The Coaches Group Chat

Matthew Houlihan, Arielle Houlihan, Chad Gordon
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Grab a drink and a seat at the table with hosts Matt Houlihan, Arielle Houlihan and Chad Gordon as we chat about the world of volleyball, coaching, business, and whatever else Arielle feels like!

  1. 12 FEB

    S4E5: All-Puerto Rico Team, Volleyball Fumbled the Gays, Middles Obsolete?

    Super Bowl week turned San Francisco into a branded maze and sparked a bigger talk about how events shape cities and attention. We celebrate Puerto Rican volleyball legends, question why volleyball hasn’t captured LGBTQ fandom like hockey has, and debate whether modern lineups make traditional middles expendable. • citywide Super Bowl activations and event fatigue • Benito Bowl reactions and why representation hits • all‑time Puerto Rican NCAA picks across eras • why programs should teach their own history • hockey’s queer mainstream moment vs volleyball’s silence • ideas for LGBTQ visibility and better commentary • are middles obsolete or being reimagined • pins converting to middle and no‑libero experiments • serving value, development gaps, and recruiting bias • versatility as the new recruiting edge

    37 min

  2. 5 FEB

    S3E4: Euro Talent, Hawai'i Insider, Building a Program From Scratch

    We argue whether the surge of European players lifts the NCAA at the expense of USA Volleyball, then turn to how culture and community create lasting power. Devin Young’s hire at Pacific sparks a blueprint for rebuilding fast with Europe, the portal, club stars, NIL, and storytelling. • tradeoffs between international recruiting and USA athlete development • whether the NCAA should test international roster caps  • why Hawaii’s culture creates stars and traveling crowds • tapping Asian American and LGBTQ+ communities to grow attendance • Devin Young to Pacific and what a smart rebuild looks like • balancing portal veterans with freshmen and overlooked club talent • NIL as targeted investment plus content and transparency • analytics and NCVF as market inefficiencies to exploit Like, comment, subscribe, or... don't

    25 min

  3. 28 GEN

    S4E2: Matt at Stanford, Daniel's Conspiracies, Volleyball Fyre Fest

    Matt shares a short-term leap onto the Stanford bench, how it reshapes his voice and time, and why serving the team takes priority over hot takes. We also unpack the canceled Honda Center NIL event, question rankings logic, and preview Stanford vs UC Irvine with deep club ties. • a three‑month Stanford coaching role and its constraints • honoring family coaching legacy and purpose • social media boundaries when you represent a program • the NIL tournament cancellation and missing details • credibility risks for men’s volleyball events • rankings transparency and results over potential • Stanford vs UC Irvine storylines and Beta Bay roots • community moments that keep the sport vibrant Like, comment, subscribe. Or don’t.

    23 min

  4. 22 GEN

    S4E1: The 2026 Prediction Episode

    We trade life updates for bold calls, then break down who wins men’s college volleyball and why. Awards, freshmen to watch, coaching philosophies, officiating shifts, and the growth of the sport all get a clear, candid look. • Title picks for UCLA, USC and Stanford with reasons • Player of the year cases for Andrew Rowan, Dillon Klein and Jaylen Phillips • Freshman standouts including UCI’s French pipeline and Sosa • Coach of the year criteria and nods to Kniffin, Winder and Pavlik • Technical trends like the two-handed recycle and no-double setting • Juniors officiating contrasts with college play on lifts and throws • NIL gravity and the squeeze on high-academic programs • Program expansion logic at smaller private schools

