The transition from player to coach is not always an easy one.

Though coaches are a large part of a team’s success, sometimes there just is not anything that can compare to playing the game you love.

Making this transition from player to coach in 2009 are former Eastern volleyball players Lauren Schutte and Shaina Boylan.

After being part of the team last year under former head coach Lori Bennett, Schutte and Boylan now join the squad as assistant coaches helping out new head coach Alan Segal.

With a new role on the team, and also many new faces, including a first-year head coach to the team, much is different for Schutte and Boylan.

“Everything is basically different from last year. We have a different mentality about winning and about our work ethic that is completely different from last year,” Schutte said. “We have a lot of new girls that are contributing and making an impact right off the bat, which is always exciting.”

Among other changes, the two new assistant coaches have had to adapt to include working with Segal.

“It has been fun working with Alan. When I played in the spring I learned so much just in that short time period and am still continuing to learn,” Schutte said. “Only this time as a coach and not a player.”

Schutte and Boylan are not the only ones excited about being around the team this season as many of their former teammates are also excited to see them back.

“I think that Shaina and Lauren are doing a great job being assistant coaches. They were former players that have an inside look at being a student-athlete here at Eastern,” said junior outside hitter Alex Zwettler. “They know what it takes. I think they give good advice and are a lot of help at practices.”

Though Schutte is excited and enjoys her new role as one of the assistant coaches, her decision to become a coach was a necessity because of injuries she sustained as a player.

“I didn’t really decide to become an assistant this year, it just kind of happened,” Schutte said. “I have a knee injury that has ended my playing career and I wanted to help out with the team in any way that I could.”

Kevin Maras can be reached at 581-7944 or kjmaras@eiu.edu.

Assistant volleyball coaches Shaina Boylan and Lauren Schutte talk with head coach Alan Segal at practice Monday afternoon in Lantz Arena. Boylan and Schutte are both former Eastern players. (Jennifer Meyers/The Daily Eastern News)

(more…)