Best vb mind for strategy?

[vboitoi]

Make your choice.

[doctordubya]

Given that the poll question says 'in the USA', I will risk the wrath of many on this board by picking Al Scates - but with a caveat.

That is, Al Scates has the best volleyball mind for on-court strategy in the USA with a squad that he has coached throughout the season

Whatever people think about Scates as a person, there is little doubt that he has proven himself to be very skilled at putting together a squad of players for whom he knows individual strengths and how and when to employ them in match situations. He has also shown himself to be superior to other top US coaches in translating scouting knowledge into on-court tactics during key matches.

I think it is no coincidence that UCLA has underperformed following the switch to rally scoring. The shorter games have nullified two traditional UCLA advantages:

1) shorter matches means UCLA opponents, who tend to use a small core group of starters and so would be fatigued after a long season of side-out matches, are now less tired when play-off time comes (UCLA's large squad system meant their players would always be fresher at the end of the season)

2) rally point games are shorter and place less emphasis on the role of the coach (in making substitutions, adjusting match-ups, block and defence tactics etc)