it the right way. 40 00:02:03,200 --> 00:02:05,280 Speaker 2: So you know, I'm sure we'll dive in. 41 00:02:05,320 --> 00:02:08,120 Speaker 3: But a lot of this year instead of you know, 42 00:02:08,320 --> 00:02:12,639 Speaker 3: practicing with the team and being with them daily, it's 43 00:02:12,880 --> 00:02:14,000 Speaker 3: recruiting and fundraising. 44 00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:15,320 Speaker 2: Are the two main things. 45 00:02:15,960 --> 00:02:19,440 Speaker 1: Do you have a facility already or is that something 46 00:02:19,480 --> 00:02:20,200 Speaker 1: in the works. 47 00:02:20,880 --> 00:02:21,440 Speaker 2: It's in the work. 48 00:02:21,520 --> 00:02:25,080 Speaker 3: So we actually just submitted plans to the city, the 49 00:02:25,080 --> 00:02:28,440 Speaker 3: goals to break around this summer and then to have 50 00:02:28,560 --> 00:02:33,360 Speaker 3: it done ideally by the time we report next September 51 00:02:34,120 --> 00:02:36,679 Speaker 3: when school starts. But they've kind of given us a 52 00:02:36,720 --> 00:02:39,880 Speaker 3: timeline of somewhere somewhere in the fall where it'll be 53 00:02:39,919 --> 00:02:43,320 Speaker 3: done and we'll be competing in twenty twenty seven on them. 54 00:02:43,720 --> 00:02:46,560 Speaker 1: Now, this isn't your first coaching job, so you're you're 55 00:02:46,600 --> 00:02:48,800 Speaker 1: not fresh to this and you know, trying to figure 56 00:02:48,840 --> 00:02:51,240 Speaker 1: out as you go, but you sort of are building 57 00:02:51,280 --> 00:02:54,839 Speaker 1: the programmer. You've coached University of Washington, you coached at Cal, 58 00:02:54,919 --> 00:02:58,079 Speaker 1: you got extensive coaching the background at the elite beach 59 00:02:58,160 --> 00:03:03,560 Speaker 1: volleyball level, USA Volleyball, International Volleyball. What is this endeavor 60 00:03:03,720 --> 00:03:05,519 Speaker 1: like though? It was just something that was maybe part 61 00:03:05,520 --> 00:03:08,359 Speaker 1: of the challenge and part of the fun of starting 62 00:03:08,360 --> 00:03:10,040 Speaker 1: a program from ground zero. 63 00:03:10,880 --> 00:03:11,040 Speaker 2: Yeah. 64 00:03:11,080 --> 00:03:14,160 Speaker 3: Absolutely, it really is a dream job. And I'm so 65 00:03:15,240 --> 00:03:17,119 Speaker 3: you know, I'm so loyal. 66 00:03:16,840 --> 00:03:18,840 Speaker 2: To San Diego. I love this place. 67 00:03:19,639 --> 00:03:22,680 Speaker 3: It's been a dream of mine to actually have this 68 00:03:22,840 --> 00:03:26,560 Speaker 3: job going back eight nine years ago. This is where 69 00:03:26,800 --> 00:03:29,280 Speaker 3: you know I used to live I consider home, and 70 00:03:29,320 --> 00:03:32,480 Speaker 3: so to have this opportunity come up has been, uh, 71 00:03:32,800 --> 00:03:34,560 Speaker 3: you know, really a dream come true. 72 00:03:35,640 --> 00:03:36,160 Speaker 2: And it is. 73 00:03:36,320 --> 00:03:38,680 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's it's a it's a challenge in a lot 74 00:03:38,680 --> 00:03:42,040 Speaker 3: of ways. But you know, with our sport, I think 75 00:03:42,080 --> 00:03:46,000 Speaker 3: it's considered the fastest growing sport in NCAA history. So 76 00:03:46,120 --> 00:03:51,000 Speaker 3: there's been a lot of you know, development and firsts. 77 00:03:51,040 --> 00:03:55,000 Speaker 3: And you know, even with my other two positions up 78 00:03:55,000 --> 00:03:58,520 Speaker 3: at University of Washington and then before that at UC Berkeley, 79 00:03:59,640 --> 00:03:59,960 Speaker 3: there was. 80 00:04:00,160 --> 00:04:03,280 Speaker 2: A lot of developing and creating. 81 00:04:03,440 --> 00:04:07,440 Speaker 3: And you know, because every program has kind of started 82 00:04:07,480 --> 00:04:11,280 Speaker 3: from you know, ground zero, but has taken a few 83 00:04:11,360 --> 00:04:14,360 Speaker 3: years to develop to you know, where they are now. 84 00:04:14,400 --> 00:04:17,440 Speaker 3: And so a lot of the things that I learned 85 00:04:17,440 --> 00:04:21,839 Speaker 3: from my previous stops I'm applying here. You know, Like 86 00:04:22,520 --> 00:04:24,800 Speaker 3: I don't think they would have hired a brand new 87 00:04:24,839 --> 00:04:28,240 Speaker 3: coach in position. They wanted somebody with experience, and I 88 00:04:28,320 --> 00:04:32,160 Speaker 3: kind of had that unique experience of you know, not 89 00:04:32,240 --> 00:04:35,600 Speaker 3: necessarily starting from the ground up, but putting a lot 90 00:04:35,640 --> 00:04:40,000 Speaker 3: of systems and you know, a lot of philosophies in 91 00:04:40,040 --> 00:04:42,800 Speaker 3: place to this startup. 92 00:04:43,960 --> 00:04:45,279 Speaker 1: I was shocked to hear that. 93 00:04:45,880 --> 00:04:46,800 Speaker 2: Correct me if I'm on wrong. 94 00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:50,080 Speaker 1: University of San Diego this is the first D one 95 00:04:50,640 --> 00:04:53,640 Speaker 1: beach volleyball program in the San Diego area. Mean, we 96 00:04:53,839 --> 00:04:58,240 Speaker 1: think of West Coast volleyball, beach volleyball the epicenter for 97 00:04:58,440 --> 00:05:01,839 Speaker 1: you know, the volleyball circuits and high school volleyball and 98 00:05:02,120 --> 00:05:05,599 Speaker 1: you know Olympic volleyball. Is University of San Diego really 99 00:05:05,600 --> 00:05:07,839 Speaker 1: the first D one program to have beach volleyball in 100 00:05:07,880 --> 00:05:08,279 Speaker 1: that area. 101 00:05:08,960 --> 00:05:11,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, it's true, I know it. 102 00:05:11,920 --> 00:05:13,560 Speaker 3: You would have thought that it would have been, you know, 103 00:05:14,960 --> 00:05:18,480 Speaker 3: an established place within our sport from the beginning. 104 00:05:18,640 --> 00:05:21,600 Speaker 2: But you know, credit to Kimya. 105 00:05:21,360 --> 00:05:25,880 Speaker 3: Our athletic director, for launching this program and taking the 106 00:05:25,960 --> 00:05:27,040 Speaker 3: necessary step. 107 00:05:26,839 --> 00:05:28,520 Speaker 2: So that we we do have a program. 108 00:05:28,520 --> 00:05:32,559 Speaker 3: And I'll tell you what, the city has been really 109 00:05:32,560 --> 00:05:37,359 Speaker 3: forthcoming and their support and you know, appreciation for having 110 00:05:37,480 --> 00:05:42,480 Speaker 3: a school adopt the program. And so yeah, it's it's 111 00:05:42,520 --> 00:05:43,880 Speaker 3: been it's been really cool to see it. 112 00:05:44,279 --> 00:05:48,160 Speaker 1: Why do you think it took so long for Division 113 00:05:48,200 --> 00:05:51,560 Speaker 1: one to have beach volleyball in the San Diego area. 114 00:05:51,560 --> 00:05:55,600 Speaker 1: There's other schools in that area. Why us D? 115 00:05:55,839 --> 00:05:59,200 Speaker 2: Why? Now? Yeah, you know, that's a good question. 116 00:05:59,839 --> 00:06:02,000 Speaker 3: And I think a lot of us that have been 117 00:06:02,040 --> 00:06:05,240 Speaker 3: in San Diego for the last ten plus years have 118 00:06:05,320 --> 00:06:06,680 Speaker 3: been asking those questions. 119 00:06:06,720 --> 00:06:10,080 Speaker 2: And you know, I think for every schools it's different, right. 120 00:06:10,720 --> 00:06:13,800 Speaker 3: Sometimes it comes down to a money issue, Sometimes it 121 00:06:13,800 --> 00:06:16,520 Speaker 3: comes down to a Title nine issue. Sometimes it's just 122 00:06:17,279 --> 00:06:20,520 Speaker 3: you know, what the ad wants or admin wants, and 123 00:06:20,600 --> 00:06:25,520 Speaker 3: so you know, I think, you know, I'm obviously biased, 124 00:06:25,600 --> 00:06:27,680 Speaker 3: but to me, it's a no brainer in San Diego, 125 00:06:27,920 --> 00:06:29,480 Speaker 3: and I think we'll be real competitive. 