    39 min
  5. University of the Pacific Men’s Volleyball Returns

    01/12/2025

    University of the Pacific Men’s Volleyball Returns

    The headline is big, but the backstory is bigger: Pacific is bringing back men’s volleyball, and we walk through how it actually happened—step by step, meeting by meeting, and milestone by milestone. From the first conversations with President Callahan to the detailed planning with Athletic Director Adam, we saw how patient leadership, alumni persistence, and the right partners turned a long shot into a green light. We dig into the mechanics behind the moment: why First Point Volleyball Foundation’s involvement mattered, what conference alignment with the MPSF looks like, and how budgets, scholarships, and staffing were mapped before the announcement. Beyond logistics, we explore a core belief that shaped this comeback: men’s and women’s volleyball are stronger together. Cut one and you weaken the culture; invest in both and you raise the floor and the ceiling—better recruiting, bigger crowds, and a campus identity people want to be part of. There’s also a candid look at the enrollment strategy driving decisions at private universities. Men’s volleyball can bring in domestic and international students, boost retention, and anchor community engagement. With that context, we talk about the head coach archetype that fits this moment—a builder who can recruit at speed, fundraise with credibility, and set a standard from day one. Expect some names, some laughs, and a bold attendance line for the home opener that dares Stockton to show up loud. We’re proud, we’re relieved, and we’re ready to help this program thrive. If you want more schools to follow Pacific’s lead, share this with an AD or president who needs a playbook. Subscribe, rate, and pass it along to a volleyball friend—then tell us your pick to lead the Tigers and your over/under for opening night.

    24 min

  6. 10/10/2025

    S3E2: Volleyball Rehab, Death to #GrowTheGame, & Mid-Major Tournaments

    We recap a whirlwind women’s volleyball weekend, break down Stanford vs Louisville with real tactical detail, and lay out a case for mandatory mid-major conference tournaments. We also explain how Bay to Bay chartered flights to save families money and why “grow the game” needs to retire. • Stanford vs Louisville as a gritty benchmark for the 4–10 tier • Louisville setter as the match’s key differentiator • Stanford stronger in the middle, Louisville deeper at the pins • Santa Clara–Pepperdine detour and a St. Mary’s “volleyball rehab” vibe • Packed gym energy and what real community looks like • Why mid-major conferences should host a top-six tournament • Keeping teams alive longer, creating late-season stakes • A rebuttal to “best representative” fears with best-of-five logic • Retiring “grow the game” in favor of confident, concrete action • AVCA convention curation vs salesy sessions, and open debate • How Matt chartered planes and broke the internet with AI • AI mockups, virality, and clear messaging around real logistics • Building The Grape Man event from 10 to 100 teams

    26 min

  7. 30/09/2025

    S3E1: NCAA Women's Volleyball Vibe Check

    We return with a pop-up episode to track the surge in women’s volleyball—national TV windows, marquee kickoff events, and a top tier led by Nebraska and Texas—while naming sleepers that no one wants in a Sweet 16 draw. We also break down Milan’s move to UCLA and grade USA men’s first season of a youth-forward reset. • AVCA First Serve impact, ESPN and Fox spotlight • Nebraska and Texas separating, context on early undefeateds • UCLA’s transfer haul and the Penn State win • Texas practice insights, talent depth, and scheduling • Top 10 snapshot with ASU, TCU, SMU storylines • Sleeper teams that create matchup nightmares • Men’s update: Milan to UCLA and visa questions • USA men graded A- for youth and identity • Plans for an AVCA live lobby show Please let us know if you would like us to keep giving our thoughts on women (volleyball).

    27 min

  8. 13/05/2025

    S2E14: Natty Champs Recap, Long Beach Culture, Too Early Predictions

    Long Beach State secures another national championship with a commanding sweep over UCLA, showcasing their unparalleled team culture and championship mentality. Their "blue collar" approach and ride-or-die brotherhood has created a volleyball program where bench energy is so intense it earned yellow cards during their championship celebration. • Long Beach's first set domination, hitting nearly .800 against UCLA • Moni Nikolov's clutch serving, delivering two consecutive aces when UCLA led 20-18 in the second set • The stark contrast between UCLA's grim timeout huddle and Long Beach's electrified bench • Long Beach volleyball culture as elite, gritty, and built on intense loyalty • Post-match championship F-bomb continuing the Long Beach tradition • Way-too-early predictions for next season's contenders: Hawaii, Stanford, and USC • High school volleyball update with Open Division Championship preview Join us for season three as the podcast may be moving to a new home with some exciting changes ahead!

    32 min
Elenco completo (32)

Descrizione

Grab a drink and a seat at the table with hosts Matt Houlihan, Arielle Houlihan and Chad Gordon as we chat about the world of volleyball, coaching, business, and whatever else Arielle feels like!

Informazioni

  • Creatore
    Matthew Houlihan, Arielle Houlihan, Chad Gordon
  • Anni di attività
    2024 - 2026
  • Puntate
    32
  • Classificazione
    Contenuti espliciti
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Coaches Group Chat
  • Sito web del podcast
    The Coaches Group Chat

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