The Leave It Better Podcast

Hope College Coach Becky Schmidt and her teams have been to the NCAA Division III Tournament 15 different times in 20 years. Find out what it takes to sustain that sort of intensity and talent! Becky also shares how she utilizes her assistant coaches for maximum effect. Volleyball has changed over the years. Hear why your coaching methods may not be keeping up with the times.

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We all have setbacks, but the Michigan State University Hall of Famer Kathy DeBoer's setback nearly killed her. Kathy suffered a devastating stroke while she was Executive Director of the American Volleyball Coaches Association, forcing her to learn how to talk and use parts of her body all over again. She tells Janice about the health risks she ignored, and about how positivity, persistence, and humor are helping her recover.

Kathy still has a challenging time speaking, but her strong will and hilarious attitude will leave you laughing while feeling inspired.

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"If you stop learning, you need to stop coaching." That's the motto of Bayside Academy Head Coach Ann Schilling; a legendary volleyball coach with over 37 years of experience. Janice and Ann discuss her journey in coaching, her philosophy on leadership and team culture, and her personal battle with breast cancer. Ann shares how her cancer diagnosis changed her entire outlook on life and her relationship with God. Hear about the significant experiences that have shaped her methods of passing on life lessons to her young athletes. This powerful conversation highlights the significance of resilience, faith, and the impact of...

From hall-of-fame player, to the best personal trainer volleyball has to offer, Cathy Noth is here to tell you her methods to shaping young athletes into future stars. As a former Nebraska Husker and NCAA champ, Cathy became the first Nebraska female student-athlete to have her jersey retired. Listen for great step-by-step advice on how to help players improve their skills, and what parents can do today to help their kids.

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The Volleyball Cancer research Charity tournament, Dig Pink, is making lasting impacts, much of it thanks to several young leaders in high school across the country. The conversation revolves around the experiences of the teenage ambassadors of the Side-Out Foundation's Dig Pink program. Learn about their personal motivations, and the big lessons they've discovered as leaders in their schools, teams, and communities.

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You can coach your players, but how do you coach their parents? Roger Anderson, Head Coach and Director of Health and Wellness at Westborough High School in Massachusetts shares his insights on coaching philosophy, the importance of community support. Hear why student-athlete well-being and mental toughness is significant on the court. Coach Anderson also shares the core values he instills in his athletes, and the lessons he imparts to both players and parents.

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If you want to be the best, you need experience. That’s where Ruth Nelson shines. As a volleyball coach at all levels of the sport over many decades, Ruth walks us through her lessons with some of the most influential volleyball figures in the history of the sport. A must listen to episode for young and aspiring coaches! Veteran coaches will appreciate Ruth’s stories and connections.

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Hot off the court from the 2025 Paris Olympics with her Silver medal, Team USA’s Haleigh Washington shares the heart-pounding moments, the skills that carried the team, and how American volleyball can change its messaging.

Also, get Haleigh’s take on who the best players in the world are right now.

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A special episode with a unique message of hope. The sport of volleyball is the carrier for the Side-Out Foundation’s mission to end breast cancer. On the frontlines of that mission is Dr. Emanuel Petricoin. He’s a pioneering researcher in personalized medicine, and Co-Director of the Center of Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine at George Mason University. Hear how his work with the Side-Out Foundation is helping transform how we treat breast cancer.

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Everyone should have a chance to play the sports they love. As the President of ParaVolley, Lori Okimura helps players with various physical disabilities come together to compete on the volleyball court. Whether it’s using coconut trees for net posts, communicating through cultural barriers, or playing at the age of 92, as Lori tells Janice, if there’s a will, there’s a hundred ways.

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As a coach, would you choose a player with a small role on a winning team, or take a player with a big role on a losing team? University of Pittsburgh Head Volleyball Coach Dan Fisher has built a VERY successful career out of recruiting players from all types of backgrounds. He tells Janice about his methods and philosophies when it comes to standing out in an extremely competitive field.

Also, discover the superstitious habit Coach Fisher got hooked on after leading his team on an incredible win streak.

