'I love the school so much.' 2019 Lancer grad Zach Harvey takes over La Salle volleyball

Zach Harvey knew he wanted to be a coach, he just didn't know his varsity opportunity would come so quickly. Harvey, named the head volleyball coach for La Salle in January, is just five years removed from playing for the Lancers himself.

A 2019 graduate of La Salle, Harvey talks about his quick return to the sidelines for the Lancers, how he handles players and parents as a 23-year-old varsity head coach and how La Salle can get back into competition against the other three teams in the Greater Catholic League-South.

Question: It wasn’t too long ago you were suiting up for La Salle. How were your four years, including being named the Division II Player of the Year in 2019?

Answer: “Those four years were incredible for me. I was a four-year varsity player. I had two different coaches in my time there and I think being so young and playing on varsity as a freshman elevated my game. For one, the competition that the GCL-South will bring and two, I think it forced me into a leadership position. By the time I got to my junior and senior years, I had played a bunch of different positions (that) showed what I could provide for the team.

“As you mentioned, my junior and senior year, we went to the state Final Four. I think ultimately when I got the opportunity to come back to La Salle to coach was mainly that I love the school, that I love the program and those two years set a fire inside of me. We fell short both years and there was just something about it that when the opportunity arose, I had to come back because I felt that I left with a void. There was that passion that I couldn’t get over. Even though I can’t play any more obviously, it was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.”

Question: After graduating in 2019, how did you keep up with the sport during your college years?

Answer: “I played intramural here and there throughout being at UC. Once I graduated from La Salle I just wanted to focus on school. Obviously, school and college take a ton out of you so I wanted to put that first since I knew my future career was going to become more important. I always stuck around. I went to different matches when I could, tried to play sand. I played intramurals. I tried to stay as actively involved as possible because I knew my career would come to an end as a player, but there would be room for me to get into coaching.”

Question: Did you think the coaching thing would come so quickly?

Answer: “Not at all. I graduated from UC in April of 2023 and that was when I had some free time open up. I actually started with girls. I started coaching at St. James with seventh- and eighth-grade girls. I happened to see the La Salle position open up and it was one of those things where I felt I had to put my name in the ring. I knew eventually down the line I wanted to be able to take the program over and the position became available so I thought, ‘Why not?’ Brian Meyer, the athletic director at La Salle, has been so supportive."

Question: What was the application process like and how did they finally offer you the job?

Answer: “It was a pretty intensive interview process. I think a lot of it comes with age. How do you handle these situations whether it be with parents or kids? How do you not become too friendly with the players because I’m that far in age removed from them? That was a lot of it. Testing if I could handle it. After that, it was about a month later I received an offer letter from the school saying how excited they were to bring an alumnus back and how important that is to the school.

“Longevity is going to be my best asset. I love the school so much. Having the opportunity to come back this soon after college and hopefully being around for a long, long time is a great feeling.”

Question: What were some of your answers to those questions? Did you have an apprehension about being so close in age to the players?

Answer: “It was so important for me to stand on a line from the very beginning. I think a lot of the guys coming in were probably thinking the same thing like, ‘Wow we just brought in a 23-year-old as our varsity head coach in one of the hardest divisions in the country.’ I think a lot of it was coming in, being firm and standing on a point of emphasis that we can be friendly, but we’re going to compete. That was the biggest thing, coming in earning their respect. They weren’t going to push me over, but also I want those guys to become the best versions of themselves.

“A lot comes down to what I said before. I left the school with my volleyball career in a spot where I felt like we didn’t finish the job. Coming back I have even more passion because I can’t be ... on the court and now my success and career goes through these guys. They want to win. I want to win. They want to compete at the highest level and it is up to me and our coaching staff to get them to the highest level.”

Question: Tell me about a player like Harrison Hausfeld. He just swings his arm off and it’s fair to say your team runs through him.

Answer: “Harrison Hausfeld is just absolutely phenomenal. Everybody in the city when we go places, they know him. Our team rides through him and he is a phenomenal player and it is amazing how much bigger of a leader he is. Sometimes when you get players that are that good, they’re in their own head because they feel so much pressure. He doesn’t at all. He is an incredible player and an incredible teammate. He’s always lifting people up and the way he goes, we go. He knows that and if he’s down on himself it translates, but he never is.”

Question: You have a pair of Harrisons on your team with Hausfeld and Harrison Wood. How do those guys help run your team?

Answer: “They’re both our outsides. Aidan Feeley, our setter, loves utilizing them as much as possible. I think a lot of that is because they all have experience together. They all grew up in the program together. I know Harrison Hausfeld’s been on varsity all four years. Harrison Wood and Feeley have been on varsity since they were sophomores and they have a lot of experience and lot of connection together.”

Question: On March 9, you coached your first two games and got two wins. Was there any reaction to getting those out of the way with a pair of wins?

Answer: “It felt great. Going from seventh- and eighth-grade girls to varsity boys, man, it is a total change up of pace on that one. Going into it I didn’t know what to expect. We had some great practices going into it and I knew I had some high potential for this team. Those first two, getting them under the belt was super relieving and it set us up for what the rest of the season was going to look like.

“We’re 7-2 so far this season. We lost to a really, really good Elder team and we lost to a really, really good St. Xavier team. Those are the only two losses on our record, but those first two wins set the tone for what we can be.”

Question: When it comes to the GCL-South in volleyball, La Salle is usually the odd man out in the conference. Going through it as a player and now a coach, what can change to get La Salle back into the mix with some conference wins?

Answer: “This is crazy, but I have a good stat. We haven’t won a GCL match since 2011. I’ve been through it as a player and so far as a coach I’ve seen it twice now. I think it is just confidence. I truly believe that we have one of the best lineups in the state. I really believe it. I think we can compete with all these teams. I think we’re right there with them, but we have that mindset of how do we get past them? These seniors have been through it for three years now where they also haven’t been able to get over that hump. Going into it, we feel a little more pressure than against some of these other teams. As a coach you get them to calm down and believe in themselves. We shouldn’t be scared we’re playing them; they should be scared they’re playing us.

“We played Elder really tight at Elder. We played St. X at home and those weren’t as great, but we were right there. Just a couple runs sneak away from you and then you’re out of it. You have to stick with them. You have to play tough and you have to limit your mistakes.

“These guys are super talented and the best part of it is our guys play club with all their guys. You’re playing with them year-round. You’re on their teams and you know that you’re just as good as them. You know that you’re as talented as them. You just have to believe in yourself and you have to believe in each other.”

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Zach Harvey leads La Salle volleyball just 5 years after graduating