The “Coach in Me” Issue
Sideline Stories: Playbooks, Khakis and Punchlines
Letter from the Editor
Welcome to this week’s issue of Mylo Mag! I’m thrilled to share a personal slice of my journey with you—a journey that’s been in the making since 2008. Over the years, I’ve been crafting my book, It’s All About Playing Time, a project born from my countless experiences on the coaching frontlines. Within its pages, you'll find a blend of wisdom, wit, and the raw, unfiltered realities of the sports world. I’ve collected stories from rival coaches, mentors who offered sage advice, and even tales of famous figures I never had the chance to meet. Alongside these, there are the inevitable moments with angry parents and disappointed athletes—reminders that life is as unpredictable as it is hilarious. After all, without a good dose of comedy, we wouldn’t have survived!
In this week’s issue, I’m excited to offer you an exclusive excerpt from my book, along with some reflective musings from my personal archives. These pieces are not only snapshots of my past but also a prelude to what’s coming in future issues—whenever inspiration (or a particularly cheeky gust of wind) nudges me to share another piece of my story. Whether you’re a coach, a business owner, an entrepreneur, or someone with giant goals, I hope these experiences will spark encouragement and fuel your journey.
Thank you for joining me on this ride. I can’t wait for you to dive in and discover the humor, heart, and hard-won lessons woven throughout my tale.
Enjoy the read,
The 1999 Team - Ready for Action in their long-ass shorts!
Angie H
Hey, You Wanna Coaching Job?
From the early days of my coaching career, I had to overcome tremendous resistance. I was hired with only a couple of weeks to prepare for my coaching journey. Organizing a volleyball program in a small community meant diving in and not looking back. As the head volleyball coach for the high school, I knew it was imperative to help develop athletes from 3rd grade - 12 grade. I spent a great amount of time educating myself, seeking advice from coached I admired, former teachers and coaches and current teachers and coaches. What I couldn't bring to the program in the way of specific skills training, I made up for with mindset training. Looking back, I was ahead of my time and I'm proud of the work I put into mental training. I wanted to make an impact on athletes and help them go beyond their talents and believe in something bigger than they ever knew possible within their own talents and as a team
It Can’t Get Any Worse
The program had not had a winning record since 1982, which had been my senior year at the high school. There had not been a huge influence into female sports and that wasn't because the community was short on athletes. They were abundant. However, the real belief had evaporated from the school history and the current scene from the moment I took the lead in 1995 was an all-apparent need to get these students to believe they were capable of big, massive things. Like running a business, it takes a mindful approach to be steadfast with all the challenges that come your way. My coaching background and the lessons I learned from athletes I coached has carried me through so many moments and is an anchor in my daily pursuit
Compression Shorts?
With different coaches at my side each season, some not willing to lean in to learning new things and some certainly wishing they were doing something else at the end of the school day and most not wanting to help with summer camps, I had a giant leaps that required a belief even when no one else believed with me. When I wanted to get more volleyballs so my ratio was at least one ball per player, so everyone could do an individual drill at the same time, I had to find outside funding because the school didn’t have that in the budget. When I wanted to get new uniforms for my team, I met resistance because "it wasn't time" for new volleyball uniforms - I was supposed to wait my turn. I also had to convince my administration that the athletes deserved to wear compression shorts, the standard in volleyball uniforms for the time. But, I was told these would be inappropriate for girls to wear. Regardless of the research I provided and the diligence I took to advocate for my athletes so they could lose the silky, baggy shorts and shirts that belonged in the era prior, it wasn't until I presented the wrestling singlet that I could get their attention. If boys could wear these tight fitting outfits and wrestle each other exposing their forms to the world, the volleyball athlete was sure to look as fit in their compression shorts. It worked.
If the Boys Can Do It, So Can the Girls!
Another area where I saw push back from the male sector was in education of the game. As I worked alongside coaches within the school at different age levels, I found myself attending many junior high practices assisting my previous head coach who was now the leader of the jr. high program. She welcomed my help and as we taught the girls the various positions on the court including serving zones and specific roles, I was asked to visit with my administration about some concerns. I was told there were some parents who thought that it was too much to teach the girls these zones and positions, they should just rotate and play. So I went to the junior high football coaches and asked if they had a playbook for their players. They did. So I asked for a copy and took it back to my admin and said this is what the boys of the same age are learning. Without a doubt, these young girls were just as capable of learning a few positions on the volleyball court. So simple that no handbook would be required. They accepted the logic.
It was with every step that I found resistance. As we worked to develop the program and start youth programs and encourage these athletes to be in other acitivites and sports, the belief that we could do great things was growing in the minds of the players. By 1999, I felt confident that I had a team that was ready for the state tournament. Their work off season, dedication, personalities, leadership, committment and desire were all the makings of a team built for winning.
As I stood with this team before the entire student body at the fall kickoff, I looked into the stands and bravely said, you will see this team in the state tourney for the first time in school history this season. I expected loud roars and a raucous welcome to the news, instead I was met with silence and uncomfortable shifts. At that moment, I knew they didn't believe because they had never seen it before. My gaze to the athletes standing by me gave me all I needed as they nodded with power and confidence knowing they believed and were ready for the challenge. it took the wins to convince the media and fans, but, it happened. We filled the gyms, we got the wins and we were there for the first time.
