Britney Hewitt talks 'challenging and exciting' first year as Stroudsburg volleyball coach
After a standout career at Stroudsburg High School and Kutztown University, Britney Hewitt returned to her alma mater to lead the girls varsity volleyball team. She sat down with the Pocono Record to talk about her first year as head coach, along with her plans for next season.
Transcript has been lightly edited.
Talk about your first year as head varsity volleyball coach at your alma mater
My first year has been very challenging and exciting. It was very exciting for me to be able to coach at my alma mater. I knew many of the girls from substituting, and they always asked, "Hey, Coach B, can you coach us in the winter?" "Could you help us?" "Could you be around?" I always said, "I can't; you have a coach." And when they didn't have a coach, I thought, "Now I don't have an excuse not to." So it was fun doing that. It's been a challenge dealing with my own team and just being in this Stroudsburg environment. I've always been an assistant or a JV. So, being a head coach for Stroudsburg has been a lot of pressure, but good pressure.
What have you learned, good or bad, that you didn't know before becoming a head varsity coach?
Check your email 24/7. Live on your phone constantly. I think I'm on my phone more than I am anywhere else. I try to be a very present coach. And there's always something to do, whether it's for the girls, the parents, the boss, the athletic directors. Anybody is always trying to reach you and contact you, and it's so important to be that outlet for everybody to connect. So I think that is that's been like the biggest thing for me as being a connection for everybody to get what they need.
When you played against Pleasant Valley, it seems like all the players have bought into your philosophy
The biggest thing moving in was the fact that there were a lot of individuals on the team, but not one team. And from the jump, of course, we went through skill work and all that stuff, but my most important thing this year was to get a team of girls who are on the same page mentally, emotionally and physically, so it's been great. I'm glad that they bought in.
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What were your goals coming into this year, and did you accomplish them?
Yes, I did accomplish my goals because my goals were to be there for them mentally, emotionally and to teach them the basics of volleyball that they should already know but did not know. That's with positioning on the court; every team has complimented us on being able to know where we should be on the court, looking organized in defense. Mental health-wise, I even set up a Google Classroom for Suicide Prevention Month. And every day they got a call to learn mindfulness, coping techniques and self-positivity.
What else did you learn about your players?
The girls are tough, they're relentless and they want to be better. They want to be better so bad, their desperation to be better is what drove me. I tell them I used to Google "how to be a better coach" because they'll come to me with questions that I don't even know, but I want to know what it is.
You played collegiate volleyball. How do you help your players with the recruitment process?
Getting stats in was my biggest thing because I know that they want their stats. I'm also being realistic with them about what I know coaches are looking for in college. I played two different sports in college; I understand the whole process. So I try to coach them in a way that they know, "This is what you're going to have to see at the higher level." You know what I mean? You're not going to get this position just because you're a high school superstar. Like, this is how you play as a team. It's not about you. It's about the team.
You now have all these memories and experiences from your first year. What are your personal and team goals for the second year as head coach of Stroudsburg girls' volleyball?
Wow. We're going to be doing a lot of offseason workouts and tournaments, and I will keep pushing them because I don't want them to let up, and I want them to know that I'm here for them and present year-round. So next year, I'm hoping we are a little bit more competitive towards the North Division and hopefully get up there and make more wins. We need a couple more wins so that we're competitive in the North Division. I really want us to be able to take that home because I believe we can.
This article originally appeared on Pocono Record: Q&A with first-year Stroudsburg volleyball coach Britney Hewitt