126 00:06:29,720 --> 00:06:31,080 Speaker 2: You know, from the jump. 127 00:06:31,760 --> 00:06:35,880 Speaker 1: I'm curious in the recruiting that you're doing to start 128 00:06:35,880 --> 00:06:38,960 Speaker 1: this program. And I asked this because I had daughters 129 00:06:38,960 --> 00:06:42,680 Speaker 1: that went through it in lacrosse, and I remember, you know, 130 00:06:42,880 --> 00:06:45,520 Speaker 1: looking at programs or maybe we're just starting across the 131 00:06:45,560 --> 00:06:48,599 Speaker 1: country at the Division one or Division two level, and okay, 132 00:06:48,600 --> 00:06:51,719 Speaker 1: there's an opportunity there. They don't have players already, they're 133 00:06:51,800 --> 00:06:54,120 Speaker 1: looking for players, they're looking to build a program, and 134 00:06:54,160 --> 00:06:57,080 Speaker 1: they're looking for young players. What is going to be 135 00:06:57,720 --> 00:07:00,920 Speaker 1: your philosophy? Have you started it as far as building 136 00:07:00,920 --> 00:07:03,720 Speaker 1: that initial team as a new program. Are you looking 137 00:07:03,760 --> 00:07:06,240 Speaker 1: for young players? Are you going to look into the 138 00:07:06,279 --> 00:07:09,320 Speaker 1: portal bringing experienced players a little bit of bullf Have 139 00:07:09,360 --> 00:07:11,920 Speaker 1: you figure out maybe a philosophy of how you're going 140 00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:14,320 Speaker 1: to start your program with players. 141 00:07:15,200 --> 00:07:18,200 Speaker 3: Yeah, and that's something that me and my two coaches, 142 00:07:18,280 --> 00:07:22,800 Speaker 3: Mike Plachek and Jayden Whitmarsh, we're talking constantly about. You know, 143 00:07:22,840 --> 00:07:27,000 Speaker 3: it's tricky because we got to field an entire team. 144 00:07:27,720 --> 00:07:30,240 Speaker 3: Our roster limit is nineteen, so we got to have 145 00:07:30,640 --> 00:07:33,840 Speaker 3: you know, essentially nineteen by year one. But we don't 146 00:07:33,840 --> 00:07:37,120 Speaker 3: want nineteen incoming freshmen, right, we want to balanced roster. 147 00:07:37,520 --> 00:07:41,640 Speaker 3: The fortunate thing for us is the transfer portal makes 148 00:07:41,680 --> 00:07:43,680 Speaker 3: that job easier for us, so we can go out 149 00:07:43,720 --> 00:07:47,120 Speaker 3: and get athletes to have one year of eligibility, athletes 150 00:07:47,160 --> 00:07:50,080 Speaker 3: that have two three, so that we can start off 151 00:07:50,120 --> 00:07:54,480 Speaker 3: with a balanced roster. So that's fortunate for us. But 152 00:07:55,280 --> 00:07:58,200 Speaker 3: you know, I was thinking the other day, actually, I 153 00:07:58,200 --> 00:08:02,000 Speaker 3: have two young daughters, and I'm starting to think that, like, 154 00:08:02,120 --> 00:08:04,400 Speaker 3: my daughters are going to be around the program a lot. 155 00:08:04,680 --> 00:08:08,480 Speaker 3: So kind of my idea of recruiting, you know, on character, 156 00:08:08,600 --> 00:08:11,760 Speaker 3: which is I think the most important thing is like 157 00:08:12,040 --> 00:08:15,880 Speaker 3: who do I want to be role models for my daughters? 158 00:08:15,920 --> 00:08:18,240 Speaker 3: Which is, you know, a perspective that I haven't even 159 00:08:18,280 --> 00:08:21,400 Speaker 3: considered before, but it kind of gives me a new 160 00:08:21,480 --> 00:08:25,760 Speaker 3: lens to operate within. But yeah, I mean, this is 161 00:08:25,800 --> 00:08:28,680 Speaker 3: a unique opportunity, right, Like I have an entrepreneurial spirit. 162 00:08:28,760 --> 00:08:33,280 Speaker 3: I love the building and the creating something rather than 163 00:08:33,400 --> 00:08:36,559 Speaker 3: just jumping on something that's already well established and good, 164 00:08:38,000 --> 00:08:41,640 Speaker 3: you know. So I'm looking for individuals that share that, 165 00:08:42,160 --> 00:08:43,960 Speaker 3: you know, athletes that want to be a part of 166 00:08:43,960 --> 00:08:47,880 Speaker 3: that process and you know, see that vision as we do. 167 00:08:48,559 --> 00:08:50,559 Speaker 3: Because I think, yeah, like you said, it's a it's 168 00:08:50,559 --> 00:08:53,000 Speaker 3: a really unique opportunity to be the first. 169 00:08:53,360 --> 00:08:58,520 Speaker 1: I imagine and I'm just speculating. I'm I'm guessing your 170 00:08:58,600 --> 00:09:02,160 Speaker 1: inbox for your email and your assistance is getting filled 171 00:09:02,240 --> 00:09:05,959 Speaker 1: up pretty quickly on a daily basis. And now knowing 172 00:09:06,000 --> 00:09:09,240 Speaker 1: that USD is going to have a D one Beach 173 00:09:09,320 --> 00:09:12,400 Speaker 1: Volleyball program, you probably don't have to go out and 174 00:09:12,440 --> 00:09:15,760 Speaker 1: sell the program, Derek, because I imagine you're getting flooded 175 00:09:15,840 --> 00:09:19,280 Speaker 1: with kids looking to come to your program because of 176 00:09:19,320 --> 00:09:22,400 Speaker 1: the location, being the D one program and being a 177 00:09:22,440 --> 00:09:25,720 Speaker 1: new program. Am I right that? I mean you're probably 178 00:09:25,720 --> 00:09:28,040 Speaker 1: getting indudated with kids that are just trying to get 179 00:09:28,080 --> 00:09:29,000 Speaker 1: into your program. 180 00:09:29,840 --> 00:09:32,440 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean we're seeing it, you know through our 181 00:09:32,600 --> 00:09:36,679 Speaker 3: email box. We have camps ongoing and they're filling up 182 00:09:36,840 --> 00:09:41,040 Speaker 3: within you know hours, to be honest, Wow, So yeah, 183 00:09:41,080 --> 00:09:43,040 Speaker 3: I mean I kind of expected it to some degree, 184 00:09:43,120 --> 00:09:45,720 Speaker 3: but probably not at this level. 185 00:09:46,000 --> 00:09:49,360 Speaker 2: And you know, we're you know, we're just we're just starting. 186 00:09:49,640 --> 00:09:52,600 Speaker 3: So I think when we kind of establish our identity 187 00:09:52,640 --> 00:09:56,400 Speaker 3: a little bit and establish you know, how good we 188 00:09:56,679 --> 00:10:00,600 Speaker 3: can be, I think that's only gonna get become more. 189 00:10:00,640 --> 00:10:01,880 Speaker 2: So we're going to. 190 00:10:01,920 --> 00:10:04,600 Speaker 1: Get more to the program. Some of your philosophies you 191 00:10:04,640 --> 00:10:06,600 Speaker 1: mentioned character is going to be a big thing for you, 192 00:10:06,640 --> 00:10:08,440 Speaker 1: and I want to touch on that in a minute, 193 00:10:08,480 --> 00:10:10,000 Speaker 1: but I kind of want to go back to how 194 00:10:10,040 --> 00:10:12,520 Speaker 1: you got into coaching. You're a former player, but you 195 00:10:12,559 --> 00:10:16,319 Speaker 1: played indoor volleyball and then went out and played outdoor volleyball. 196 00:10:16,360 --> 00:10:18,720 Speaker 1: You played on the AVP Tour, and then you got 197 00:10:18,720 --> 00:10:22,240 Speaker 1: into coaching. Why what was it about coaching at that 198 00:10:22,320 --> 00:10:24,320 Speaker 1: point you said, I want to get into it. I 199 00:10:24,360 --> 00:10:25,800 Speaker 1: want to coach beach volleyball. 200 00:10:26,520 --> 00:10:26,800 Speaker 2: Yeah. 201 00:10:26,880 --> 00:10:29,320 Speaker 3: I grew up in a family of educators, so my 202 00:10:29,440 --> 00:10:34,560 Speaker 3: mom taught elementary school, my dad was a pe teacher 203 00:10:34,600 --> 00:10:35,680 Speaker 3: and a volleyball coach. 204 00:10:36,760 --> 00:10:38,679 Speaker 2: My grand grandfather. 