by Ramzi Rabadi
Staff Writer
New men’s volleyball head coach Jack Coberly met with the team last Thursday and discussed the expectations for next year and what he requires from each player.
Coberly, who is leaving his sports massage business in Boulder, Colo., to take the job at ULV, will have the opportunity to coach his son, junior Morgan Coberly.
“I’m excited for my dad and especially for the team, because he will discipline us,” Morgan said.
“What we lacked this year was discipline. I think that he [Jack Coberly] has a good grasp on the eastern philosophy toward coaching,” junior volleyball player Ryan Allen said.
Athletic Director Jim Paschal has high hopes for Coberly’s future.
“He will be our coach for many years down the road. We came into a situation with a man working on a dream,” said Paschal.
Morgan has been coached and has played with his dad as his volleyball partner, since the age of 11.
“I will treat him the same as all the other players, but it will be hard to take the father equation out of it,” Jack said.
In mid-August Jack plans to complete his move to Southern California.
“I love the prospect and challenge with a small school and the ability to be competitive,” Jack said.
Jack who has coached for 30 years with only two losing seasons, expects high standards with next years team, which faces highly ranked Division I teams.
Talking to his new team, he insisted to his players that they will be more than all right next year, and they will defeat Division I teams.
Coberly’s first goal with the his new team is to bring them together to form unity on the court. He believes there must be unity for success.
“We need to build confidence back up. We have the talent to do it,” Coberly said. “As a team in each game we will fight with a sense of spirit and work to finish with success.”
On recruiting, Coberly does not worry about it. He believes he has the eye for players who have good character, a great work ethic and potential.
“I have a pipeline in a lot national organizations. There is a lot of players who are willing to come to California,” he said.
Coberly’s basic philosophy is that sports is a microcosm of life.
“There are rules and guidelines for conduct. Also, there are losses and successes in life and there is the drive to be better in life through sports,” he said.
He regards volleyball as a method which teaches life lessons.
“I want my players to perform the same way on the court and off,” said Coberly.
Ramzi Rabadi