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Steve Grotowski and his wife Capri were taking beach volleyball to the next level. Steve was competing in the Olympics in Beach Volleyball, and Capri was the Head Coach of Florida Atlantic University, with Steve as her Assistant Coach. Then Capri was diagnosed with breast Cancer. She fought on for almost a decade, while still coaching with Steve nearly the entire time. Capri died in 2022. Hear how Steve keeps her memory alive as he works to defeat the terrible disease that killed her.

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On the path to become an influential architect, a detour into the world of coaching volleyball wasn’t what the CEO of the American Volleyball Coaches Association Dr. Jaime Gordon would have ever imagined. Now he can’t imagine doing anything else. Hear how coaching his players off the court through some of their most difficult life moments shaped the way Dr. Gordon sees the role of coaches in every sport. Sometimes there were calls to the police. Sometimes there were shoulders to cry on. Every time there were young players and people to lead.

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Sometimes terrible things can lead to wonderful good. Athletic Director Matt Althage introduced his school to the Dig Pink charity volleyball tournament in 2008 when his mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. Today, Matt and Head Volleyball Coach Claudia Garcia continue to inspire their players and grow their own tournaments at the Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart in Miami, Florida. Hear how Matt and Claudia's ambition and creativity lead to numerous partnerships with other schools who followed their mission.

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You’ve toned your muscles, you’ve mastered your technique, but how are you going to perform when your confidence fails? How will you handle injuries? As a former professional player, and author of the sports psychology book, Headstrong, and founder of Headstrong Mindset Counseling, Dr. Brooke Rundle works with athletes to control their fears and master their doubts. 

Dr. Rundle explains the foundational mental skills that top athletes need to win on the court, and even more so in their lives after they’re done.

Be sure to check out the end of the intervi...

Wisconsin Head Volleyball Coach Kelly Sheffield has developed some of the best players in the sport. His methods might be a bit different than a typical coach, but then again, you don't want typical players if you want to win championships. Coach Sheffield talks with Janice about the importance of losing games (yes, losing), and find out how his music selection during training and practice sessions plays a role in shaping some of the most skilled players in the league.

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Starting out as a sports psychologist, Paco Labrador was always looking for ways to help athletes and programs bring out the very best in themselves. However, once he saw our life as a head coach could be, he was set on changing paths. Now, as the Head Coach of Volleyball at the Naval Academy, Paco is living his dream. He took the Naval Academy to their first NCAA Volleyball Tournament, and was voted the National Coach of the Year for Division 3. Paco has done great things, perhaps in part because he had a great start… as one of Janice’s ass...

Abbie McCoy‘s Cancer diagnosis came as a total shock. This mother, athlete, and Penn State alum had always lived A healthy life. Hear how volleyball and Dig Pink put her on a path to recovery, and a permanent mission to help others. If you or someone you care about is battling cancer, you’ll find hope in both Abby’s story, and the advice she has for cancer patients.

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What is the ideal personality for a coach to have? Who should be the most competitive person on the team? How do you manage a new team every year? Coach Julie Jenkins has spent the last 40 years figuring out the answers to these big questions. As the head coach at Trinity University in Texas, Coach Jenkins is the victory leader in Division 3, with 1,080 wins. She’s even been recognized as the national coach of the year twice by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA).

Janice and Coach Jenkins discuss the strategies they’ve picked up over their gene...

A love for volleyball that began as a little boy in Brazil has moved to the U.S. with big results. The Northern Virginia Volleyball Association's Rodrigo Gomes explains how growing up in poverty as a child shaped the way he provides accessibility for the young players in his club. Rodrigo also shares his unique training games he uses to get hesitant kids excited about the sport of volleyball. And hear why when Rodrigo is looking for help with his club, he turns to the moms first.

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Meet the woman whose power and bravery on the court led Team USA to their first-ever Olympic gold medal in women’s volleyball. Jordan Larson is a four-time Olympian with two silver medals and a bronze to go with her gold. As the new Assistant Coach for the University of Nebraska, Jordan is bringing us some of her best Lessons she discovered while playing on the US Olympic team. Hear how she implements those lessons now as a coach herself, and how you can, too! Find out what separates the Gold medal players from the rest.

