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Post by cbrown1709 on Jun 25, 2019 23:32:57 GMT -5
And you would have had Baird had Hambly not left.
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Post by notpriddy (COIF) on Jun 26, 2019 6:46:48 GMT -5
And you would have had Baird had Hambly not left. Ouch, that hurt !!! Individual Illinois fans should be able to express their feelings about a previous coach. The perfect coach who is universally loved by all fans does not exist. Heavily invested volleyball fans are going to be disappointed with their team on occasion, and with their head coach. I had mixed experiences with Hambly when he was the coach. I had never talked face to face with Hambly. We did have email exchanges over his time in Champaign-Urbana. I also had an email exchange or two with then assistant volleyball coach Erin Lindsey. As I have said before, I believe Hambly is a good coach. He perhaps deserves the description of being a "player's coach". His strength is building relationships with his players. I feel he is not the best strategist or developer of player skills. The season that Hambly and the Illini were runners-up to UCLA (2011), Illinois had their version of the 'Illinois Dream Team'. The outsides were Michelle Bartsch and Colleen Ward (who had transferred in from Florida). The right side was 6'6" freshman Liz McMahon. McMahon from Ohio had her choice of colleges out of high school, and ultimately ended up picking Hambly and Illinois over Rose and Penn State. The setter was Annie Luhrsen who had transferred in. The two middles were very solid, Anna Dorn and Erin Johnson, as were the defensive 'smalls', Jennifer Beltran (from California) and Rachel Feldman. However, I have always believed perhaps the crucial ingredient for the Dream Team's run was the presence of assistant coach David Kniifin. Whereas, Hambly was crucial for coach-player relationships and team culture, Kniffin may have been instrumental in skill development and game strategy. Kniffin was only with Illinois for that "near Championship Season". The next season he left Illinois to return to California to become head coach of the UC-Irvine men's team. His first season at UCI his men's team won the national championship. After watching Coach Tamas for two seasons, I totally believe Illinois has its 'Dream Coach'. Anyone who thinks Illinois would have made the Final Four last season with Hambly as coach is delusional. Coach Tamas appears to be the whole coaching package...player development, strategies, and player-coach relationships. If we lost one outstanding high school recruit so that we could have Chris Tamas as our coach, I would not say "ouch". I would take that trade any day!
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Post by bkedane on Jun 26, 2019 8:32:59 GMT -5
Individual Illinois fans should be able to express their feelings about a previous coach. The perfect coach who is universally loved by all fans does not exist. Heavily invested volleyball fans are going to be disappointed with their team on occasion, and with their head coach. I had mixed experiences with Hambly when he was the coach. I had never talked face to face with Hambly. We did have email exchanges over his time in Champaign-Urbana. I also had an email exchange or two with then assistant volleyball coach Erin Lindsey. As I have said before, I believe Hambly is a good coach. He perhaps deserves the description of being a "player's coach". His strength is building relationships with his players. I feel he is not the best strategist or developer of player skills. The season that Hambly and the Illini were runners-up to UCLA (2011), Illinois had their version of the 'Illinois Dream Team'. The outsides were Michelle Bartsch and Colleen Ward (who had transferred in from Florida). The right side was 6'6" freshman Liz McMahon. McMahon from Ohio had her choice of colleges out of high school, and ultimately ended up picking Hambly and Illinois over Rose and Penn State. The setter was Annie Luhrsen who had transferred in. The two middles were very solid, Anna Dorn and Erin Johnson, as were the defensive 'smalls', Jennifer Beltran (from California) and Rachel Feldman. However, I have always believed perhaps the crucial ingredient for the Dream Team's run was the presence of assistant coach David Kniifin. Whereas, Hambly was crucial for coach-player relationships and team culture, Kniffin may have been instrumental in skill development and game strategy. Kniffin was only with Illinois for that "near Championship Season". The next season he left Illinois to return to California to become head coach of the UC-Irvine men's team. His first season at UCI his men's team won the national championship. After watching Coach Tamas for two seasons, I totally believe Illinois has its 'Dream Coach'. Anyone who thinks Illinois would have made the Final Four last season with Hambly as coach is delusional. Coach Tamas appears to be the whole coaching package...player development, strategies, and player-coach relationships. If we lost one outstanding high school recruit so that we could have Chris Tamas as our coach, I would not say "ouch". I would take that trade any day! You say that you "feel" that Hambly is weaker with strategy and development than he is with relationships. Do have reasons or evidence that support this? What weaknesses in these areas have you noticed? And you believe that Kniffin "may have" had the key role with game strategy. Is this what the coaches told you? Or is this a guess of yours? Or what?
