Donika Sutton, the head coach of women’s volleyball at Tennessee State University, sits down with us in this episode of the 35,000 feet podcast going over her start in her career as a coach, some memorable travel experiences, her next adventures, and some words of wisdom for future athletes.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How this past season went for the Tennessee State Women’s Volleyball team (0:17)

• How Coach Sutton got into coaching (3:25)

• Donika’s advice to athletes wanting to play in college (6:35)

• Donika’s favorite travel experience (8:37)

• One thing that no one knows about Donika (10:33)

• Donika’s next adventure (12:20)

Highs and Lows of the Past Season for Tennessee State Women’s Volleyball Team

Morgan: Hey guys, welcome back. It's Morgan. Today I'm sitting down with coach Tanika. Thanks so much for joining us.

Donika: Thanks for having me.

Morgan: Yes, we're so excited to get to know you better and get an insight into you and your team, so thank you so much. Just to start off the podcast, if you could tell us about the highs and lows of your season.

Donika: Well, this season, I felt like brought so many great highs and we had our lows too, but a lot of those great highs were just the team that we brought in. We were young, we had seven freshmen, four sophomores, three juniors, and two seniors. So we were really young and I didn't know how well we were going to fair. We started off our opening exhibition match winning it against North Alabama. And then we went into our first match of the season, pre-season, and beat Auburn, which of course I know was a shocker for the outside world, but for us knowing how hard our girls had worked and knowing the type of talent we had, I wasn't surprised. I was just happy that we continued to fight along the way.

After that, we had a lot of great wins, but the lows came right at the beginning of the conference where we had four key starters who had significant injuries that put them out. Yeah, it put them out for weeks. I had a concussion that was out for three weeks, our freshmen starter was out for two and a half weeks with a fracture in her hand, my starting outside was out for an ankle injury, and then our libero who was still playing, had a groin injury so she was with limited movement. So it really put us in a very, very adverse situation. And in that moment, the only thing you can do is coach through it.

We had to definitely coach up our team, coach up our every player. We needed everybody in that moment. And even for the players that were out, I feel like they did a really good job of motivating their teammates to push forward. It was a growing experience. And then when we finally got everybody back on the floor, it's like a restarting process of getting the connections and the chemistry back together. And we went on a run there at the end, but it just wasn't enough for us to make the conference tournament which was so heartbreaking.

Morgan: I love hearing about seasons because there's so much that goes into it, so much hard work and sometimes the outcomes they're not how we plan, but I think it's... I love hearing the effort behind it, and that's so hard working through injuries.

Donika: Yeah. That's extremely hard, but I got a lot of great compliments from a lot of my peers. They've watched this program and they've seen us grow. So to hear them just continue to encourage us and let me know that they see the growth, it feels good and it lets me know that we're on the right.

Morgan: Oh no, that's awesome. And that's what matters, the little efforts you're making and I can tell the passion you have for this war and that's going to take your program so far, so I love that. How did you get to be a coach?

Donika: So crazy. I played volleyball in college, played all through high school, middle school. As I was going into my senior year, I was a political science pre-law major. I went to Alcorn State University, and I was just excited about pursuing a career in law. And I think as I went through, I started to realize maybe that's not what I wanted but I didn't know what the next step would be. I was a transfer in, so I needed a couple of extra credits. And so as I was helping in my super senior season, the coach was pregnant and she had to leave on maternity leave.

When she left, it was just the assistant coach and me. And in that moment, I think the coaching book kind of hit me because I realized just me giving the information, the players retaining it, being coachable, being open. It kind of showed me that, "Okay, wait, hold on. There may be something here." And I don't know from that moment on, I was like, "This is what I want to do." I've never thought about anything else, never regretted not going to law school, and I just pursued it 100%.

Morgan: Wow. Well, it sounds like you're supposed to be a coach then I feel like your path, it just lined up perfectly for you.

Donika: Yeah. And I still feel that way, I don't have any regrets at all. I definitely know that this is where I was destined to be. This is my passion and I'm here to serve our student-athletes.

Coach Donika Sutton’s Start in Coaching

Morgan: Wow. Oh no, that's awesome. And I love that you said serve them because it looks like you've done a lot of good work at the school and rebuilt the program, what's your story like there?

Donika: Well, when I came to Tennessee State, I came in as an assistant coach... Well, I came in as a volunteer and in I believe a month and a half, two months, I was first assistant and then I was there for three years as an assistant and then I was promoted as the head coach. It was kind of a crazy story because our players recommended me for the position. I did not think about it. I was not really going after it. They were like, "No." And so they wrote letters to administration, they were like, "No, this is who we want." And I felt like their push helped me to figure out like, "Okay, this is where you're supposed to be." And it hasn't been easy. It's been really, really tough with the transition because with transition comes a lot of change and resistance, but I do feel like this is where I am supposed to be in this moment in time and I just wake up every day working hard.

Coach Donika Sutton’s Advice to Future Collegiate Athletes

Morgan: Again. I said, I love hearing stories about coaches because they end up where they're supposed to be and it's such an influential spot so I love that, so thank you for sharing that with us. For advice, if you were an athlete wanting to play for a team or a university, what would your advice be to them?

Donika: I think the best advice we can give them is to make sure that this is what you want to do. Make sure that you love the process because you have to love the process so you can trust the process. I think a lot of the times we get players who just want to please their parents are do what's popular in the moment, but they don't really love it at heart. You can tell the players that are in it 100% and the players that are just straddling the fence. So if this is what you really want to do, then go after it. But once you go after it makes sure that you 100% see the process all the way through. So that means that you're communicating with coaches, you're getting your emails and your film and your links out there, but you're also sending out your clubs schedule and your high school schedule. And you're making the time to continue to get yourself in front of them.

