Redmond set to lead NPHS girls' volleyball squad

NEW BOSS-Brock Redmond, a Thousand Oaks graduate, will enter his first season as head coach at Newbury Park. Many of the girls on Newbury Park High's volleyball team have already played for new head coach Brock Redmond. Now Redmond is trying to get his team familiar with winning again.

After a disappointing 2005 season in which the Panthers girls' volleyball record fell to 4-16, Newbury Park handed the head coaching job to Redmond. With 15 players at NPHS having previously played for Redmond on his club team, everything seems to be running smooth in practice for the team.

"We're using the same system that the girls who have played for me in the past used," Redmond said. "We have a huge advantage with a lot of players already knowing it from their days of me coaching them previously."

Even though this is Redmond's first year coaching at NPHS, he comes with a lot of experience.

After graduating from Thousand Oaks High in 2000, Redmond went to Pierce College to continue playing volleyball. After red shirting his freshmen season there, Redmond was part of a great team in 2001, in which the team finished the season undefeated at 18-0.

As far as coaching experience goes, Redmond has spent time at Thousand Oaks, Oak Park, Westlake, Cal Lutheran and Sequoia Junior High, as well as his club team.

Though he has coached at many places, Redmond still prefers the high school level to college.

"I also coach the freshmen team here as I want to get a hold of these girls before they start forming bad habits," Redmond said. "I guess I don't want any other coaches corrupting their skills before they play for me."

Redmond's system is based on what the United States Olympic team uses, stressing drills that teach how to skillfully set up a defense and shuffle block. So far, Redmond likes the progress he has seen.

"We have improved 100 percent from where we started to where we are now," Redmond said. "From what I hear there were a lot of personality conflicts on the team last year. I've just told them 'Hey, I've been to places you haven't been and if you listen and trust me then we'll win.'"

Redmond credits a lot of his success to his former coaches at Thousand Oaks, Robert Harr and James Park. Redmond had never played volleyball until high school when his best friend convinced him to try out.

"Everything I know about volleyball I learned from them," Redmond said. "Like my family, they have had a huge influence on me with volleyball."

When Redmond isn't coaching NPHS, there's a good chance he may be working with his club teams, which he started five years ago.

His club team in the age 15 girls' league recently finished 27th in the nation, with teams coming as far as Puerto Rico to play in the championship tournament. With many of the club players coming to play for Redmond at NPHS, the Panthers look to be headed in the right direction.

"Our goal is to make the top four in the league and make playoffs," Redmond said. "If we make playoffs, anything can happen."