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Post by ilikewaffles on Jun 26, 2019 8:47:54 GMT -5
Individual Illinois fans should be able to express their feelings about a previous coach. The perfect coach who is universally loved by all fans does not exist. Heavily invested volleyball fans are going to be disappointed with their team on occasion, and with their head coach. I had mixed experiences with Hambly when he was the coach. I had never talked face to face with Hambly. We did have email exchanges over his time in Champaign-Urbana. I also had an email exchange or two with then assistant volleyball coach Erin Lindsey. As I have said before, I believe Hambly is a good coach. He perhaps deserves the description of being a "player's coach". His strength is building relationships with his players. I feel he is not the best strategist or developer of player skills. The season that Hambly and the Illini were runners-up to UCLA (2011), Illinois had their version of the 'Illinois Dream Team'. The outsides were Michelle Bartsch and Colleen Ward (who had transferred in from Florida). The right side was 6'6" freshman Liz McMahon. McMahon from Ohio had her choice of colleges out of high school, and ultimately ended up picking Hambly and Illinois over Rose and Penn State. The setter was Annie Luhrsen who had transferred in. The two middles were very solid, Anna Dorn and Erin Johnson, as were the defensive 'smalls', Jennifer Beltran (from California) and Rachel Feldman. However, I have always believed perhaps the crucial ingredient for the Dream Team's run was the presence of assistant coach David Kniifin. Whereas, Hambly was crucial for coach-player relationships and team culture, Kniffin may have been instrumental in skill development and game strategy. Kniffin was only with Illinois for that "near Championship Season". The next season he left Illinois to return to California to become head coach of the UC-Irvine men's team. His first season at UCI his men's team won the national championship. After watching Coach Tamas for two seasons, I totally believe Illinois has its 'Dream Coach'. Anyone who thinks Illinois would have made the Final Four last season with Hambly as coach is delusional. Coach Tamas appears to be the whole coaching package...player development, strategies, and player-coach relationships. If we lost one outstanding high school recruit so that we could have Chris Tamas as our coach, I would not say "ouch". I would take that trade any day! Are you going to be as bitter about Tamas leaving when Nebraska comes calling ?
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Post by notpriddy (COIF) on Jun 26, 2019 9:56:31 GMT -5
This is my opinion after following Illinois volleyball for the 8 years Hambly was coach. I try to be diplomatic on this website for the most part. Unfortunately, there are posters on VT that just want to argue and troll. Also everyone wants to know the "dirt" on players and coaches for whatever reason. I will give you one crucial example of Kniffin strategizing and influencing the outcome of one very important match. It was the 2011 Final Four semi-final match with USC (Southern California). USC had won the first set 25-27. Illinois came back strong winning the next two sets 25-18 and 25-22. We Illinois fans were feeling good about our chances at this point. Freshman RS, Liz McMahon was having a great match, as were our 6 rotation outsides Michelle Bartsch and Colleen Ward. However, USC came back in the 4th 18-25 to force a crucial 5th set. It would seem after USC won the 4th set, that momentum had swung to the Women of Troy. Nail-biting time for both sides. The winner would go onto the National Championship match. USC was in a historically very familiar position. Illinois had not been in the Final Four since Mike Hebert was the coach in 1988. In that semi-final match Illinois did not play well. They had an international player on that team who was crucial for the Illini's success throughout the season. However, as I remember, for whatever reason, she had a lot of trouble passing in that match, particularly early. Illinois lost the first set 1-15 and eventually lost the match 1-3. Anyway, back to set 5 in 2011. Illinois ended up taking the 5th set. As I recall it was Kniffin who said after the match that there was a crucial decision to be made about which rotation Illinois would use in the fifth set. He said once the teams took the floor, he knew Illinois was going to win, because the 'staff' had made the right decision about rotation and match-ups. My 'sense' is that Kniffin made the crucial call.