205 00:10:38,320 --> 00:10:42,960 Speaker 3: High school coach, high school teacher, uncles, you know, so 206 00:10:43,600 --> 00:10:47,440 Speaker 3: it's kind of been what I've grown up in. But 207 00:10:48,280 --> 00:10:50,760 Speaker 3: you know, I started playing volleyball at the University of Oregon, 208 00:10:50,800 --> 00:10:54,360 Speaker 3: actually on their club team, and I grew up around 209 00:10:54,360 --> 00:10:56,520 Speaker 3: it because, as I said, my dad coached and he 210 00:10:56,600 --> 00:10:59,200 Speaker 3: ran his own club and he played, and so I 211 00:10:59,240 --> 00:11:02,480 Speaker 3: always kind of was interested and curious about the sport, 212 00:11:03,040 --> 00:11:06,200 Speaker 3: but it was a girl sport where where I'm from 213 00:11:06,240 --> 00:11:08,520 Speaker 3: at the time, and so I never really had access 214 00:11:08,559 --> 00:11:11,360 Speaker 3: to it. And then finally at the University of Oregon, 215 00:11:12,120 --> 00:11:13,600 Speaker 3: you know, I tried out and made the team, and 216 00:11:13,640 --> 00:11:16,080 Speaker 3: I was terrible, but I at least kind of knew 217 00:11:16,240 --> 00:11:18,400 Speaker 3: what the game was supposed to look like and supposed 218 00:11:18,400 --> 00:11:21,800 Speaker 3: to be. So for whatever reason, I became addicted and 219 00:11:21,840 --> 00:11:24,240 Speaker 3: it was I remember the first couple of years just 220 00:11:24,679 --> 00:11:27,320 Speaker 3: like frustrated every day because I wanted to be better 221 00:11:27,320 --> 00:11:28,280 Speaker 3: in it and it's. 222 00:11:28,200 --> 00:11:29,079 Speaker 2: A hard sport. 223 00:11:29,600 --> 00:11:34,720 Speaker 3: But I think finding that at nineteen and going through 224 00:11:34,800 --> 00:11:37,720 Speaker 3: like the very beginning stages of it kind of gave 225 00:11:37,760 --> 00:11:41,080 Speaker 3: me a unique perspective of how that process is and 226 00:11:41,120 --> 00:11:45,240 Speaker 3: I could actually like absorb it and comprehend the you know, 227 00:11:45,920 --> 00:11:48,400 Speaker 3: very beginner all the way through to you know, the 228 00:11:48,400 --> 00:11:51,679 Speaker 3: professional level, and so that gave me a unique perspective 229 00:11:51,880 --> 00:11:54,120 Speaker 3: something that I've leaned on in my coaching career. But 230 00:11:54,600 --> 00:11:56,880 Speaker 3: when I graduated from the University of Oregon in two 231 00:11:56,920 --> 00:12:00,280 Speaker 3: thousand and six, I moved down to San Diego, you know, 232 00:12:00,320 --> 00:12:03,320 Speaker 3: with with goals to be a professional beach volleyball player. 233 00:12:03,320 --> 00:12:05,480 Speaker 2: And so, you know, I worked hard at it. 234 00:12:05,559 --> 00:12:10,800 Speaker 3: I sacrificed a lot, I you know, accomplished a lot 235 00:12:10,800 --> 00:12:13,079 Speaker 3: of goals. I had to keep moving the goalpost, if 236 00:12:13,080 --> 00:12:16,080 Speaker 3: you will, and got way better than I ever thought 237 00:12:16,120 --> 00:12:21,040 Speaker 3: I could. And that actually, throughout that process gave me 238 00:12:21,240 --> 00:12:24,319 Speaker 3: confidence that you know, I never really knew that I had. 239 00:12:24,920 --> 00:12:27,000 Speaker 3: It's not like I was lacking self esteem or anything 240 00:12:27,080 --> 00:12:29,360 Speaker 3: like that, but I had never done something like that 241 00:12:29,400 --> 00:12:33,280 Speaker 3: where I put years into my development for something and 242 00:12:33,960 --> 00:12:36,440 Speaker 3: saw the you know, the product of that, which was 243 00:12:36,480 --> 00:12:37,240 Speaker 3: really cool. 244 00:12:37,040 --> 00:12:37,880 Speaker 2: And eye opening to me. 245 00:12:38,559 --> 00:12:42,040 Speaker 3: And it kind of gave me this recipe for success, like, hey, 246 00:12:42,080 --> 00:12:45,679 Speaker 3: this can actually apply to other domains, this can apply 247 00:12:45,720 --> 00:12:49,200 Speaker 3: across the board, and I kind of lived it, and so, 248 00:12:50,040 --> 00:12:51,920 Speaker 3: you know, there's a point in time where I was 249 00:12:52,040 --> 00:12:55,840 Speaker 3: I was coaching towards the end of my career, and 250 00:12:56,120 --> 00:12:58,920 Speaker 3: I always say, you know, the switch for me was 251 00:12:59,679 --> 00:13:01,600 Speaker 3: what you used to keep me up at night was 252 00:13:02,160 --> 00:13:06,280 Speaker 3: my own like practice, my own training, my own competition's 253 00:13:06,360 --> 00:13:09,400 Speaker 3: coming up. Then for whatever reason, all of a sudden, 254 00:13:09,400 --> 00:13:11,680 Speaker 3: it switched to how am I going to train my 255 00:13:11,720 --> 00:13:14,800 Speaker 3: athletes tomorrow? How am I going to get this person better? 256 00:13:15,280 --> 00:13:19,080 Speaker 3: And thinking about drills and ideas for them, And then 257 00:13:19,120 --> 00:13:20,640 Speaker 3: it was just kind of a you know, the riding 258 00:13:20,720 --> 00:13:23,440 Speaker 3: was on the wall, you know, because I still had 259 00:13:23,480 --> 00:13:27,400 Speaker 3: plenty of years in me physically, but I just kind 260 00:13:27,400 --> 00:13:30,040 Speaker 3: of knew with that mind shift that I wanted to 261 00:13:30,080 --> 00:13:30,760 Speaker 3: pursue coaching. 262 00:13:31,400 --> 00:13:34,720 Speaker 1: What is it about coaching at the college level? Because 263 00:13:35,000 --> 00:13:38,600 Speaker 1: you've coached Olympic teams, part of the Morocco national team, 264 00:13:38,920 --> 00:13:42,720 Speaker 1: a club level, elite volleyball levels of coaching. 265 00:13:42,559 --> 00:13:43,400 Speaker 2: Up and down the board. 266 00:13:43,400 --> 00:13:46,199 Speaker 1: But why do you being you settled maybe at the 267 00:13:46,280 --> 00:13:48,640 Speaker 1: D one level and what you've been doing at Cal 268 00:13:48,800 --> 00:13:50,040 Speaker 1: Washington and now USD. 269 00:13:50,920 --> 00:13:53,680 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean it's the perfect environment because I mean 270 00:13:53,760 --> 00:13:57,720 Speaker 3: there's I believe in a very holistic approach to this 271 00:13:57,760 --> 00:14:00,840 Speaker 3: whole thing. And it's not just you know, the skills 272 00:14:00,840 --> 00:14:03,679 Speaker 3: and drills that you do on the court during practice. 273 00:14:03,720 --> 00:14:07,360 Speaker 3: There's so much more that goes into it. And so 274 00:14:08,120 --> 00:14:12,400 Speaker 3: this system, this environment actually allows us to dive deeper 275 00:14:12,440 --> 00:14:17,760 Speaker 3: into those other areas strength and conditioning, nutrition, mental skills, 276 00:14:18,160 --> 00:14:20,320 Speaker 3: you name it. There's a bunch that goes into it, 277 00:14:20,920 --> 00:14:24,080 Speaker 3: and you get the same players for an entire year 278 00:14:24,280 --> 00:14:26,440 Speaker 3: that you get to just like really spend time with 279 00:14:26,520 --> 00:14:30,080 Speaker 3: and develop and and to me, that's that's really cool. 280 00:14:30,080 --> 00:14:31,800 Speaker 2: At the club level, you know, you get them. 281 00:14:31,720 --> 00:14:35,880 Speaker 3: For practice, but there's not a ton of time outside 282 00:14:35,920 --> 00:14:39,520 Speaker 3: of practice that you know you can help develop them. 283 00:14:39,760 --> 00:14:44,120 Speaker 3: So it's a unique, unique environment, but it's really really 284 00:14:44,120 --> 00:14:45,760 Speaker 3: cool and you get to be really hands on. 285 00:14:46,360 --> 00:14:49,000 Speaker 1: You mentioned that when you were pursuing that pro career 286 00:14:49,400 --> 00:14:52,600 Speaker 1: at the Grind you went through and and just the 287 00:14:52,680 --> 00:14:55,560 Speaker 1: process and then flipping that switch, as you said, from 288 00:14:55,600 --> 00:14:59,560 Speaker 1: a player's mentality to a coach's mentality. When you look 289 00:14:59,600 --> 00:15:03,480 Speaker 1: at your style of coaching and how you you know, 290 00:15:03,640 --> 00:15:07,720 Speaker 1: work your programs and in your players, is it based 291 00:15:07,760 --> 00:15:11,200 Speaker 1: on that process that you went through. Is it based 292 00:15:11,240 --> 00:15:13,880 Speaker 1: on that plus how you were a coach, maybe philosophies 293 00:15:14,040 --> 00:15:17,480 Speaker 1: that you took from family members who were educators and coachers. 