February 20, 2008
Volleyball clinic features former Olympic coach
CARBONDALE, Ill. — How often can someone in Southern Illinois tap the expertise of an Olympic coach?
That rare opportunity, along with the chance for a fun day of physical education and health learning and networking, is coming to Southern Illinois University Carbondale March 6-7 in a two-event format. It's the Women's Volleyball Pre-conference Clinic and the Fourth Annual Southern Illinois Physical Education and Health Conference.
Mick Haley, former U.S. women's Olympic volleyball coach and current University of Southern California volleyball coach, will return to his alma mater for the Pre-Conference Volleyball Clinic from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., March 6, at Davies Hall. Joining Haley is J. Barry Shaw, professor of exercise science at Schreiner University in Kerrville, Texas.
Haley and Shaw will conduct the daylong clinic, focusing on volleyball offense, defense, tactics, court management, skills and drills. They'll also answer questions and talk with participants about the various aspects of the game. It's an intense, high-level clinic for coaches, officials, parents and college players, as well as graduating seniors who aren't going to compete in a spring sport. Sponsored by the SIUC Department of Continuing Education, participants can get credit for clinic participation.
After earning his master's in education in 1966 from SIUC, where he started a men's club volleyball team and worked as a graduate assistant, Haley has amassed a 904-210-1 career women's record, including 653 wins and 160 losses at the Division I level. That ranks him sixth on the list of top winning active NCAA coaches. He's led teams to four Division I women's national championships and six overall junior college national titles. He has been named National Coach of the Year three times.
Including men and women's team coaching duties, his overall record is 1,001 wins and 260 losses. After coaching the USA women's national squad to a fourth-place finish at the Sydney, Australia Olympic Games, Haley took over the Trojans' program.
"This is a great opportunity for the volleyball community," said Tony Calabrese, SIUC kinesiology instructor. "How many times do we get someone here who is a former women's Olympic volleyball coach? Mick Haley is also an SIU alumnus and was a graduate assistant here. He's had a very successful career. Last season, his team placed in the top four in the nation."
The clinic's cost, including a meal card for lunch at the Student Center Food Court, is $70 for coaches and other adults and $45 for students and players. For registration information, contact Lana Campbell at SIUC 's Division of Continuing Education at 618/536-7751 or via e-mail at lanac@siu.edu. The registration deadline is 4 p.m. March 4 and you can also sign up online at www.dce.siu.edu.
Physical education and health instructors and team builders will also be at SIUC for the fourth annual Southern Illinois Physical Education and Health Conference on March 7. Set for 8 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. at Davies Hall, its sponsors are the SIUC kinesiology department and the Illinois Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (IAHPERD). Organizers emphasize it's a full day of hands-on learning with elementary, middle and high school sessions and speakers.
Tentative sessions slated include obesity, health, jump rope for heart, teambuilding, wellness mandate, yoga, self-defense, grant writing, standards, networking, fitness and technology, adventure education, Frisbees and boomerangs, cup stacking competition, athletic training, environmental education, climbing wall participation, orienteering and characteristics of the millennial student. The conference offers Continuing Professional Development Units.
Those pre-registering pay $45 if they're members of IAHPERD. Non-members pay $95 but that includes an IAHPERD membership. SIUC kinesiology students can participate free and student memberships are available for $20. On-site registration the day of the event is $55 for IAHPERD members and $105 for non-members. The cost includes a customized sandwich lunch. For additional information, look online at www.iahperd.org or contact the SIUC kinesiology department, 618/536-2431 or Tony Calabrese, at 618/893-2211.