As far as player development goes, I never particularly noticed any significant improvement in any player on the team throughout the Hambly years. In fact, the aforementioned Liz McMahon's best match may have been that semi-final match vs. USC her freshman season. I am a Jordyn Poulter fan, and to my estimation, her play seemed to be plateauing by her sophomore season under Hambly and setter coach Lindsey . There did not seem to be a lot of joy in her play. Once Tamas became the coach her junior season, she seemed to start showing more joy and leadership on the floor. It seemed like it was a win for everyone once Hambly decided to take the job at Stanford. I am certainly glad he did.
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Post by notpriddy (COIF) on Jun 26, 2019 10:06:39 GMT -5
Individual Illinois fans should be able to express their feelings about a previous coach. The perfect coach who is universally loved by all fans does not exist. Heavily invested volleyball fans are going to be disappointed with their team on occasion, and with their head coach. I had mixed experiences with Hambly when he was the coach. I had never talked face to face with Hambly. We did have email exchanges over his time in Champaign-Urbana. I also had an email exchange or two with then assistant volleyball coach Erin Lindsey. As I have said before, I believe Hambly is a good coach. He perhaps deserves the description of being a "player's coach". His strength is building relationships with his players. I feel he is not the best strategist or developer of player skills. The season that Hambly and the Illini were runners-up to UCLA (2011), Illinois had their version of the 'Illinois Dream Team'. The outsides were Michelle Bartsch and Colleen Ward (who had transferred in from Florida). The right side was 6'6" freshman Liz McMahon. McMahon from Ohio had her choice of colleges out of high school, and ultimately ended up picking Hambly and Illinois over Rose and Penn State. The setter was Annie Luhrsen who had transferred in. The two middles were very solid, Anna Dorn and Erin Johnson, as were the defensive 'smalls', Jennifer Beltran (from California) and Rachel Feldman. However, I have always believed perhaps the crucial ingredient for the Dream Team's run was the presence of assistant coach David Kniifin. Whereas, Hambly was crucial for coach-player relationships and team culture, Kniffin may have been instrumental in skill development and game strategy. Kniffin was only with Illinois for that "near Championship Season". The next season he left Illinois to return to California to become head coach of the UC-Irvine men's team. His first season at UCI his men's team won the national championship. After watching Coach Tamas for two seasons, I totally believe Illinois has its 'Dream Coach'. Anyone who thinks Illinois would have made the Final Four last season with Hambly as coach is delusional. Coach Tamas appears to be the whole coaching package...player development, strategies, and player-coach relationships. If we lost one outstanding high school recruit so that we could have Chris Tamas as our coach, I would not say "ouch". I would take that trade any day! Are you going to be as bitter about Tamas leaving when Nebraska comes calling ? I am going to answer this question by channeling an often used response when politicians are asked a similar question, "I don't answer hypothetical questions!"
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Post by notpriddy (COIF) on Jun 26, 2019 10:08:08 GMT -5
By the way, I am not bitter about Hambly leaving. It was a totally win-win situation. Everybody wins!
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Post by ilikewaffles on Jun 26, 2019 10:15:37 GMT -5
By the way, I am not bitter about Hambly leaving. It was a totally win-win situation. Everybody wins! Maybe not now, but you will be when Nebraska poaches Tamas.