294 00:15:17,520 --> 00:15:20,600 Speaker 1: When you look at how you, I guess approach coaching 295 00:15:20,640 --> 00:15:22,200 Speaker 1: in your style and where where do you kind of 296 00:15:22,200 --> 00:15:22,880 Speaker 1: get it from? 297 00:15:23,840 --> 00:15:26,240 Speaker 3: Probably all of that, to be honest, you know, in 298 00:15:26,280 --> 00:15:31,640 Speaker 3: my career, our sport is is interesting. Ten years ago, 299 00:15:31,720 --> 00:15:34,080 Speaker 3: there wasn't a lot of coaching in our sport, so 300 00:15:34,320 --> 00:15:39,600 Speaker 3: I grew up and developed almost myself. Like I didn't 301 00:15:39,640 --> 00:15:43,200 Speaker 3: have coaches in beach volleyball, so I, you know, would 302 00:15:43,200 --> 00:15:48,040 Speaker 3: watch this person, do you know a certain skill or 303 00:15:48,240 --> 00:15:50,440 Speaker 3: run a certain drill, and I would adopt it. It 304 00:15:50,520 --> 00:15:53,640 Speaker 3: was a whole lot of just like monkey see, monkey do, 305 00:15:54,000 --> 00:15:57,400 Speaker 3: and and borrowing ideas and really training myself. 306 00:15:57,440 --> 00:15:58,320 Speaker 2: And so I think. 307 00:15:59,600 --> 00:16:02,720 Speaker 3: That also so helped, you know, like train my coaches 308 00:16:02,760 --> 00:16:07,520 Speaker 3: eye and develop some like coaching characteristics that have helped me. 309 00:16:09,600 --> 00:16:12,560 Speaker 3: But I think, you know, really my philosophy and kind 310 00:16:12,560 --> 00:16:14,680 Speaker 3: of what I've learned along the way is I mean, 311 00:16:14,680 --> 00:16:17,920 Speaker 3: it's a I like to coach the individual, like I 312 00:16:17,920 --> 00:16:21,200 Speaker 3: don't have a cookie cutter. Everybody's got to do do 313 00:16:21,320 --> 00:16:25,600 Speaker 3: it this way because to me, that's not the best approach. 314 00:16:25,600 --> 00:16:28,320 Speaker 3: And I think that approach could work, and it certainly 315 00:16:28,360 --> 00:16:30,960 Speaker 3: has to some degree. But if I'm going to get 316 00:16:30,960 --> 00:16:32,480 Speaker 3: the most out of my athletes, I want to meet 317 00:16:32,480 --> 00:16:34,960 Speaker 3: them where they're at and I want to see if 318 00:16:35,000 --> 00:16:36,680 Speaker 3: I can develop them as individuals. 319 00:16:37,200 --> 00:16:40,040 Speaker 1: You mentioned no coaching in beach volleyball, and I want 320 00:16:40,080 --> 00:16:43,760 Speaker 1: to kind of pick up on that. Why was there 321 00:16:43,840 --> 00:16:46,880 Speaker 1: no coaching for beach volleyball? Was it just because the 322 00:16:46,920 --> 00:16:50,760 Speaker 1: players maybe knew more than the coaches and can teach themselves. 323 00:16:51,080 --> 00:16:53,200 Speaker 1: And now we're maybe at a point where that generation 324 00:16:53,280 --> 00:16:55,160 Speaker 1: and I'm gonna lump you into that great generation of 325 00:16:55,240 --> 00:16:59,280 Speaker 1: volleyball players that now are older and can't be coaches. 326 00:16:59,760 --> 00:17:01,840 Speaker 1: Is it just the evolution that way? Is that why 327 00:17:01,880 --> 00:17:03,480 Speaker 1: we have coaching now when beach volleyball? 328 00:17:04,880 --> 00:17:07,920 Speaker 3: You know, it's I think part of it is money, right, 329 00:17:09,119 --> 00:17:11,960 Speaker 3: Coaching costs money, and the way our sport has been 330 00:17:12,000 --> 00:17:17,800 Speaker 3: set up traditionally, you only get paid if you depending 331 00:17:17,840 --> 00:17:20,879 Speaker 3: on how well you do in tournaments, right, And so 332 00:17:21,119 --> 00:17:24,480 Speaker 3: it just wasn't and especially if you're playing you know, internationally, 333 00:17:24,560 --> 00:17:27,320 Speaker 3: you're traveling a bunch, Like those costs just add up 334 00:17:27,520 --> 00:17:29,399 Speaker 3: if you're also having a coach. 335 00:17:30,400 --> 00:17:31,720 Speaker 2: You know, I and I did have. 336 00:17:31,600 --> 00:17:33,719 Speaker 3: Some coaching like later on in my career, but it 337 00:17:33,800 --> 00:17:36,520 Speaker 3: was you know, for a few trainings here and there. 338 00:17:36,520 --> 00:17:39,160 Speaker 2: It wasn't like a consistent, consistent thing. 339 00:17:39,119 --> 00:17:43,000 Speaker 3: But really it just it became a bigger thing really 340 00:17:43,000 --> 00:17:45,679 Speaker 3: because of NCAA and obviously you have to have a 341 00:17:45,720 --> 00:17:49,119 Speaker 3: coach with these NCAA teams, so it created more coaching opportunities, 342 00:17:49,160 --> 00:17:49,960 Speaker 3: which is really cool. 343 00:17:50,359 --> 00:17:52,560 Speaker 2: And then because of the NCAA. 344 00:17:52,400 --> 00:17:55,880 Speaker 3: Growth, the club level and the junior level really took off, 345 00:17:55,920 --> 00:17:58,280 Speaker 3: and then there was more coaching opportunities at the club level. 346 00:17:58,760 --> 00:18:02,160 Speaker 3: So it's almost like there was more coaching at these 347 00:18:02,400 --> 00:18:06,080 Speaker 3: lower levels than there were at the professional levels. 348 00:18:06,119 --> 00:18:07,520 Speaker 2: And it's still true to this day. 349 00:18:08,440 --> 00:18:11,600 Speaker 3: You know, they're more and more pros are are, you know, 350 00:18:11,680 --> 00:18:16,480 Speaker 3: having coaches now, and now our national governing body USA 351 00:18:16,560 --> 00:18:21,520 Speaker 3: Volleyball is really supporting and providing coaching, you know, stipends 352 00:18:21,520 --> 00:18:26,000 Speaker 3: and money for coaches, so it's now become much more prevalent. 353 00:18:26,119 --> 00:18:27,600 Speaker 2: But yeah, back in the day, it was. 354 00:18:29,240 --> 00:18:31,359 Speaker 3: That was an additional cost and we didn't want to 355 00:18:31,400 --> 00:18:34,439 Speaker 3: spend that money, so we just we just went without. 356 00:18:35,280 --> 00:18:37,400 Speaker 1: Derek Olsen is our guest. He's the first ever coach 357 00:18:37,400 --> 00:18:41,199 Speaker 1: at University of San Diego Beach Volleyball program, launching the 358 00:18:41,280 --> 00:18:45,399 Speaker 1: team for its inaugural twenty twenty seven season, and you 359 00:18:45,480 --> 00:18:47,960 Speaker 1: mentioned character early on. I want to talk about what 360 00:18:48,040 --> 00:18:51,640 Speaker 1: you're looking to do establishing this program. Certainly you're looking 361 00:18:51,680 --> 00:18:54,399 Speaker 1: for volleyball players that can play and be competitive and 362 00:18:54,520 --> 00:18:55,320 Speaker 1: ultimately win. 363 00:18:55,880 --> 00:18:59,080 Speaker 2: But how are you setting up your program? 364 00:18:59,080 --> 00:19:02,880 Speaker 1: It's maybe some found and some pillars that you want 365 00:19:02,920 --> 00:19:06,160 Speaker 1: to establish right away with culture at USD. 366 00:19:07,280 --> 00:19:08,879 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean for sure. 367 00:19:08,960 --> 00:19:11,920 Speaker 3: I mean I think the point of this whole thing 368 00:19:12,040 --> 00:19:15,960 Speaker 3: is to win championships, right, But you're never going to 369 00:19:16,000 --> 00:19:19,440 Speaker 3: get there if you can't build culture first and build 370 00:19:19,480 --> 00:19:21,840 Speaker 3: a team that gets the most out of itself. And 371 00:19:21,920 --> 00:19:25,439 Speaker 3: so that's hard. I think that's, you know, probably the 372 00:19:25,440 --> 00:19:30,120 Speaker 3: hardest thing. But the goal is to establish that. I mean, 373 00:19:30,160 --> 00:19:33,040 Speaker 3: we want synergy, which is one plus one equals three. 