“I’m excited about the possibility of where this could go.”
Joseph Chojnacki, the head coach of women’s volleyball at St. Peter’s University, sits down with us in this episode of the 35,000 feet podcast providing an overview of his team’s past season, some great travel adventures, and what’s in store for him and his team next season.
In this episode, we discuss:
How this past season went for St. Peter’s University Volleyball team (0:17)
How Coach Chojnacki got into coaching (3:04)
Joe’s favorite travel experience (6:15)
One thing that no one knows about Joe (9:38)
Joe’s advice to athletes wanting to play in college (11:24)
Joe’s next adventure (14:10)
The Highs and Lows of the Past Season for St. Peter’s University Women’s Volleyball Team
Morgan: Hi guys. Welcome back. It's Morgan. Today I'm sitting down with coach Joe. Thanks so much for joining us.
Coach Joe: Hey, thanks for having me. It's a pleasure.
Morgan: Yes. And we're excited to have you on and get to know you better. And so one of the questions I wanted to start off by asking you is if you could tell us about some of the highs and lows of your season.
Coach Joe: Wow, where to start.
Morgan: I know, I know.
Coach Joe: Well, it was pretty interesting for me because I came in as an interim. The previous coach, unfortunately, got sick and had to take a medical leave of absence. So I was kind of thrown right to the wolves. We had no freshmen class because unfortunately when he got sick, he stopped communicating with all of our recruits and they all chose other schools. So if that wasn't bad enough, it turns out our best player on the team ended up being ineligible for the entire season. She was actually last season's conference rookie of the year, so that was another huge blow. And then just to make sure there was one more little bump in the road, our starting middle got hurt on the warmup for the first game of the season, tore her ACL and she was out for the whole year.
So we kind of had our work cut out for us right off the bat. To me, I think the season was a success just because we got through it. We were really depleted in terms of manpower, or should I say woman power. We had to take one of our libero defensive specialists and move her to the right side. And she was only five foot four, so that was a little bit of a struggle. But we got through it. I think some of the highs was that we did have three wins, so all three of those wins were great. Some of the low points, we had Marist, I thought we almost had him in our gym, took them all the way to five. And we, unfortunately, weren't able to pull that one out. So that one did sting pretty hard because I thought we played really well. And we had kind of had them on the ropes.
But I truly try not to be too negative of a person. So I kind of thought the whole season was kind of a success. I don't really look at any low points in terms of like, Oh my God, this was the backbreaking moment of our season, because to me the whole season was about just trying to get better every day and I felt like we did do that.
Morgan: Oh no, that's awesome. I love listening to the highs and lows of seasons because you realize that there's so much more to the sport than just the wins and losses. It's about the process. So I think that's awesome that you guys were able to push through despite the injuries and the adversity that came.
Coach Joe: Yeah. That's part of my coaching philosophy. I kind of really don't believe necessarily in the wins and the losses. To me, like I said, it's kind of what you said it's about the process. It's about success. And success could be different for you than it is for me. But to me, the successful of the season, or the reason why our season was what I would call successful, is just because we got through it, considering how much we had going against this going into this season.
Morgan: Oh, so true. Well thank you for sharing that with us seriously.
Coach Joe: You're welcome.
An Overview of Coach Joseph Chojnacki’s Career
Morgan: Yeah. And I'm curious, Joe, how did you get to be a coach? What's your story there?
Coach Joe: Wow. It's a long and windy road believe it or not. I've kind of led a dual life my entire life. I've always been very interested in both television and coaching, particularly the sport of volleyball. So when I graduated from college, I started out working at a small TV station on Long Island. And ironically it happened to be on the exact same piece of property as my old high school.
Morgan: Oh wow.
Coach Joe: And it turns out that they were looking for an assistant coach for their JV team and I was able to sort of balance both and I did that for a few years. Then an opportunity came for me to coach at the collegiate level. So still working in television, I was able to again balance a part time job coaching at the collegiate level at a division two school at Delphi University. Stayed there for three seasons and then was elevated to the head coach when the head coach left. And then I had an opportunity to coach at the division one level, ironically at the exact same time that I got laid off from my TV job. So it kind of worked out perfectly that a full-time position in coaching became available.
And then after that one season at Fordham University, there was an opportunity for me to get back into television, working full time at CNN, and that was just too good of a job to pass up. So I took that and unfortunately had to actually take a little hiatus of coaching. So I was actually not coaching for probably about four or five years because my job at CNN ended up having me work primarily nights. So I was just not able to do it.
