This episode of the 35,000 Feet podcast, we got the opportunity to talk with the head coach of women’s volleyball at University of the Incarnate Word, Samantha Dabbs Thomas. In our time talking with her, Sam shares stories and experiences about growing up immersed in the world of volleyball, coaching during a rough season, as well as how volleyball was able to take her, and her team, to many incredible places around the world!

Highs and Lows of the 2019 University of the Incarnate Word Volleyball Season

Sam: It was a rough season for us this year. I took over the program just under two years ago and it's been one of those things where they've transitioned from division two to division one. And so, now competing at a little bit of a higher level and making sure that we're focusing on recruiting and getting the right kind of kids here that want to definitely be a part of changing a culture, changing a program. So it's been fun. There's been a bunch of highs and lows but obviously there's been a lot more highs than there have been lows here. And I'm super excited to be back here in San Antonio because I was actually born and raised here in San Antonio.

And then I left, in 2006, I left San Antonio, went off to play in college and then got into coaching right away. So when this opportunity opened up, it was kind of too perfect to pass up, become a head coach for the first time in my career and then be back home where there's family and there's some roots and familiar faces and stuff.

So, this past season was a tough year for us being year two and talking to a lot of mentors and people that I love and respect in the game. They all said that year one is kind of going in and kind of feeling the waters. You're kind of getting a feel for the university, how you can recruit to the program. Basically you're just learning, you're just kind of going in every single day and learning something new, which is awesome. And then year two is the toughest year.

And I didn't believe a lot of coaches and mentors that I talked to when they said that because I didn't understand why would year two be harder than year one. And they were absolutely right because now you're starting to kind of change the culture, you're starting to change the program in different areas and you need time. But it's been great, I've absolutely loved being back in San Antonio and being around friends and family that are here and just growing the sport and growing the game here at the university has been really, really exciting.

Shianne: Well that's awesome. I think that's just a really cool insight that you have. Like, hey, it's only going to get better. We kind of got over that hump of the hard year, and you can only go up from here, right?

Sam: Absolutely. Yeah. I mean that's how you got to look at it when you're changing anything, the dynamics or the cultures of any program. It's definitely harder at first, and it's humbling, and that's the biggest word that I can describe to anyone who's going to be going on a journey like this, is that it's a very humbling experience. But your support system is the most important thing to get you through something when you're making changes because nobody likes change whether it's for the good or bad. No one's very comfortable with change. But my support system with my husband, my immediate family, friends, all of that, my mentors, they have been huge for me on those tough days that you are going to encounter when you are going through something like this.

Shianne: Yeah. No, I love that. I totally agree with you where you really need a good support system in every aspect of whatever you're doing, whether it's coaching and of job or really anything. I love that.

Growing up in the Volleyball World

Shianne: I hear that you were kind of a volleyball all star player even in college when you were just a player. You were on the national team for a little bit. You played in Croatia, you played at LSU. Can you kind of tell us about that?

Sam: Yeah. So I grew up in a sports family. My parents were athletes and I have two older siblings. I have an older sister who was a swimmer and a basketball player and I have an older brother who was a baseball and football player. And he ended up actually playing in college. And so, having him be four years ahead of me kind of helped me kind of see what growing up having club practices or tournaments on the weekend. I kind of was just always around sports, like some kind of sport was going on, my family was there on the weekends or throughout the week shuffling back and forth between practices.

I already grew up kind of with that mindset of time management and understanding, hey, you got to get home and do your homework before you can get in the car and go to practice. And so that really kind of helped mold me as a child growing up. And then, volleyball, I just fell in love with it in the third grade. I kind of started playing a little bit for the local YMCA team. Then the CYO team, like just local leagues around here in the city of San Antonio. And I just fell in love with the sport.

And then I got playing, got into playing club volleyball when I was 11 years old. And once again, like my support system, my coach that started me out with volleyball was fantastic and she's still a part of my life today. And for her to impact me so much with the game at such a young age, it just made me fall in love with it. And then I just figured out that I was actually kind of good at it. But I really enjoyed playing. So I just kept playing club volleyball, which is year-round and my parents were very supportive of it. And once I got into high school, I realized that this is what I want to do, I want to be like my brother and go off to college and play college sports.:

And so I realized that volleyball was my passion and ended up getting a scholarship to play at the University of Louisville my first two years. And then after my sophomore year, I ended up transferring to LSU, and that's where I finished my career and had a great time. I mean, I loved every experience at both universities that I was at. And the friends and the relationships that I've created are lifelong. And the lessons that you learned from playing college sports, you can't find that anywhere else, and it really prepares you for the real world.