374 00:19:33,320 --> 00:19:35,840 Speaker 3: That's what we wanted within our team. And you got 375 00:19:35,880 --> 00:19:40,320 Speaker 3: to have high character athletes that will get you there. 376 00:19:40,600 --> 00:19:43,240 Speaker 2: So yeah, I mean character is a. 377 00:19:43,160 --> 00:19:45,480 Speaker 3: Lot harder to recruit on because you have a limited 378 00:19:45,480 --> 00:19:48,000 Speaker 3: amount of time to get to know these athletes and 379 00:19:48,440 --> 00:19:51,840 Speaker 3: figure out what they're all about, and you know, you 380 00:19:51,880 --> 00:19:52,480 Speaker 3: get it wrong. 381 00:19:52,720 --> 00:19:53,800 Speaker 2: Everybody gets it wrong. 382 00:19:55,040 --> 00:19:59,719 Speaker 3: Watching skill and predicting skill is a lot easier because 383 00:19:59,760 --> 00:20:03,159 Speaker 3: it's you can watch film and get that, but you 384 00:20:03,200 --> 00:20:07,400 Speaker 3: know whether or not and an athlete communicates well gets 385 00:20:07,400 --> 00:20:12,600 Speaker 3: along well with others, you know, has a gritty mindset, 386 00:20:12,920 --> 00:20:16,320 Speaker 3: which is passion and perseverance towards long term goals. You 387 00:20:16,359 --> 00:20:18,719 Speaker 3: don't know like that those things are so much harder 388 00:20:18,760 --> 00:20:21,399 Speaker 3: to recruit on. So you know, we try and we 389 00:20:21,400 --> 00:20:24,160 Speaker 3: look at those things and we have some ideas as 390 00:20:24,200 --> 00:20:28,200 Speaker 3: to how we assess those characteristics and athletes. 391 00:20:28,200 --> 00:20:29,920 Speaker 2: But at the end of the day, too, we're we're 392 00:20:29,960 --> 00:20:32,679 Speaker 2: recruiting high school kids. Like I was an idiot in 393 00:20:32,720 --> 00:20:33,280 Speaker 2: high school. 394 00:20:33,359 --> 00:20:36,919 Speaker 3: If anybody judged me on my character, you know, hopefully 395 00:20:36,920 --> 00:20:38,160 Speaker 3: they would have seen some great things. 396 00:20:38,200 --> 00:20:41,040 Speaker 2: But you know, we change, we grow, and so. 397 00:20:42,480 --> 00:20:45,080 Speaker 3: You know, it's it's hard, but that's the goal is 398 00:20:45,119 --> 00:20:48,320 Speaker 3: to you know, bring in athletes that see this not 399 00:20:48,440 --> 00:20:50,920 Speaker 3: as the finish line, but as just the next step 400 00:20:50,960 --> 00:20:54,400 Speaker 3: in their progression. And I don't need, you know, nineteen 401 00:20:54,440 --> 00:20:57,359 Speaker 3: athletes that are trying to win gold medals eventually. I 402 00:20:57,400 --> 00:21:01,200 Speaker 3: just want that nineteen athletes that are about the game, 403 00:21:02,160 --> 00:21:06,119 Speaker 3: work well with others, and you know, are competitive. 404 00:21:06,840 --> 00:21:10,719 Speaker 1: We get a lot of parents that listen and watch 405 00:21:11,359 --> 00:21:14,919 Speaker 1: you and coaches and administrators on this podcast, and I 406 00:21:14,920 --> 00:21:17,760 Speaker 1: think the biggest feedback I get is, you know, can 407 00:21:17,800 --> 00:21:20,600 Speaker 1: you ask him as a parent, you know, how do 408 00:21:20,680 --> 00:21:21,960 Speaker 1: I get my kid recruited? 409 00:21:22,000 --> 00:21:22,879 Speaker 2: What are they looking for? 410 00:21:22,920 --> 00:21:24,879 Speaker 1: And I think you're the perfect person to talk to 411 00:21:24,960 --> 00:21:27,399 Speaker 1: about it starting a program. You've been successful at the 412 00:21:27,440 --> 00:21:30,520 Speaker 1: Division one level and you're coaching a D one program, 413 00:21:30,680 --> 00:21:31,760 Speaker 1: and that's where a lot. 414 00:21:31,600 --> 00:21:33,199 Speaker 2: Of parents and kids want to get to. 415 00:21:33,400 --> 00:21:37,680 Speaker 1: Is that level. If I'm a parent and I want 416 00:21:37,680 --> 00:21:40,680 Speaker 1: to get my daughter or or I want to get 417 00:21:40,800 --> 00:21:45,840 Speaker 1: my child recruited into volleyball indoor outdoor to a Division 418 00:21:45,880 --> 00:21:48,800 Speaker 1: one school like yourselves, you know, what do I do? 419 00:21:48,800 --> 00:21:51,199 Speaker 1: Do I have to play the club circuit? Do I 420 00:21:51,200 --> 00:21:53,119 Speaker 1: need to reach out to the coaches? Well, the coaches 421 00:21:53,160 --> 00:21:55,720 Speaker 1: find my child that they're good enough? You know, what 422 00:21:55,760 --> 00:21:57,320 Speaker 1: do I need to do to get my kid to 423 00:21:57,400 --> 00:21:59,160 Speaker 1: a D one program? 424 00:21:59,400 --> 00:21:59,840 Speaker 2: Yeah? I think. 425 00:22:00,359 --> 00:22:02,240 Speaker 3: I think the biggest thing is to not worry about 426 00:22:02,240 --> 00:22:04,560 Speaker 3: things that are outside of your control. And so much 427 00:22:04,640 --> 00:22:07,200 Speaker 3: of that is outside of your control, what coaches think 428 00:22:07,240 --> 00:22:10,320 Speaker 3: of you, where coaches are going to be at, how 429 00:22:10,440 --> 00:22:11,160 Speaker 3: coaches are going. 430 00:22:11,080 --> 00:22:12,240 Speaker 2: To respond, like, so much of. 431 00:22:12,200 --> 00:22:15,680 Speaker 3: That is out of side of you know, the athlete 432 00:22:15,680 --> 00:22:20,119 Speaker 3: and the parents' control. And so I always say like, look, 433 00:22:20,160 --> 00:22:22,440 Speaker 3: you've got to just develop yourself and be as good 434 00:22:22,440 --> 00:22:24,679 Speaker 3: as you possibly can, because I guarantee you you're going 435 00:22:24,720 --> 00:22:27,840 Speaker 3: to open up more doors the better you are. And 436 00:22:28,280 --> 00:22:31,440 Speaker 3: you know, of course with that on court skill, there's 437 00:22:31,480 --> 00:22:34,159 Speaker 3: also that characteristic piece, you know, like work on your 438 00:22:34,200 --> 00:22:36,640 Speaker 3: body language, work on how you are as a teammate, 439 00:22:37,800 --> 00:22:40,879 Speaker 3: because when you get that opportunity in front of a coach, like, 440 00:22:41,160 --> 00:22:44,240 Speaker 3: you want to represent yourself in the best way possible. 441 00:22:44,320 --> 00:22:47,320 Speaker 3: But I see because I've you know, dealt with a 442 00:22:47,320 --> 00:22:49,600 Speaker 3: lot of parents at the club level as well and 443 00:22:49,680 --> 00:22:54,160 Speaker 3: have been on that side working with parents getting their 444 00:22:54,560 --> 00:23:00,760 Speaker 3: athletes recruited, and there's there can be so much energy 445 00:23:01,000 --> 00:23:03,719 Speaker 3: spent on you know, where they need to be, like, 446 00:23:04,320 --> 00:23:06,080 Speaker 3: you know, how are we going to get looked at? 447 00:23:06,160 --> 00:23:08,919 Speaker 3: Which is there's some truth to that obviously, and you 448 00:23:08,960 --> 00:23:12,480 Speaker 3: need to be in the right places, but that's very 449 00:23:12,680 --> 00:23:17,119 Speaker 3: very small in comparison to get as good as you 450 00:23:17,160 --> 00:23:19,719 Speaker 3: possibly can, Like it's as simple as that, and you 451 00:23:19,760 --> 00:23:20,720 Speaker 3: will find an home. 452 00:23:20,960 --> 00:23:21,800 Speaker 2: You will find a home. 453 00:23:22,280 --> 00:23:24,719 Speaker 3: Now with that being said, there's some there's some things 454 00:23:24,800 --> 00:23:28,520 Speaker 3: like you know, attending camps, institutional camps. I think that's 455 00:23:28,560 --> 00:23:31,840 Speaker 3: the best way because you get to work with coaches 456 00:23:32,000 --> 00:23:36,080 Speaker 3: and you know, get to usually see campus a little 457 00:23:36,119 --> 00:23:39,320 Speaker 3: bit and and you know, communicate with them in a 458 00:23:39,359 --> 00:23:42,080 Speaker 3: way that's a little bit unique. So to me that 459 00:23:42,119 --> 00:23:47,080 Speaker 3: would be, you know, probably a smart move. But man, like, 460 00:23:47,600 --> 00:23:49,680 Speaker 3: the one thing I would say is just like, focus 461 00:23:49,720 --> 00:23:51,280 Speaker 3: on what you can to be better. 