But slowly but surely I was able to work my way back into working a morning shift at CNN. And I was able to start to slowly get back into the coaching circle, I guess you could say. I was a volunteer assistant at St. John's for a couple of seasons. And then I coached two seasons ago at a D2 school on Long Island, New York Tech. Then an opportunity became available a season ago for the job at St. Peter's. So there's always been that balance for me. It's been very chaotic at times, but I've been always been able to find a way to sort of balance both.
Morgan: Oh, wow. Yeah, no, it sounds like you've had a lot going on. So I think that's awesome that you know how to balance it - everything in your life and be a coach and follow your passions. I think that's awesome.
Coach Joe: Yeah. I think that's probably a piece of advice a really buddy of mine, way back when, gave to me was to follow your passion, follow your heart, feed your soul, those kinds of statements but they always kind of rang true. And while I know I'm good at TV and I do like it and I'm good at it, obviously it keeps me employed, but coaching has always been a very, very strong passion of mine. And I've always tried to be able to figure out a way to keep it in my life.
Coach Joseph Chojnacki’s Great Travel Expeditions
Morgan: Oh no, that's awesome. I think it's awesome that you're able to do both of those things because some people don't have the opportunity, so I think that's awesome. So thank you for telling us your story. That was fun to listen to. The next question I have for you is what's one of your most memorable travel experiences.
Coach Joe: Oh, wow. There's a few, but the one that always sticks out in my mind is in between my junior and senior year of high school, my high school, shout out to Kellenbeg Memorial in Uniondale. They used to sponsor a trip for juniors and seniors for 50 days to go around the entire country. So you spent your summer in between your either sophomore and junior year or in between your junior and senior year. And you got to go to basically almost every big thing that the U.S. has to offer. So we got to see it all and it was 50 days. We did everything outdoors. You either stayed at state campgrounds, national campgrounds or just local campgrounds. And sometimes it was just literally we threw a giant tarp on the ground and a sleeping bag and that was it. If it was warm out, we didn't even want to bother to set up a tent because it was just too much work.
But we got to see everything. Every major national spot you could possibly imagine, we got to see it. We basically covered a total of 33 of the 50 states on the trip. We started north and went around the country from the top and then ended up on the West Coast, came down through California through New Mexico, Texas and back up the East Coast to finish the trip. But just to see everything, to spend that amount of time out on the road, definitely goes as probably one of the highlights of my life.
Morgan: Wow. That's amazing. I feel like that's cool that you got to go to 33 states because a lot of people don't even get to go to a lot of the states. So I think that's an incredible trip that you had.
Coach Joe: Yeah. And what was funny about it was they only offered it to juniors and seniors, and they only offer the trip every two years. So you basically only had one opportunity to do it. So it was funny because a friend of mine had just bought a boat and he was thinking about putting his boat in the water this summer. But I told him you can do that for the rest of your life. This is a great trip. You should come with us. And he actually ended up going.
Morgan: No, that's awesome. I'm glad he did that. Fun though. Well, thank you for sharing that with us. I think any travel is amazing because there's so much to see, especially, even in the U.S. going from state to state, it varies, it's different in every place.
Coach Joe: Yeah. And actually, that's one of the other things that's been great about this latter part of my life is that my wife is an actress, and she actually does a lot of acting gigs around the country at regional theaters because she's in the actors union so she goes where the work is. And I've been able to usually take some time off from work to go to visit her and it's been great to be able to see even more of the country that way. She loves to travel and she's literally been almost all over the world and I'm actually ironically a little bit more of a homebody. I don't like to travel that much, but it's always a good opportunity to sort of spread my wings and I'm learning from her. She's like, yeah, come on. Let's go. Let's do it. So it's really been a great opportunity for me to get out and see a little bit more of the country.
Something Noone Knows About Coach Joseph Chojnacki
Morgan: Oh no, I think that's awesome. I think traveling with loved ones and friends, teams, I feel like your relationships just get stronger, especially when you travel together. So I'm glad that you guys have been able to do that together. What is one thing that no one knows about you that you could share with us?
Coach Joe: Ooh. Wow. Believe it or not, I know it sounds weird to say, but I always do kind of doubt myself. I've been coaching for a number of years and some of the programs that I've been associated with are already very well established programs. So one of the things that I'm always trying to find out new information on, I'm always trying to read or listen and talk to other coaches is just about what does it take to build a program? They always talk about team culture. And I have to always kind of admit to myself that I'm not really sure I know how to do this. So I always do kind of have a little bit of self doubt in there.
I'd like give a thousand dollars to listen to what Russ Rose saying in the huddle to his team? What's John Dunning, when he was coaching, what was he saying to those girls in the huddle? I would love to be able to sit in that huddle and hear what they are telling? Is it just a rah-rah speech or are they serious hardcore tactical stuff that I would be like what in the world is he talking about? So that's why one of the things I always try to better myself as a coach. I'm always trying to read more, study more, talking to other coaches. But yeah, there's always a little creeping self doubt every now and then.
