Beyond the Court: A LOVB Podcast

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.