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When it come to the coaches you play against, do you see friends, or just competition? Tufts University Head Volleyball Cora Thompson explains how finding ways to partner and work with your fellow coaches raises everyone’s skills, and improves the sport. Cora tells Janice how pushing players AND coaches out of their comfort zones builds trust and teamwork. Above all else, Cora lays out why being authentic and true to yourself is one of the most valuable lessons young coaches need to discover.

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The vast majority of volleyball players go their whole career without winning a national championship. Meet Molly Phillips. She's won three national championships! Two of those wins came back-to-back with the University of Texas. She then moved to the beach volleyball team at the University of Southern California and won her third national championship.

Molly tells Janice about her pre-game superstitions, training for the pros, and the importance of the smallest roles on the team.

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Being the biggest, fastest, strongest team in the league doesn’t mean anything if you can’t hold it all together mentally during nerve-racking moments. As one of the creators of the NeuroFuel training app, and the executive director of Badger Region Volleyball, Jen Armson-Dyer is training players to build-up their inner strength. Hear how Jen went from being a young player to a leader in the sport at Penn State, simply by accepting the opportunities she saw in front of her.

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Think about what it takes to win a state championship. Now imagine doing that 10 times! As the Head Volleyball coach at RHAM High School in Hebron, Connecticut, Tim Guernsey has made that astonishing Achievement. Before Tim began running the volleyball program at RHAM High school, it didn’t even exist. He built it from the ground up into a program now known for dominating the court. Hear why one of his biggest challenges today is teaching his new players that winning doesn’t come as easy as he and his team make it seem.

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How do you fight for yourself? In your home, on the court, or in the hospital, sports geographer and keynote speaker Dr. Jen Fry shows us how to advocate for ourselves in any situation. As a former NCAA player and coach, a TEDx speaker, and now author of the book, I Said No, Dr. Fry knows the ways to navigate difficult situations and conversations. Whether you're battling sickness and need better care from your doctors, or working on rising in the ranks with your team; Dr. Fry explains to Janice how speaking up and advocating for yourself is the wa...

Taking immature high school players and evolving them into formidable athletes takes more than just carefully planned training routines. Coach Stephanie Noriega has found a way to grow her players her players into confident and caring young women, unafraid of new challenges. She’s the Head Coach of Volleyball at West Springfield High School in Virginia. Just as important, Stephanie helped build and grow the Dig Pink charity tournaments with the Side-Out Foundation at their very beginning.

Stephanie shares her way of inspiring her players to win on the court, and be proud of themselves off the cour...

She knew how to beat her opponents on the court, but beating breast cancer was a challenge Fatima Balza didn't know how to approach. For this former star Penn state volleyball player and current coach of Western Nebraska Community College, Fati took to treating her cancer like she was training for a tournament. In the process, it changed her outlook on everything. As Fati explains to Janice, she is a Venezuelan native who never says “no“ to a challenge. Her enthusiasm and positivity is absolutely inspiring.

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Talent comes at a young age — whether you’re playing or coaching. As someone in her mid-twenties, Katie Oleksak has quickly rose in the world of volleyball.

This NCAA Woman of the Year nominee broke the career assist record (5,083) at Colorado State University, and earned All-American honors each of her four seasons. After graduating, Katie wasted no time going pro and competing in Switzerland. She took a chance during the pandemic From there, Katie made the transition from the court to the clipboard, becoming the Director of Volleyball Operations at University of San Diego. Katie also serves as th...

There are great players to coach, there are tough players to coach, and then there are your own kids. Former Louisiana State University Coach Fran Flory coached her daughter on her NCAA volleyball team. It's just one of the hilarious stories this SEC Coach-of-the-Year shares with Janice. Her rise to Head Coach at LSU was a complicated one, despite multiple Final Four appearances -- find out why. Recently, Coach Flory has been guiding the Vegas Thrill in the Pro Volleyball Federation. Find out the difference she sees in players that make it as pros, and those that wash out.