I think a persistent kid is the best kind because they're the ones that's 100% all in, so don't think that you're bothering us as coaches. "Oh, I sent them an email last week, they'll get back to me." Yes, they may, but continue to send emails and put, "Once a week, I'm going to send this email out until I hear from somebody." Make you a list of 10 solid schools that you're interested in and you will probably get a reply back from four or maybe five of those 10. You have to have a plan if you want to see your process through.

Donika Sutton’s Most Memorable Travel Experiences

Morgan: Yeah. No, that's great advice. I love that. Because you're mentioning, go hard persist and I think those are not only traits that are well for recruiting but also on the team, on the court that those show through. I love that advice. What are some of your most memorable travel experiences?

Donika: Well, team-wise most memorable travel experience is, I feel like there are so many because volleyball is a sport that can take you all over. And every time we travel somewhere that has a significant historical meaning, then we definitely try to share that with our players. I don't know. When we went to the College of Charleston, I think we definitely tried to experience the great sides of say, the beach as well as the historical aspect of the City of Charleston. It's a beautiful city, I love it. As well as when we go places like Washington, D.C., you definitely want to make sure that they experienced not only seeing the white house, but also seeing the new Martin Luther King statue. Wherever we go, we always try to make sure that we implement some type of historical lesson for our players during that process.

Morgan: Oh, I love that. No, there's so much... I feel like there's so much you can learn on trips. Especially as a team, have you noticed that when you travel your team gets closer?

Donika: Yes, yes. I 100% agree with that.

Morgan: No, I agree too. I feel like just any sort of travel I feel it brings whether be with a team or family and friends, you just get closer. So I'm glad that you guys have had experiences like that where you guys can get closer.

Donika: Yeah. And the travel, it's because people are so excited for the experience. They're so excited to see new. And when you open yourself up to that, you're also opening yourself up to those connections and those relationships with your teammates.

One Thing Noone Knows About Coach Donika Sutton

Morgan: It's true, I love that. What is one thing that no one knows about you that you can share with us?

Donika: I don't really feel like I have anything that no one knows. Maybe that when I was in high school that I was in the band.

Morgan: No way.

Donika: Yeah, I was in the band. I played the clarinet, I played volleyball, I played softball, but I was in the band and I played the clarinet from sixth grade all the way until 12th grade. So it was something that I had to do. My sister did it and my mom was like, "You're going to be in band, too." I can say now looking back having gone through so many different sports and different activities, it definitely helped shape me into who I am today.

Morgan: Wow. No, that's so cool. It just shows that you're well-rounded, that you have so many talents.

Donika: Yeah. But you don't understand it when you're 12 and 13 and you're like, "Why do I have to play this? What is happening?"

Morgan: I would be like, "I don't want to do this."

Donika: Yeah. But no, it was a good experience. And I am actually happy that because of that, I can read music and I can play an instrument. And it's just, for me, I hope adds another layer on to my resume.

Morgan: Yes. Do you still play?

Donika: No. I have not played that clarinet I think since 12th grade and that is a shame, and I'm so sad to say that.

Morgan: Hey, at least you did it. At least you've practiced and blessed people's lives with that.

Donika: Yeah.

Donika Sutton’s Next Big Adventure

Morgan: There you go. Well, thank you so much for sharing those. Tanika, what's your next adventure?

Donika: My next adventure is I definitely want to do something this summer for myself. I had this big trip planned and then of course you know now that we are all sheltered in place due to COVID-19, I don't know if that's going to happen. So I, this year who want to travel for myself and I was planning this trip to Italy and Greece and it was going to be late July and I really hope that it still happens. So that's my biggest plan for the year in regards to myself personally. And that's because I have not taken a vacation since I took over as head coach.

As a coach, my next plan is definitely to 100% compete for Ohio Valley Conference Championship this year. We have a really, really, really solid team coming back. We only lost two seniors, but they were key significant offensive threats for our team. And I feel like myself and my staff, we've done a really good job of replacing them and with the new key players coming in. I really think that we're going to give the conference around for their money, I just hope that we have that opportunity.

Morgan: No, I'm so excited for you. I love hearing that and I know you guys are going to go far because of the passion and the joy that you guys have for the sport. And I'm excited to see where your team goes. Hopefully, you can go on your trips because Greece and Italy, that sounds awesome.

Donika: I know, I know. And I really want to do it. I turned 40 this year, this was supposed to be my big cool ride trip for myself. And not only myself, I feel like me going on this trip will not only help me but it also will help to continue to give me a better perspective to lead these young women that I coach every day.

Morgan: Wow. No, I love that. Again, I think travel's amazing and hopefully you can do that. If not, I guess there's always next year because I know everything going on.

Donika: I know and I'm totally okay with that, but I definitely hope I get there one way or the other.

Morgan: Oh, you will. You will. I'm so excited for you. Seriously, thank you so much for letting us get a glimpse into your team. It's been so fun to listen to the insights you have and just get to know you and your team better and I'm excited to see where your team goes. So thank you so much for joining us on our podcast.

Donika: No problem and thank you so much for having me. I really appreciate it and I love everything that you guys are doing, especially just continuing to give great exposure to the sport that we love.

Follow Tennessee State University Women’s Volleyball:

• Tennessee State Women’s Volleyball Team Twitter

• Coach Donika Sutton Twitter

Podcast made in partnership with Acanela Expeditions

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