462 00:23:51,440 --> 00:23:53,960 Speaker 2: It's as simple as that, really, Yeah, no doubt. 463 00:23:53,960 --> 00:23:56,359 Speaker 1: Derek Golsen is our guest here episode eighty four of 464 00:23:56,400 --> 00:24:00,800 Speaker 1: the Matters in Coaching podcast here on iHeartRadio, talking a 465 00:24:00,800 --> 00:24:04,359 Speaker 1: little bit about the program before it launches in twenty 466 00:24:04,440 --> 00:24:07,760 Speaker 1: twenty seven. What are your goals? Have you set goals 467 00:24:07,760 --> 00:24:11,480 Speaker 1: for year one? Have you set goals year three, year five? 468 00:24:11,680 --> 00:24:14,840 Speaker 1: Long term? And if so, what are those goals look like? 469 00:24:15,600 --> 00:24:18,560 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean I'd be lying if I if I 470 00:24:18,600 --> 00:24:21,679 Speaker 3: said that I didn't have any. Obviously, I'm a competitor. 471 00:24:21,800 --> 00:24:23,560 Speaker 3: I'm competitive. I want to be as good as I 472 00:24:23,600 --> 00:24:27,480 Speaker 3: possibly can. I want to eventually win some championships, you know, 473 00:24:27,560 --> 00:24:30,160 Speaker 3: and I'm a little bit impatient admittedly, Like I want 474 00:24:30,160 --> 00:24:33,840 Speaker 3: this thing to be good from the jump, but so 475 00:24:34,040 --> 00:24:40,200 Speaker 3: much of that is related to our athletes. And if 476 00:24:40,240 --> 00:24:44,119 Speaker 3: I just you know, impose my goals and what I 477 00:24:44,160 --> 00:24:47,360 Speaker 3: feel like I want to accomplish on them, I think 478 00:24:47,359 --> 00:24:50,600 Speaker 3: it's kind of robbing them of their experience and their process. 479 00:24:50,640 --> 00:24:54,720 Speaker 3: So you know, I have mine internally, you know, certainly, 480 00:24:55,119 --> 00:24:56,600 Speaker 3: you know, like like I. 481 00:24:56,560 --> 00:24:58,320 Speaker 2: Said, I want to be really competitive. 482 00:24:58,359 --> 00:25:01,480 Speaker 3: But that's something that we're going to discuss as a 483 00:25:01,520 --> 00:25:04,399 Speaker 3: team when I figure out, you know, which nineteen I 484 00:25:04,480 --> 00:25:07,639 Speaker 3: have at the beginning of school. We're going to go 485 00:25:07,680 --> 00:25:09,879 Speaker 3: through that process and say, all right, like what is 486 00:25:10,000 --> 00:25:11,840 Speaker 3: does what does success look like to us? 487 00:25:11,840 --> 00:25:15,080 Speaker 2: Can we define it? Are we in control of that definition? 488 00:25:15,800 --> 00:25:17,240 Speaker 2: And what are our goals? 489 00:25:17,359 --> 00:25:20,160 Speaker 3: But you know, it's important to set goals for sure, 490 00:25:20,240 --> 00:25:22,399 Speaker 3: because you need a north star, you need to know 491 00:25:22,440 --> 00:25:26,640 Speaker 3: where to go. But as cliches it sounds, it's all 492 00:25:26,640 --> 00:25:30,520 Speaker 3: about the process. So that outcome will you know, there's 493 00:25:30,520 --> 00:25:32,480 Speaker 3: no guarantee that you're going to win league or win 494 00:25:32,520 --> 00:25:35,120 Speaker 3: a championship or make NCAAs or whatever the goal is. 495 00:25:36,359 --> 00:25:39,000 Speaker 3: If you're not focused on the process. You know, the 496 00:25:39,080 --> 00:25:42,800 Speaker 3: process will increase the likelihood of that, but it's not 497 00:25:42,840 --> 00:25:46,640 Speaker 3: going to guarantee like anything can happen. So so yeah, 498 00:25:46,640 --> 00:25:48,800 Speaker 3: I think I think goals are really important to have 499 00:25:49,359 --> 00:25:50,680 Speaker 3: and collaborate with your team. 500 00:25:51,359 --> 00:25:54,159 Speaker 1: Now, you mentioned you come from a family of educators 501 00:25:54,160 --> 00:25:57,399 Speaker 1: and coaches. You're a coach now yourself and have been 502 00:25:57,480 --> 00:26:01,120 Speaker 1: at an elite level, but found time to get your 503 00:26:01,160 --> 00:26:05,080 Speaker 1: master's in Coaching and Exercise Science from Throughqordia University of Irvine. 504 00:26:05,160 --> 00:26:07,680 Speaker 1: You got your degree from Oregon and you got your 505 00:26:07,720 --> 00:26:10,520 Speaker 1: mattress from Cordia. Talk a little bit about why it 506 00:26:10,560 --> 00:26:12,720 Speaker 1: was important for you, Derek, to get that matters in 507 00:26:12,800 --> 00:26:14,159 Speaker 1: coaching and exercise science. 508 00:26:14,880 --> 00:26:17,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean I knew it was always important. 509 00:26:17,520 --> 00:26:20,480 Speaker 3: I mean, look, when I graduated from the University of Oregon, 510 00:26:20,720 --> 00:26:23,200 Speaker 3: I decided that I wasn't going to pet school. 511 00:26:23,240 --> 00:26:24,199 Speaker 2: I was done with school. 512 00:26:25,200 --> 00:26:27,640 Speaker 3: So it wasn't until I matured a little bit and 513 00:26:28,040 --> 00:26:31,000 Speaker 3: you know, found the passion for coaching that I realized, hey, 514 00:26:31,000 --> 00:26:34,639 Speaker 3: I might want to go back and you know, educate 515 00:26:34,720 --> 00:26:39,120 Speaker 3: myself further. But you know, it's difficult, especially when you're 516 00:26:39,119 --> 00:26:41,600 Speaker 3: holding down a full time job, to go back and 517 00:26:42,640 --> 00:26:45,840 Speaker 3: go back to school. And so you know, when when 518 00:26:45,880 --> 00:26:49,040 Speaker 3: COVID hit in twenty twenty, I was coaching at CAL 519 00:26:49,160 --> 00:26:52,119 Speaker 3: and I was the head coach. And after you know, 520 00:26:52,280 --> 00:26:55,680 Speaker 3: three weeks of the shutdown, I could sense that we're 521 00:26:55,760 --> 00:26:57,800 Speaker 3: in it for the long haul, Like this thing is 522 00:26:58,200 --> 00:27:00,240 Speaker 3: not coming back anytime soon. I'm gonna have a ton 523 00:27:00,240 --> 00:27:03,440 Speaker 3: of time on my hands. So that's when I decided, 524 00:27:03,480 --> 00:27:06,320 Speaker 3: this is the perfect time. Everything's going to be online, 525 00:27:07,160 --> 00:27:09,480 Speaker 3: you know, this is the perfect time to go and 526 00:27:09,480 --> 00:27:10,159 Speaker 3: get my masters. 527 00:27:10,200 --> 00:27:11,879 Speaker 2: And so I started researching. 528 00:27:11,640 --> 00:27:17,480 Speaker 3: Programs and Concordia, you know, they had enrollment applications due 529 00:27:17,520 --> 00:27:19,520 Speaker 3: like the next week or something like that. So I 530 00:27:19,560 --> 00:27:22,679 Speaker 3: just jumped in and uh and did it. And the 531 00:27:22,720 --> 00:27:26,159 Speaker 3: timing was was perfect, right while everybody else was. I 532 00:27:26,200 --> 00:27:28,919 Speaker 3: mean I absorbed some Netflix, don't get me wrong, but 533 00:27:28,960 --> 00:27:32,080 Speaker 3: while everybody else was just kind of living their best life, 534 00:27:32,200 --> 00:27:35,520 Speaker 3: you know, doing their own thing. I got a master's 535 00:27:35,560 --> 00:27:38,959 Speaker 3: and I actually spent a ton of time, uh writing 536 00:27:38,960 --> 00:27:42,240 Speaker 3: a journal book that I that I wanted to produce. 