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Post by northwoods on Jun 26, 2019 10:30:45 GMT -5
By the way, I am not bitter about Hambly leaving. It was a totally win-win situation. Everybody wins! Maybe not now, but you will be when Nebraska poaches Tamas. He’s more likely to head back to Cali to take over the USANT next quad than move up to Nebraska.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 26, 2019 10:35:55 GMT -5
This is my opinion after following Illinois volleyball for the 8 years Hambly was coach. I try to be diplomatic on this website for the most part. Unfortunately, there are posters on VT that just want to argue and troll. Also everyone wants to know the "dirt" on players and coaches for whatever reason. I found this part of your post amusing. I have been observing this board long enough to know there are many topics for which you are not at all diplomatic and don't appear to try. And, at those times it would have been reasonable to have called you a troll. There were times I recall when you and vawbaw/platypus were on the same side of an argument. Being on the same side of an argument with that clown is never a good thing. So, yeah, thanks for the morning chuckle.
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Post by illinoisportsfan on Jun 26, 2019 10:54:30 GMT -5
Individual Illinois fans should be able to express their feelings about a previous coach. The perfect coach who is universally loved by all fans does not exist. Heavily invested volleyball fans are going to be disappointed with their team on occasion, and with their head coach. I had mixed experiences with Hambly when he was the coach. I had never talked face to face with Hambly. We did have email exchanges over his time in Champaign-Urbana. I also had an email exchange or two with then assistant volleyball coach Erin Lindsey. As I have said before, I believe Hambly is a good coach. He perhaps deserves the description of being a "player's coach". His strength is building relationships with his players. I feel he is not the best strategist or developer of player skills. The season that Hambly and the Illini were runners-up to UCLA (2011), Illinois had their version of the 'Illinois Dream Team'. The outsides were Michelle Bartsch and Colleen Ward (who had transferred in from Florida). The right side was 6'6" freshman Liz McMahon. McMahon from Ohio had her choice of colleges out of high school, and ultimately ended up picking Hambly and Illinois over Rose and Penn State. The setter was Annie Luhrsen who had transferred in. The two middles were very solid, Anna Dorn and Erin Johnson, as were the defensive 'smalls', Jennifer Beltran (from California) and Rachel Feldman. However, I have always believed perhaps the crucial ingredient for the Dream Team's run was the presence of assistant coach David Kniifin. Whereas, Hambly was crucial for coach-player relationships and team culture, Kniffin may have been instrumental in skill development and game strategy. Kniffin was only with Illinois for that "near Championship Season". The next season he left Illinois to return to California to become head coach of the UC-Irvine men's team. His first season at UCI his men's team won the national championship. After watching Coach Tamas for two seasons, I totally believe Illinois has its 'Dream Coach'. Anyone who thinks Illinois would have made the Final Four last season with Hambly as coach is delusional. Coach Tamas appears to be the whole coaching package...player development, strategies, and player-coach relationships. If we lost one outstanding high school recruit so that we could have Chris Tamas as our coach, I would not say "ouch". I would take that trade any day! Are you going to be as bitter about Tamas leaving when Nebraska comes calling ? I don't know of any Illinois fans who were bitter about Hambly leaving. As others have mentioned, his tenure started out with lots of promise but things had been trending down for a while. I think all Illinois fans were very happy with replacing Hambly with Tamas and it's worked out for both sides.