So, playing, it came natural and I enjoyed it and I loved practicing and I loved competing. So it was definitely something that was a part of me from a very young age. And I just kept training and kept getting better because I didn't want to get beat out. I didn't want to regret anything and hold myself back with anything. So, yeah, it just was a part of me from the very, very beginning. Right after I got done playing it, I realized it was time to kind of hang up the jersey. I fell in love with coaching and I've been coaching ever since I graduated college.

Sam’s Travel Experiences as a Player and Coach

Shianne: We are a travel company so I always love to hear, I know you played a little bit of volleyball in Croatia. Do you have any other memorable travel experiences you could share with us?

Sam: Yeah, absolutely. I mean, with volleyball, and sports in general, they take you everywhere. You play all over the country and I think the most memorable one was when I was with the USA and we went over and trained in Pordenone, Italy and then we played in Pula, Croatia, because that was my first time going over there to Europe and seeing their culture and how they do things and learning their language.

And that was just an awesome experience because even from the food, I mean, it was just, it was so hard for me to order food over there. I was young, I was 20 years old when I was over there and it was one of those things where it's very eyeopening and you realize there's a bigger world out there than just the state of Texas or just the United States. It's so awesome. And I love having kids playing for me that are from all over as well.

With recruiting and with playing volleyball growing up, it takes you all over. I can't think of a state that I have never actually been to, whether I've flown in there for a day or spent three weeks there, I've been all over and I'm very thankful for that because when you're growing up and you stay in the same city or state for your whole life, you think, oh, this is it. Only San Antonio, Texas is what's out there. And then you go travel over the world, it's so eyeopening. And it's so amazing being able to see and experience all the food and the culture and how people communicate.

But that definitely going over with Team USA was the best thing, going over to Croatia and Italy because you're doing what you love but then yet you're playing with other athletes that are trained completely different than you, and they play the game differently. It's so much fun to learn that and see that side of it. But I do love that volleyball has taken me all over the world, with recruiting and with coaching, and also playing, it's been amazing to just see what's all out there.

Something Unique About Coach Sam

Shianne: What is one thing that no one knows about you that you could share with us?

Sam: One thing that no one knows about me. I would have to say is that probably I do have some anchors and screws in both my shoulders, which is the craziest thing because I wasn't even an attacker or a hitter in volleyball. I was a setter.

Shianne: Yeah, you were a setter, right? Yeah.

Sam: Yeah. So it's funny to think that I have, why would I have such horrible shoulders. But for some reason I had the worst luck growing up with volleyball injuries with my shoulders. So I have anchors and screws in both of my shoulders. And I think my biggest fear in it overall in life is storms. The weather scares me more than anything on this planet. The weather and storms and things that are so unpredictable, like hurricanes and tornadoes and things like that.

That's one of, honestly, my biggest fear is the weather because it's just so unpredictable to me and dangerous and people don't take it seriously. And I get so worked up whenever, you know, when I lived in Florida for seven years, it was crazy because there's hurricanes every year. And to Floridians, it's just, oh, this is normal. And to me, I'm like, oh my gosh, we need to prepare for the worst. And I'm filling the bathtub with water and I'm buying all the bread and water at the store. And then nothing happens.

But yeah, that's one thing I don't think a lot of people know about me that I'm very confident, very outgoing, very straight to the point. But that's one thing that actually terrifies me more than anything is the weather. And that's kind of weird I know, but that's definitely something I don't think a lot of people know about me.

Sam’s Advice to Prospective College Athletes

Sam: For young athletes, I really do think it's super important for young athletes to really get to know the university that they're looking to attend to, the coaching staff they're looking to play for. I always tell my recruits when they're on campus, what would you do if, God forbid, volleyball was taken away from you? If you got injured or something and you couldn't play anymore, could you still see yourself at that university? And if the answer's no, then I don't think that's the right university for them.

I think you got to make sure you're looking for the key components, is it a family atmosphere? Do you feel like it's a home away from home? Do you think you can reach your potential and beyond and get better as a student-athlete and time manage all that good stuff. I think a lot of kids overlook the aspect of, do I think I can play for that coach? Do I know that coach well enough? Do I trust that coach and that coaching staff?

But also, is the university what I need for academics and for athletics? Making sure that they really understand that if your sport was taken away from you, could you still see yourself going to school there every single day and showing up and being the best version of yourself in the classroom and with internships and setting yourself up still for a future even though maybe the sport that you love was taken away from you?

In this episode, we discuss:

• The highs and lows of this past season (0:26)

• Sam’s experience playing volleyball as a college athlete (3:35)

• The experience of going from athlete to coach (6:18)

• Sam’s most memorable travel experiences as an athlete (11:25)

• One thing that no one knows about Sam (13:59)

• Sam’s advice to athletes who want to play in college (15:58)

• Sam’s next adventure (18:29)

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Podcast made in partnership with Acanela Expeditions

Theme Song - I’ll Just Be Me by Gravity Castle