Team USA has only ever won four Olympic Gold medals in volleyball. One of those Golds belongs to coach Hugh McCutcheon. He led the men’s team to Gold in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Hugh then switched over to coach the U.S. Women’s National team to a Silver medal finish at the London Olympics in 2012. Now serving as the Assistant Athletics Director for the University of Minnesota, Hugh talks with Janice about his keys to success, and the differences between winning on a national stage versus winning on a global stage at the Olympics. 

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If you want your team to stay strong in NCAA sports, you've got to stay up-to-date with the competitive world of coaching and recruiting in collegiate athletics. Utah Head Coach Beth Launiere is an expert at what it takes to stay in the fight for championships, season to season. Beth and Janice discuss the importance of making personal connections with today's athletes, the role of mentorship, and the balance between personal life and coaching responsibilities. Beth shares her ideas on building a strong program culture, the impact of business principles on coaching, and the significance of self-care, especially in ligh...

Ever wonder how balls get made, jerseys get designed, and sports equipment gets tested? Jake Licht knows. As the president and CEO of Báden Sports, it’s Jake’s responsibility not to just make your sports supplies, but make them the best. 

Janice talks with Jake about the unique path that got him involved with Báden Sports. And hear how, as a CEO, he has learned to lean on himself and others during challenging times.

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What's the difference in coaching professional athletes versus college athletes? Coach Laura "Bird" Kuhn has done both; first for Texas A&M, and now for the Omaha Supernovas. Hear what makes this legendary 2019 SEC Coach of the Year respected by both her players, AND her opponents. Bird and Janice debate They explore the challenges and opportunities in coaching, the significance of community engagement, and the evolution of players in the pro landscape. 

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As a coach, would you choose a player with a small role on a winning team, or take a player with a big role on a losing team? University of Pittsburgh Head Volleyball Coach Dan Fisher has built a VERY successful career out of recruiting players from all types of backgrounds. He tells Janice about his methods and philosophies when it comes to standing out in an extremely competitive field.

Also, discover the superstitious habit Coach Fisher got hooked on after leading his team on an incredible win streak.

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Focusing on progress over immediate results; that's how Corinne Hamer and Cayla Kapelke run things at the Infinity Volleyball Club in Colorado. These youth club owners are molding the stars AND the coaches of tomorrow. In their family-oriented environment, Corinne and Cayla are pushing coaches to be able to perform the same drills they put their players through. How does it all work out? Hear what they tell Janice.

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With four national championships under his belt, the current head coach of Nebraska’s Cornhuskers volleyball team is spilling the secrets to competing at his level. Hear Coach John Cook explain why he prefers practices to matches, and why he believes the best coaches start out as dedicated school teachers.

John also tells Janice what he learned from the Navy Seals when it comes to finding the leaders for his top team.

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Decades ago, before volleyball took off in popularity, many of the most talented players came to the sport from other sports. For Jim Stone, he was a jump-shooting basketball player before he jumped over to the volleyball court. Jim spent nearly 30 years at the University of Ohio, and served as head coach of the USA Girls U-18 team until 2019. Now Jim is one of the most sought after volleyball consultants for schools, clubs, and universities. Hear his methods for building winning players, and a winning culture.

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The winningest coach in Texas A&M history has thoughts on volleyball you may have never heard before. Laurie Corbelli knows how to rally her teams to perform at levels they’ve never reached. The current Volleyball Operations Consultant for the Pro Volleyball Federation is a former Olympic silver medalist. Whether it’s competing against her fellow coach husband, or attracting the best players in the world, Laurie has a story for you, with lessons to embrace.

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When Sharon Dingman became the head coach of Colorado College volleyball, she realized she had a platform that she could do a lot more with than just win games. "Giving Back to the community" is a big part of Sharon's philosophy. A personal brush with cancer helped her discover HOW she could give back. Now Dingman is a Board Member with the Side-Out Foundation, helping in the fight against metastatic breast cancer. As it turns out, a special encounter with Janice put Sharon on this new path. Hear why she's a believer and more excited than ever about her new m...