537 00:27:42,880 --> 00:27:45,560 Speaker 3: And so yeah, I had my fun too, and got 538 00:27:45,560 --> 00:27:48,920 Speaker 3: to hang out with my wife a bunch. But I 539 00:27:49,320 --> 00:27:51,000 Speaker 3: you know, made good use of the time that we 540 00:27:51,040 --> 00:27:54,760 Speaker 3: had because I know it was obviously a unique year 541 00:27:55,160 --> 00:27:59,800 Speaker 3: of not having to really work, and so yeah, I 542 00:27:59,840 --> 00:28:00,679 Speaker 3: just went for it. 543 00:28:01,080 --> 00:28:02,960 Speaker 1: Right time, right place to get it done and talk 544 00:28:03,000 --> 00:28:06,120 Speaker 1: a little bit about the program and your experience in it, 545 00:28:06,280 --> 00:28:09,879 Speaker 1: and you know, we often hear, oh, okay, I was 546 00:28:09,920 --> 00:28:12,520 Speaker 1: going in with one mindset, and I learned a lot 547 00:28:12,560 --> 00:28:14,840 Speaker 1: from a coach in a different sport and kind of 548 00:28:14,920 --> 00:28:18,040 Speaker 1: talking path and watching the stream so to speak of 549 00:28:18,040 --> 00:28:20,160 Speaker 1: different sports kind of opens you up the new maybe 550 00:28:20,600 --> 00:28:23,600 Speaker 1: technique and philosophies and ways to approach coaching. 551 00:28:24,040 --> 00:28:27,680 Speaker 3: Yeah, it was I mean, really the program, I didn't 552 00:28:27,680 --> 00:28:29,760 Speaker 3: really know what to expect, to be honest, because you 553 00:28:29,760 --> 00:28:32,679 Speaker 3: hear coaching and and you know, as a coach, I 554 00:28:32,760 --> 00:28:34,640 Speaker 3: was like, okay, I am a coach, Like, and I'm 555 00:28:34,640 --> 00:28:36,280 Speaker 3: going to learn how to be a coach, Like what 556 00:28:36,320 --> 00:28:36,960 Speaker 3: does this mean? 557 00:28:37,080 --> 00:28:38,800 Speaker 2: Like is this just more of the same of what 558 00:28:38,880 --> 00:28:39,400 Speaker 2: I already know? 559 00:28:40,400 --> 00:28:44,080 Speaker 3: But yeah, I mean, you know, the whole program is 560 00:28:44,120 --> 00:28:49,200 Speaker 3: really just this big exercise of being aware of self 561 00:28:49,240 --> 00:28:53,040 Speaker 3: and being aware of you know, what your philosophies are 562 00:28:53,120 --> 00:28:55,880 Speaker 3: and actually having to like put that in you know, 563 00:28:55,920 --> 00:29:01,560 Speaker 3: in writing and articulate that and express that. So you know, 564 00:29:01,600 --> 00:29:04,960 Speaker 3: it was really valuable for me, and obviously you know, 565 00:29:06,440 --> 00:29:08,440 Speaker 3: I went through it, and I would encourage anybody to 566 00:29:08,480 --> 00:29:12,239 Speaker 3: go through, you know, a master's and coaching because it 567 00:29:12,280 --> 00:29:15,320 Speaker 3: really forces you to it forces you to be a 568 00:29:15,360 --> 00:29:17,960 Speaker 3: better coach, to be honest, I mean, because if you 569 00:29:18,000 --> 00:29:21,840 Speaker 3: can't articulate your philosophy, if you can't articulate, you know, 570 00:29:22,000 --> 00:29:24,680 Speaker 3: like why you're doing what you're doing your core values, 571 00:29:25,560 --> 00:29:30,400 Speaker 3: then you probably haven't spent enough time, you know, honing 572 00:29:30,400 --> 00:29:30,920 Speaker 3: your craft. 573 00:29:31,000 --> 00:29:33,280 Speaker 2: And so yeah, to me, it was it was really 574 00:29:33,360 --> 00:29:34,240 Speaker 2: valuable in that way. 575 00:29:35,480 --> 00:29:39,080 Speaker 1: Nfortia does a coaching conference every spring and a lot 576 00:29:39,120 --> 00:29:41,880 Speaker 1: of the attendees are people going through the program, coaches 577 00:29:42,280 --> 00:29:46,360 Speaker 1: at lower levels, coaches who are new coaches to guiding 578 00:29:46,600 --> 00:29:48,760 Speaker 1: different sports and doing it at different levels. But it's 579 00:29:48,760 --> 00:29:52,880 Speaker 1: the high school level or college level. You've been through 580 00:29:52,920 --> 00:29:55,560 Speaker 1: this now in Division one level and you mentioned club 581 00:29:55,600 --> 00:29:58,959 Speaker 1: as well and professionally, what advice would you give a 582 00:29:59,000 --> 00:30:03,240 Speaker 1: young coach that getting into the profession and is wide 583 00:30:03,320 --> 00:30:06,200 Speaker 1: eyed and looking around and wants to get to where 584 00:30:06,240 --> 00:30:08,600 Speaker 1: you're at right now? What's the best advice would you 585 00:30:08,640 --> 00:30:09,360 Speaker 1: give to that person? 586 00:30:09,920 --> 00:30:12,959 Speaker 3: Keep an open mind and say, yes, I mean literally, 587 00:30:13,000 --> 00:30:15,440 Speaker 3: fortune favors the bold, and you know, I've had to 588 00:30:15,480 --> 00:30:19,440 Speaker 3: take leaps that I didn't necessarily want to take. You know, 589 00:30:19,440 --> 00:30:21,720 Speaker 3: I've had to bet on myself a handful of times. 590 00:30:21,760 --> 00:30:24,239 Speaker 3: But you know that's what it takes. Like You've got 591 00:30:24,280 --> 00:30:26,320 Speaker 3: to be willing to do stuff that the next person 592 00:30:26,600 --> 00:30:29,760 Speaker 3: who wants the same position isn't willing to do and 593 00:30:29,800 --> 00:30:33,760 Speaker 3: so I think that's been, you know, crucial in my journey. 594 00:30:35,040 --> 00:30:37,720 Speaker 3: And then you know, just like I said saying yes, 595 00:30:38,480 --> 00:30:42,400 Speaker 3: meeting with people, having having an open mind, and you know, 596 00:30:42,680 --> 00:30:46,800 Speaker 3: not being somebody that does the same thing over and 597 00:30:46,840 --> 00:30:51,560 Speaker 3: over because that's what you've always done. I've changed and 598 00:30:51,640 --> 00:30:54,840 Speaker 3: evolved and that's part of my philosophy. I hope I'm 599 00:30:54,880 --> 00:30:57,800 Speaker 3: evolving every single year that I that I do this, 600 00:30:58,040 --> 00:31:00,160 Speaker 3: But it takes effort to do that. 601 00:31:00,200 --> 00:31:02,880 Speaker 2: It's just not going to just happen naturally. 602 00:31:03,000 --> 00:31:08,320 Speaker 3: So yeah, keeping an open mind on you know, skill acquisition, philosophy, 603 00:31:08,440 --> 00:31:12,320 Speaker 3: culture building, leadership, all these different things. I think if 604 00:31:12,360 --> 00:31:14,320 Speaker 3: you keep an open mind and you go for it, 605 00:31:15,120 --> 00:31:16,479 Speaker 3: you're going to land where you want to be as 606 00:31:16,520 --> 00:31:18,560 Speaker 3: long as you have the passion for it as well. 607 00:31:19,480 --> 00:31:22,440 Speaker 1: Final thing, and I really appreciate the time. Let's talk 608 00:31:22,440 --> 00:31:25,280 Speaker 1: a little bit about beach volleyball as a whole. The 609 00:31:25,280 --> 00:31:30,240 Speaker 1: growth of the sports from the AVP Tour to international 610 00:31:30,280 --> 00:31:35,320 Speaker 1: to the Olympics to Division one college volleyball outdoors in 611 00:31:35,400 --> 00:31:38,520 Speaker 1: the sand. The sport has grown, and you talked about 612 00:31:38,560 --> 00:31:41,120 Speaker 1: now the coaching that has evolved in the last decade 613 00:31:41,200 --> 00:31:45,200 Speaker 1: or so, you've seen the growth of the sport. Where 614 00:31:45,240 --> 00:31:45,680 Speaker 1: can it go? 615 00:31:45,920 --> 00:31:46,120 Speaker 2: Now? 616 00:31:46,240 --> 00:31:48,800 Speaker 1: What do you think is next for the sport of 617 00:31:48,840 --> 00:31:49,640 Speaker 1: beach volleyball. 