GAME ON The Sideline: Coach Harrington, Bishop Hendricken
Tuesday, May 03, 2011
Q & A with Coach Mike Harrington, Bishop Hendricken Volleyball
What is your coaching experience?
Currently entering my 17th year as head coach for Bishop Hendricken High School. Prior to that, I was the assistant volleyball coach at NKHS for 3 seasons (1991-1993). I have also coached one year of varsity girl’s volleyball at NKHS (1993), one year as an assistant for the URI women’s volleyball team (1995), one year as Bryant’s Men’s club team (1998). I have coached numerous volleyball camps.
What are you looking forward to for this season?
As we do every season, we will attempt to build a team that always places team goals ahead of any individual goals. As a coach, I look forward to seeing the players improve physically and mentally as the season moves on. As the defending D1 state champs, we will try to be playing at our best level late in the season with hopes of playing for the state championship
again.
What's been your greatest success as a coach?
My greatest success is when I help to create a team that really understands what it means to be part of a TEAM. This happens when every player commits to giving their maximum effort every practice and game. Every player understands and embraces their role on these teams and nobody cares who gets the credit for our teams success. I have had championship teams that fit this description and teams that did not win championships fit this description.
What's been your biggest failure?
My biggest failure as a coach is when my team does not play it's best during the playoffs. There have been a couple of times when made the playoffs and we performed below our normal level. This is very frustrating and I take responsibility for not having my team mentally ready to compete on that particular night.
Who have been the best players you've coached?
A lot of players come to mind. Rocco Baldelli was not only the best player I have coached, but he is the best RI high school volleyball player to have ever played. He was part of the schools first 2 championships (fall of 1998 and 1999). David Rufful also comes to mind. Dave was the only player in Hendricken V-ball history to play 4 years of varsity volleyball (1993-1997). Each of those 4 seasons ended with State Championships. Dave was the MVP his senior year. Dave is currently playing D1 basketball at Dartmouth. Steve Fuller, Eddy Delsignore, Kevin McDonald all played with Dave, and were part of back to back undefeated seasons. I have a few players on my current roster that fall into this same category. Seniors JJ Bessette and Ted Seufert started on last year’s championship team and are both elite high school volleyball players. Also junior John Kane may finish his high school career as one the best all around players that I
have coached. I could go on and on and on...
How do you motivate your players?
I have always believed for a team to play at its best, motivation must come from the team members. Every year we discuss our team goals and we continue to monitor and discuss the roles of each player. I have the team members decide some of the team rules (late policy, consequence for lack of effort in practice, the amount of conditioning we do, etc.) This allows the team members to be more responsible their effort. I also believe the best way to keep a player motivated is to communicate regularly in a one on one setting. I try to let players know what they have been doing well and what I would like them to focus on. This may be a particular skill or it can be that I want them to be more vocal in practice or to adjust their body language after a teammate makes an error. I find the one on one conversations are much more effective than addressing a group of players.
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