About this episode
1:06 - Introducing Russ, and his legacy as former head coach of the Penn State women's volleyball program. 1:27 - What Russ will miss the most about coaching volleyball at Penn State. 5:33 - Russ’ thoughts on if the strong desire to win can be a developed quality, or if it has to already exist in potential recruits. 7:05 - What can coaches do to develop competitiveness in their players? 9:13 - How can volleyball players and coaches find and develop a balance of being competitive, but also enjoying the sport? 10:44 - Differentiating the players that say they want to win and the players that show they want to win. What does that look like? 14:55 - Even if he knows he is going to win a match, does Russ still prepare in the same way? 16:40 - What kind of practice environment has Russ cultivated, and what made practices successful in his eyes? 20:32 - What does Russ mean when he wants his players to “go hard” in practices. 24:39 - In challenging scenarios, does Russ believe in actively guiding his players, or letting them figure out a solution? 26:14 - In a team with a smaller roster, how would Russ address a lack of effort among the players, or individuals? 29:02 - Did Russ adjust his practices based on the physical or mental state of his players? 34:21 - Is there anything Russ changed in his coaching strategy across his entire career that made a significant difference? 35:51 - Russ’ travel story about a trip to Washington, and how it reflects his coaching strategy. Coach Your Brains Out: The Art and Science of Coaching Volleyball The Inner Knight: Train and Compete Like a Champion Contact us for bulk orders: coachyourbrainsout@gmail.com Become a Patron to support the show.