618 00:31:50,200 --> 00:31:53,040 Speaker 3: Well, there's still plenty of programs to add, right, I mean, 619 00:31:53,240 --> 00:31:56,400 Speaker 3: we're still relatively small, I would say, as far as 620 00:31:57,120 --> 00:32:00,240 Speaker 3: you know sports go, and the number of institutions that 621 00:32:00,320 --> 00:32:02,720 Speaker 3: have programs, So there's still a ways to go as 622 00:32:02,720 --> 00:32:07,760 Speaker 3: far as you know schools adopting the sport. But you know, 623 00:32:07,840 --> 00:32:10,080 Speaker 3: even through the last few years, which have been financially 624 00:32:10,360 --> 00:32:14,520 Speaker 3: troublesome for a lot of for most schools, we've seen 625 00:32:14,560 --> 00:32:16,520 Speaker 3: growth and so I think it's just going to continue 626 00:32:16,560 --> 00:32:19,600 Speaker 3: to take off. And with that, with the with the 627 00:32:19,640 --> 00:32:23,040 Speaker 3: opportunities provided at n c A, it just only feeds 628 00:32:23,680 --> 00:32:28,880 Speaker 3: opportunities for the juniors. And we're really seeing this model 629 00:32:28,920 --> 00:32:34,200 Speaker 3: of like we're building like a very strong foundation for 630 00:32:34,280 --> 00:32:37,200 Speaker 3: our sport and it's going to eventually. It already is 631 00:32:37,480 --> 00:32:39,960 Speaker 3: and in a lot of ways, but it's eventually going 632 00:32:40,040 --> 00:32:43,120 Speaker 3: to trickle up and funnel towards the top and our 633 00:32:43,240 --> 00:32:46,720 Speaker 3: in our professional tour. I think our our professional Tour, 634 00:32:46,920 --> 00:32:50,000 Speaker 3: the a VP has a ways to go. It's been 635 00:32:50,480 --> 00:32:53,400 Speaker 3: you know, I don't know if I want to say struggling, 636 00:32:53,480 --> 00:32:56,040 Speaker 3: but it hasn't been as big as we all hope. 637 00:32:56,320 --> 00:32:59,440 Speaker 3: And I think with the interest that we have, you know, 638 00:33:00,160 --> 00:33:04,120 Speaker 3: below it, I think it's going to explode. We're seeing 639 00:33:04,720 --> 00:33:08,520 Speaker 3: our college game and our domestic game become way more international. 640 00:33:08,640 --> 00:33:11,120 Speaker 3: So a lot of international prospects are now playing in 641 00:33:11,160 --> 00:33:15,680 Speaker 3: college because they see the value of our system and 642 00:33:15,720 --> 00:33:18,280 Speaker 3: how we develop athletes and the training that they're getting. 643 00:33:18,920 --> 00:33:23,520 Speaker 3: So it's really become this globalized game at the college level. 644 00:33:23,520 --> 00:33:26,680 Speaker 3: And then you know, we're already seeing it represented at 645 00:33:26,680 --> 00:33:29,360 Speaker 3: the Olympics, but I think, you know in LA you're 646 00:33:29,400 --> 00:33:31,640 Speaker 3: going to see it. You know even more, how many 647 00:33:31,680 --> 00:33:36,120 Speaker 3: of those Olympic athletes in the in the women's game 648 00:33:36,840 --> 00:33:38,800 Speaker 3: went to college in the United States and played in 649 00:33:38,840 --> 00:33:39,719 Speaker 3: the NCAA system. 650 00:33:40,120 --> 00:33:42,760 Speaker 2: And then the other area is the men's game. 651 00:33:43,000 --> 00:33:46,840 Speaker 3: And you know, obviously you know with Title nine, and 652 00:33:46,960 --> 00:33:53,440 Speaker 3: there's some challenges that are still there, and you know, 653 00:33:54,040 --> 00:33:57,200 Speaker 3: I think there there is some growth with the men's 654 00:33:57,200 --> 00:33:59,800 Speaker 3: game at the college level, but hopefully there's more of 655 00:33:59,840 --> 00:34:02,600 Speaker 3: that in the future. But like I said, they have 656 00:34:02,680 --> 00:34:05,400 Speaker 3: some hurdles that are kind of unique to them. 657 00:34:05,840 --> 00:34:09,000 Speaker 1: Well, Derek really appreciate the time enjoyed the conversation. I 658 00:34:09,040 --> 00:34:12,799 Speaker 1: know our listeners did as well. A unique perspective as 659 00:34:12,840 --> 00:34:17,040 Speaker 1: a player coach at the highest level and now starting 660 00:34:17,080 --> 00:34:20,080 Speaker 1: a program from the ground up with its inaugural season 661 00:34:20,080 --> 00:34:23,640 Speaker 1: in twenty twenty seven, A great perspective. Really enjoyed it. 662 00:34:23,640 --> 00:34:25,400 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for joining us here on the 663 00:34:25,400 --> 00:34:26,680 Speaker 1: Masters and Coaching podcast. 664 00:34:27,280 --> 00:34:27,400 Speaker 2: Right. 665 00:34:27,400 --> 00:34:29,120 Speaker 3: Thanks for having me, Tim, And don't be afraid to 666 00:34:29,160 --> 00:34:33,440 Speaker 3: follow us Instagram. I don't know our Instagram had all handle, 667 00:34:33,600 --> 00:34:36,680 Speaker 3: but find us. We're on there, and come out and 668 00:34:36,680 --> 00:34:37,720 Speaker 3: support us next season. 669 00:34:38,280 --> 00:34:41,040 Speaker 1: All right, there, he goes. Derek Olsen, the head coach 670 00:34:41,120 --> 00:34:44,640 Speaker 1: of the beach volleyball program at the University of San Diego. 671 00:34:45,040 --> 00:34:48,000 Speaker 1: They don't play until twenty twenty seven. He was introduced 672 00:34:48,000 --> 00:34:50,400 Speaker 1: as the new head coach last fall, and he is 673 00:34:50,520 --> 00:34:54,920 Speaker 1: building that program literally brick by brick from the ground up. 674 00:34:55,000 --> 00:34:57,880 Speaker 1: Brand new facilities being worked on, and he's building that 675 00:34:57,960 --> 00:35:01,760 Speaker 1: program with his assistant coaches from scratch. What a journey 676 00:35:01,800 --> 00:35:04,759 Speaker 1: he has embarked on. He's had success at cal at 677 00:35:04,760 --> 00:35:07,759 Speaker 1: the University of Washington, a former player himself on the 678 00:35:07,800 --> 00:35:11,480 Speaker 1: AVP Tour, coach the national team at the Olympics from Morocco, 679 00:35:11,920 --> 00:35:14,719 Speaker 1: a lot of success as a coach and now embarking 680 00:35:14,800 --> 00:35:19,200 Speaker 1: on a new journey starting a program from scratch. Our 681 00:35:19,280 --> 00:35:21,719 Speaker 1: best at him and his coaching staff. No doubt, we'll 682 00:35:21,760 --> 00:35:24,040 Speaker 1: be keeping an eye on what Derek Olsen and the 683 00:35:24,160 --> 00:35:28,080 Speaker 1: USD Beach Volleyball Program do in the years to come. 684 00:35:28,120 --> 00:35:30,120 Speaker 1: You heard him. He was a graduate of the Masters 685 00:35:30,120 --> 00:35:34,040 Speaker 1: in Coaching and Exercise Science program at Concordia University, Irvine. 686 00:35:34,320 --> 00:35:37,200 Speaker 1: Different start times throughout the year. Find one that fits 687 00:35:37,239 --> 00:35:41,080 Speaker 1: your schedule. Find out more about the programs at CUI 688 00:35:41,160 --> 00:35:44,320 Speaker 1: dot edu slash Coaching. You get a one thousand dollars 689 00:35:44,360 --> 00:35:48,520 Speaker 1: scholarship for first time students in the program CUI dot 690 00:35:48,840 --> 00:35:53,160 Speaker 1: edu slash Coaching. Find out more about the program, how 691 00:35:53,200 --> 00:35:56,799 Speaker 1: you can do it online in person, and find out 692 00:35:56,840 --> 00:35:59,600 Speaker 1: when that next start time is to start that next 693 00:35:59,640 --> 00:36:03,960 Speaker 1: part of your career as a coach, administrator, and as 694 00:36:04,000 --> 00:36:08,200 Speaker 1: a leader. Again thanks to Derek Olsen, new Beach Volleyball 695 00:36:08,280 --> 00:36:11,120 Speaker 1: director of their program which starts in twenty twenty seven, 696 00:36:11,440 --> 00:36:14,560 Speaker 1: and he has hit the ground running now at USD. 697 00:36:14,800 --> 00:36:18,040 Speaker 1: Thanks to Derek, Thanks to you for listening watching being 698 00:36:18,040 --> 00:36:21,759 Speaker 1: a part of episode eighty four of the Masters in 699 00:36:21,880 --> 00:36:27,919 Speaker 1: coaching podcast until next time. Tim Kate saying so long, everybody,