Beyond the Court: A LOVB Podcast

Mar 1

Both former guests individually, Jason Watson and Tom Black return to Beyond the Court and discuss their coaching philosophies with each other and host Courtney Thompson. Despite coaching in the same conference, Jason and Tom are quite friendly with one another and frequently talk through their teams with one another. Among the topics discussed are structuring an offense, serving approach, timeout strategy, using video to provide feedback and more.

Feb 1

As someone who’s held head coaching positions at three very different institutions, Jason Watson is very familiar with building new cultures. He’s coached and found success at BYU, Arizona State and now Arkansas, where he led the Razorbacks to the Regional finals of the 2023 NCAA Tournament. Jason works very intentionally to shift culture and establish trust with his athletes by being transparent with feelings and expectations – both his players’ and his own – encouraging feedback and adapting strategies to it, and becoming more unstructured in communications with his players. His goal is for his athletes to know him as other people in his life.

Dec 23, 2024

Whether on the volleyball court or in life, fear is often the biggest limiter to success, not lack of ability. Fear can prevent wholehearted engagement and commitment; it is a limiter to what people can achieve. Tom Black knows that, and he makes it a point to address those fears head-on with athletes. Whether through conversation, drill or writing activity, he strives to teach his athletes to acknowledge the fear and proceed anyway. Tom’s teachings have impacted athletes at the international level and collegiate level, as position coach or head coach. Everyone can learn to embrace fear and venture into it anyway. Take it from Tom’s former disciple, Courtney Thompson.

Dec 13, 2024

Coach and leadership teacher Don Bartel knows that internal work is key to external success. Outcome-aware but purpose- and process-driven, he has focused on building skills and actions in athletes from middle school all the way to college. Regardless of location, he weaves the lessons he wishes to teach into an athlete’s daily activities and stresses the importance of giving athletes ownership over their situation. Don also recognizes the outsized effect a coach’s mood can have on their team. After a stern talking-to from Courtney’s dad of all people, he learned to allow athletes to celebrate wins and enjoy their successes. He can even celebrate those successes now; not as his own, but as those of people he cares about. In a wide-ranging interview, Mr. Bartel, as Courtney knows him – he coached Courtney and fellow podcast guest Trevor Thompson when they were younger – discusses all this and more in the latest episode of Beyond the Court.

Nov 22, 2024

USC Associate Head Coach Tyler Hildebrand has coached a lot of volleyball and a lot of different types of volleyball. One thing that’s followed him at each stop is the leadership and vision he brings to each position. Women or men, indoor or beach, the technical skills aren’t nearly as important as the vision he helps athletes apply to their practice. With all of his athletes, Tyler stresses the actions that have deeper meanings behind them and that reach across broad subjects. Technical aspects are important, but not as important as the lessons that athletes can apply after volleyball, like perseverance or pushing oneself out of their comfort zone. Good friends, Tyler and host Courtney Thompson cover the importance of leadership and vision, how to test new strategies properly, and other topics during the latest episode of Beyond the Court.

Oct 28, 2024

Having made the postseason each year of her 27-year career as head coach at Emory University, Jenny McDowell knows all about competition. Under her tutelage, the Eagles never missed an NCAA Division III tournament, winning two national titles and making seven trips to the national semifinals. She proved her commitment to competition to hundreds of Emory’s volleyball athletes by never being outworked and leading by example. More than the 826 career wins or 27 consecutive postseason appearances, Jenny loved making a difference in her athletes' lives. The work ethic she instilled on the court carried over into athletes’ interviews, medical school and just being a good person. Now, as Director of Coach Development with League One Volleyball, she gets to train other coaches who’ll go on to have countless impacts on young athletes.

Oct 21, 2024

Suzie Fritz has been around coaches her entire life. Her mother was a coach, as were her father and brother. She even married a coach. It should be no surprise that she herself went into the family business and has spent 30 years coaching volleyball. During her illustrious career, Suzie has developed a mantra: do less, and do it better. One cannot coach everything at once – she’ll be the first to say that – so by narrowing her focus on one topic at a time, she’s been able to concentrate on one aspect of her team’s play and get stronger results. She’ll bring that mantra to the pros as head coach at LOVB Omaha Volleyball, something that she and host Courtney Thompson discuss during the latest episode of Beyond the Court .

Sep 20, 2024

After years of out-hustling people on the court – proven by leading USC to back-to-back titles – Nicole Davis realized she needed more once she entered the Team USA gym. She needed an edge, and training her mental skills just like she did her physical skills lifted her to the Olympics and two silver medals. During the latest episode of Beyond the Court, she talks with longtime friend and former U.S. teammate Courtney Thompson about her path to mindset training and the importance of feeling good on the court. Coaches can play an outsized role in this by providing agency to athletes, helping them work through anxiety, and centering their language around optimism and strengths.