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Post by notpriddy (COIF) on Jun 26, 2019 11:24:10 GMT -5
This is my opinion after following Illinois volleyball for the 8 years Hambly was coach. I try to be diplomatic on this website for the most part. Unfortunately, there are posters on VT that just want to argue and troll. Also everyone wants to know the "dirt" on players and coaches for whatever reason. I found this part of your post amusing. I have been observing this board long enough to know there are many topics for which you are not at all diplomatic and don't appear to try. And, at those times it would have been reasonable to have called you a troll. There were times I recall when you and vawbaw/platypus were on the same side of an argument. Being on the same side of an argument with that clown is never a good thing. So, yeah, thanks for the morning chuckle. I have no idea what topics you are talking about. I will say again, that I try not to participate in much of the arguing that goes on here on VT. Obviously, my statement must have touched a nerve with you. Peace Out!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 26, 2019 11:43:41 GMT -5
I found this part of your post amusing. I have been observing this board long enough to know there are many topics for which you are not at all diplomatic and don't appear to try. And, at those times it would have been reasonable to have called you a troll. There were times I recall when you and vawbaw/platypus were on the same side of an argument. Being on the same side of an argument with that clown is never a good thing. So, yeah, thanks for the morning chuckle. I have no idea what topics you are talking about. I will say again, that I try not to participate in much of the arguing that goes on here on VT. Obviously, my statement must have touched a nerve with you. Peace Out! Your target seemed to be Wisconsin quite often. Either anti-Sheffield, or angry about the Clark transfer. Or both
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Post by notpriddy (COIF) on Jun 26, 2019 13:29:25 GMT -5
I have no idea what topics you are talking about. I will say again, that I try not to participate in much of the arguing that goes on here on VT. Obviously, my statement must have touched a nerve with you. Peace Out! Your target seemed to be Wisconsin quite often. Either anti-Sheffield, or angry about the Clark transfer. Or both Okay, I will play your game. First off I have never heard of vawbaw and platypus. They must like to play your game as well. As far as Wisconsin goes, I have had issues with Wisconsin volleyball since Pete Waite was the coach. As far as Kelly Sheffield goes, I was pushing for his selection as a replacement to Waite on VT. If you check Sheffield's Dayton schedules, Illinois played the Flyers several times. I even was there at Dayton's little gym for the Dayton Flyer Classic 2012. That was a rough year for the Illini after the previous season of reaching the Final Four. That season Illinois' record was 14-16 overall 8-12 in the B1G. I watched Illinois lose to Sheffield's Dayton team 0-3 that year in front of a loud packed little Dayton Gym. My recollection was that the announcer was ear-shatteringly loud. Beyond that match, I was impressed with the 3 or 4 times Illinois went up against Dayton's Sheffield. Without checking I believe Dayton was 1-3 vs. Illinois. However, even in the losses, Dayton was always competitive, a credit to Sheffield. I have also divulged over the years that my father's brother, my uncle, was a long time professor at the University of Wisconsin. He retired as the Dean of the Education Department some years ago. He and his wife reside in a retirement home just outside of Madison. I have been to sporting events in Madison with my uncle, and cheered for the Badgers. Coach Waite did a thing or two as coach such as rescind a promised scholarship to a player that caused a lot of furor on VT. I participated in that furor. I was also critical of the Wisconsin coaches and also the B1G officials in the Clark transfer case. At the time, it was my understanding that if a player transferred to another conference school, they would be required to sit out a year and lose a year of eligibility. My understanding was that Clark (who seemed to be very open about the process) was quite willing to accept the rules as mandated to transfer. Then, with the Wisconsin coaches urging, Clark petitioned the B1G to be allowed to play immediately without the loss of year of eligibility. Clark again was very forthright in saying that she was very thankful in the assistance provided to her by the Badger coaching staff to make her appeal. Read into that what you will. I was under the impression that the only way a interconference (or is it intraconference) player would immediately be eligible was if there were extenuating circumstances. Was there an extenuating reason why Clark was transferring from Michigan to Wisconsin. The waiver was granted, and no reason was ever given why Clark was allowed to transfer. This was also happening at a time when the B1G office was rumored to be full of apprentices from UW, who were making the B1G Player-of-the-Week choices. Since that time I have evolved on the issue. And, if you follow recent posts about Barnes transferring from Minny to Wisky, my last posting on that was that I wished Barnes well! I cannot say over the 2,700 plus postings over the years that I have not been involved in other arguments. I do want to express that my goal in participating on Volleytalk is out of my interest in volleyball generally, and the promotion of Fighting Illini Volleyball specifically. I read Volleytalk daily, and try not to participate in the vitriol that goes on here. I get my fill of that reading political news!
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Post by ironman88 on Jun 26, 2019 14:08:53 GMT -5
Summer school starts today. Do we know if all of the recruits made it to campus?
I've been waiting and hoping for responses to this 6/10 post by Brucks. Nothing!
C'mon friends, surely we have supporters from the campus area who have heard bits & pieces about the new Illini recruits - including those newbies who reported in early June and/or those who did not.
And what's the word about our transfer. Bruna was present but not participating at the open team practice in late May. (She worked conditioning drills entirely on her own the entire session.)
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