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Questions With Prentice Lewis

8/25/2008

by Christine Phillips

Questions with Texas Christian University Head Coach

Prentice Lewis

photo by TCU Sports Info

• When did you start playing volleyball?

Sixth grade was my first shot at a form of volleyball. It was a cool concept for beginners, having a bounce between each touch and the net was closer to tennis height. It really was a blast but you try this these days and parents get upset because its not Volleyball. Grasping the concept and have fun is pretty important. I only play for one session and then was able to try out for the Orange County VB club. Yes I did make it and that was when my volleyball career started.

• Did you have someone (an athlete) you looked up to when you were younger?

To be honest no. I loved to play baseball, soccer and volleyball. And yes, it’s not softball but baseball.

• What is some advise that has stuck with you over the years?

Early is on Time and Don't let yesterday take up to much of today.

• Where did you attend college? Did you play volleyball?

Long Beach State. Yes and it was the best experience of my life. 4 Big West Championships and 3 trips to the final four. What an experience. Were you on scholarship? I walked on my first year then had a scholarship my next three.

• You won a National Championship in 1993. What is a favorite memory from that season?

Serving the championship point and Danielle Scott blocking the ball for the win. We all ran to the middle of the court and made a pile. Joy Mckenzie-Fuerbringer, our setter, was the first I met up with. I will never forget those few minutes.

• Did you have another job before you entered the coaching world?

I worked at a surf shop on Balboa Island during by High school summers.

• Why did you enter the coaching profession?

Well I was planning on the high school route, teaching and coaching. But that all changed after participating in Charlie Brande annual summer league at the Bay Club in Newport Beach. I had played all through high school and college. After I graduated and summer was here again I wanted to play but most of my friends had stopped I was placed on a team and was pleasantly surprised not only because of the talent but what how this would change my future. One of my team mates was the head coach at UC Irvine, Merja Connelly. She was a stud middle at UCLA in the 80's with Liz Masakayan. Well I spent that summer setting and digging for this great team. I don't remember if we won the league or not but that was when I meet Mer and my coaching career began when she asked me to be her assistant.

• Did you have a coaching mentor? If yes, who?

I really had two people that helped shape my future in coaching. First was my High school and club coach Charlie Brande and the the second was Brian Gimmilaro, my college coach. I also learned the ropes from three different head coaches; Merja Connelly (UCI), Kathy Nelson (Oregon) and Mary Wise (Florida).

photo by TCU Sports Info

• What are some of your core values for your team?

Work smart, be on time and compete.

• What are some of your favorite drills for practice? Individual drills? Team Drills?

Short Court with my husband has always been great! But really all different kinds of defensive drills. If you can’t dig you can’t hit! For team drills any type of wash drill. Our players named there favorite the Nacho drill. One side gets a free ball if they win they get a down ball and if they win that either a serve receive ball or a served ball to score, a big point. You have to get all three. Each time you don’t the other side gets a notch. Once they get 3 notches they get a big point and rotate. You usually start the game at 22-22

• What is one of your favorite coaching memories over the past years?

This past season beating #17 in the nation Colorado State. It was a 5 game battle

• What is the hardest aspect of going into the 2008 season at TCU?

Every year new athletes get the opportunity to replace our graduated seniors. Will these athletes set us back, maintain our current level or push the program to the next level? I'll let you know after our season starts up ;-)

• The coaching profession is a hard profession to have longevity in. What is your advice on longevity?

Win would be the first thing that comes to my mind! :-) But really for me it is winning or losing with athletes you want to be around. No, really it’s different for everyone but for me I want a team of athletes that do things the right way. I’ve been in D1 coaching for 11 year, the last 6 has as a head coach and have loved every challenge that has been through at me. We’ll see how long I can go……

• As a spectator of the game, do you have any changes to the indoor game you would recommend?

Dang, they have changed enough since I have been in the sport. No more changes here please.

photo by TCU Sports Info

• What are your thoughts on the beach game?

Love it! The Beach Collegiate Championships? This is a great idea and something that would help our sport grow.

• As a spectator of the game, do you have any changes to beach game you would recommend?

The only thing would be if they are going to have indoor and outdoor players playing both, fall then spring, they really will need to make the two games more similar. Playing the ball with two hands on serves….but they could just eliminate that in the indoor game and I would be just fine with that too!

• What advice would you give college volleyball players looking to get into the coaching world?

Its long hours make sure you break you day up into recruiting calls, paperwork, returning recruiting emails then last make sure you eat so you are ready for practice. After practice continue with what you couldn’t finish and or get on the road to watch HS or club teams play or practice. Doesn’t sound too appealing but if you like the game of volleyball you usually enjoy coaching it.

• What is some advice you can provide high school players looking to continue their volleyball career in college?

Don’t pass up on a 2 or 3 year scholarship, which is a great thing. Also, there are hundreds of volleyball programs from D1 to NAIA. Winning a Final Four at any level is awesome!

• As a college coach/recruiter, do you prefer emails or letters? VHS/DVD, or Online videos? Phone calls?

Anything is great! Problem with VHS has been athletes not letting us know who they are and what side of the net they have started on. DVD’s are the same but also making sure it’s recorded on a disk that all types of DVD players can use. We have had several ones that don’t work in our equipment. Emailed videos are great as long as you can just play it. If you have to download a system most colleges are on network and they don’t have the freedom to download. Email is a little hard because if you are a sophomore or below we cannot contact you back till September 1st of your junior year is the first time. Before that Sept. 1st dates we are able to send you our questionnaire and camp information but that is all, D1 coaches cannot correspond to recruiting questions. If you come on campus, outside of a dead period, we can talk face to face and show you our campus and you can call us anytime. We just can’t call you back till after July 1st after your Junior year.

• What drives you?

The idea of being the 1st female coach to win the final four and then to have also been the first coach to win as a player and a coach. Not 100% on the accuracy of this but it’s one thing that I say often.

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