1. How have your first few weeks been as the new head coach at SMC? I see you play Stanford this weekend, what are your expectations for this game?

I have been looking at Saint Mary's volleyball since my predecessor, Ron Twomey, left in December. I officially began my coaching contract in March. So I think this question refers to our "first few weeks" of pre season training. Our pre season went extremely well considering our small roster size and number of injuries. My expectations regarding the Stanford match were that they would be superior from an experiential, a physical, and a psychological level. I think that we have trained correctly, using appropriate methods, and that our offensive, defensive, and serving systems are appropriate. We will be maximally prepared for the match and if we execute a game plan, we should be competitive with Stanford. They are a vastly superior team physically.

2. How is your scheduling helping to prepare the team for the NCAA tournament. Who is the most difficult team you are playing this year?

We have an extremely difficult non conference schedule and compete in one of the top conferences in the country. My hope is that playing versus Stanford, UOP, Arizona, Hawaii, etc. will allow us to be battle tested against the best and help us prepare for the difficult West Coast Conference schedule.

3. It often takes new coaches a little while to adjust to their players, letting players adjust to them and bringing in players the coach selected. What is a realistic time frame for Saint Mary's to be in the top half of the conference?

Until I have had gone through an entire season of conference play, I cannot know what is a realistic time frame to reach the top half of the conference. There are many variables involved including the development of the current personnel, the maturation of our coaching staff, the recruitment of incoming student/athletes, and the degree of support from the department, the institution, the student body, and the community. The formula for success is complex and I would not want to predict based upon the unknown.

4. Have you had to make any major adjustments moving from a DII school to a DI school in a competitive league?

My coaching style and philosophy are based upon immutable principles, related methods, specific systems, motivations styles, and specific decisions about what aspect of the game we need to work on today. Therefore, some things have changed that are specific to Saint Mary's but most things will be with me wherever I coach.

5. As the new head coach do you feel pressure to succeed right away?

I place a personal priority on making my best effort at whatever I do. External pressures are therefore irrelevant. I believe that my success will be determined by the degree to which I have been fair and clear with my team, and keep their health and happiness as my top priority.

6. What are your predictions about how the league will look at the end of the year?

I cannot predict anything about the West Coast Conference since I have not seen the competition and been through a season here at Saint Mary's. I know that the other coaches have picked us to finish last. Thank you for the opportunity to answer these questions as the conference "coach of the week". Jon Stevenson