(admin) Posted
Friday, March 03, 2023 – 04:30 PM
BLUEFIELD – Keven John has hit the ground operating as new men’s volleyball coach at Bluefield University. John, arriving on campus Monday, February 27, has already fulfilled with likely recruits on campus and appears to be like to have a full roster when the 2024 time rolls all around.
John will come to Bluefield immediately after spending the past two seasons as head women’s coach at NCAA Division II Glenville (W.Va.) Condition University.
John’s university vocation began the common way as he was an invited stroll-on to Brigham Younger College. John required to get into coaching and as a substitute of going to BYU he attended junior college or university at Colorado Northwestern Group College or university in which he coached and attended school at the same time. He then attended Mesa Point out, now recognized as Colorado Mesa. He afterwards attended the United States Athletics Academy, an online institution and acquired a diploma.
Prior to Glenville Condition, John coached 3 seasons at Northern Vermont College-Johnson. Prior to Northern Vermont University-Johnson, he invested 4 seasons as head women’s volleyball mentor at NCAA Division II Western Condition Colorado University. Prior to Western Condition Colorado, John was head women’s volleyball mentor at NJCAA Division I Snow School in Utah for a few seasons. Although at Snow College or university, John fulfilled his foreseeable future spouse, Dana, who was his assistant at Glenville Condition. Soon after remaining wed, the couple requested some issues of every single other.
“Soon after we bought married, we requested what do we want out of daily life? What do we want to get out of our future 40 a long time? And both of us desired land, the potential to be in the place, and the way Colorado was, we just couldn’t manage it any more,” John mentioned. “I started off wanting for the appropriate climate, what we required, hills, nation, and I form of targeted West Virginia, western Virginia, and western North Carolina as where by we desired to be. So, I just commenced implementing for employment in those people regions and exploring and finished up in Glenville right after a limited stint at Northern Vermont University.”
When questioned why he arrived to Bluefield from Glenville Condition, John reported it was about religion.
“I was on the lookout for a little something much more religion centered where I could really pray rather of executing what you wished to do. When this popped open up, I satisfied the assistant from last 12 months, Mike Jacobs at a match down below when my ladies ended up playing Bluefield Point out. He and I had a very long discussion and he pointed out me to the Advertisement and it variety of organically happened, which was excellent,” John said.
BU did not industry a men’s volleyball team this season. Former head mentor Alfonso Alvarez took the head coaching place at Campbellsville University, and most of the returning gamers transferred to other educational institutions, leaving only 3 gamers on the BU campus. John realizes a person speedy activity is recruiting.
“We are heading to have to get some folks. We are going to have to toss some spaghetti at the wall and see what sticks. We are likely to have to do some broad recruiting, strike a ton of people and see who is fascinated in going to faculty right here. It can be not a calendar year where by we are making an attempt to carry in five, we are heading to test to deliver in 10.” John reported. “That’s going to be a problem correct there, just acquiring numbers, and obviously good quality figures is something that is heading to be a challenge far too. The system is to get some transfers where by we are not just bringing in a massive freshman course and they will not see themselves on the ground in the potential. We are attempting to mix it up and produce sort of a traditional seeking crew right from the get go.”
A few customers of the former team at BU are seniors and John suggests those people players have a huge decision to make, will they use the year they get back again from not acquiring a staff this period and the Covid yr? Will they continue to be and be part of the new way or transfer on with their daily life programs. John suggests all those conversations are ongoing.
John explained his coaching style as a cooperative mentor with command tendencies.
“I like to get input from my players, coaches, every person all-around me and then with the concept that too several cooks spoil the soup, then make a conclusion on the way we go,” John stated.
Individuals attending BU men’s volleyball or looking at on the Rams Electronic Sporting activities Community will see enjoyable action when the Rams just take the court.
“I like fast tempos. I like middles who are in the air in advance of the set. I like managing a tempo the place the other aspect essentially has to make choices in advance of they see what is actually going on. That’s what I like to do. I like to make the other aspect have to opt for, flip a coin and make a decision what they are likely to do. Velocity kills. There is no query about it. It is really just one of the ideal matters in volleyball. If you can efficiently run rapidly, you are heading to be a challenging, challenging crew to engage in,” John claimed.
BU men’s volleyball appears to be like to have additional than a campus presence and identity.
“We are heading to attain out. We are likely to be a large portion of the community,” John stated. “If any one has any thoughts about group service, points like that, I would love to hear from people today. We are likely to be putting on some event evenings and things for the men’s staff. We are likely to be carrying out College Appreciation Nights, making an attempt to get ties with nearby higher colleges and get teams in to view us enjoy, even if it is really the female side. We want to the volleyball group in this spot as significantly as we can. We want to operate some camps, some satellite camps. We just actually want to dip our toe into the local community as shortly as feasible and determine out how we can enable and be component of it. To that conclusion we are super energized to get to know everybody.”
Bluefield University
Men’s Volleyball
Appalachian Athletic Convention
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