Morgan: Oh yeah. No. And that makes total sense because I feel like in positions you're always learning. So it's typical to have that feeling. So I think it just shows that you're humble and willing to learn and be a great coach. That's awesome.
Coach Joe: Thank you.
Coach Joseph Chojnacki’s Advice to College Athletes
Morgan: Yes. No, for sure. Yeah. And then this next question I have for you, it's more for athletes. But if you're an athlete wanting to play for a team or university, what would your advice be to them?
Coach Joe: Wow, that's a great question. To me there's a couple of steps. Number one, obviously I think this is the one that I'm not really sure if everyone does this 100%. Really you have to do your research. Not only on the university that you're interested in, but on the team that you're interested in. For example, if you are a specific position, whether it's a setter or a libero, outside hitter or whatever. How do you even know that the position you play is available? Maybe they have five or six of that same position at one of the schools that you're interested in.
That's one of the things that I saw this particular recruiting cycle was a lot of kids reaching out to me. And the first thing I thought was I'm not really sure they actually did their research because if they looked in there and saw our roster, we have four liberos currently on our roster and only one was graduating. Four is already a lot. So that's number one I would say is not only do your research about the school, but do your research about the team that you're looking for, so that's number one.
Number two, proofread your work. I cannot tell you how many emails I got that started out by saying, Dear Coach Jones or Dear Coach Smith, or just it was some part of the email was incorrect and for me it was a dead giveaway that this clearly was a copy and paste. And they're just sending out blanket emails to as many programs as they possibly can. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Obviously you're trying to cast a wide net as a recruit. You're looking for programs, but at the same time, make sure you proofread your work.
And the last thing I would say is definitely try to think of some way to be different. Don't just send the standard stereotypical, hi coach, my name is so-and-so. I'm an outside hitter from Walla Walla, Washington. If you can find a way in that email to stand out and make me notice you, that's definitely going to put you in a different category in my mind, personally. That's one of the ways that I think, wow, look at this email, they really went out of their way to sort of stand out. I really perk up when I see very different emails from recruits.
Morgan: Oh no. And I think that's awesome advice to any athlete, because those are things that every coach notices. And so thank you for sharing that. I'm excited for people to hear that advice.
Coach Joe: You're welcome.
Coach Joseph Chojnacki’s Next Adventure Planned
Morgan: Yeah, no, that's awesome. Well, thank you so much again. And what's your next adventure, Joe?
Coach Joe: Oh, wow. Depending on how the virus either keeps going or subsides. As of right now, I'm the youngest of five kids and I have 13 nieces and nephews.
Morgan: Oh wow.
Coach Joe: We have potentially planned a family trip to Disney World. Whether or not that's actually going to be possible, we don't know. But one of my nieces is turning 16. So we thought it was be a great, great family idea if we all decided to go together. So that's what's on the books. Whether or not it's actually going to happen, we will obviously have to see. But yeah, in theory, that's the next adventure that we're looking for?
Morgan: Oh, fun. No, that sounds like an awesome family trip. My family just went to Disneyland and it's a fun trip, no matter what. I love that.
Coach Joe: Yeah. My wife and I actually are huge Disney fans. We've gone a number of times and we actually have gone separately with our families. And it was kind of funny that we ended up both being huge Disney fans and we met each other. So we've taken multiple trips, but we're looking forward to this one. So we'll see.
Morgan: Oh, that's awesome. Yeah. Hopefully, everything passes soon so that you guys can go.
Coach Joe: Yeah, we'll see. I think everyone's, the country's being smart. We're doing what we can to flatten the curve and social distancing is clearly working and hopefully, if we don't get too anxious to get back outside, I think as long as everyone stays smart, maybe by the end of May, we might be able to start to see things start to hopefully go back to normal.
Morgan: Oh, it's so true. It's so true. Yes. I'm excited. And it will be awesome too because sports will get back to normal, everything will get back to normal, and we'll learn from this experience.
Coach Joe: Yeah, hopefully.
What’s In Store for Coach Joseph Chojnacki And His Team
Morgan: Yes. Well and what are you looking forward to most this upcoming season?
Coach Joe: Wow. I think we're hoping to build on sort of what we learned last year. I remember I kind of talked to previously about culture. That's one of the things that I actually reached out to my players this off season. We've been staying in touch with each other every week. We're Face Timing. I'm actually giving them some homework where I have them watch a match and then do a scouting report so we can keep our brains active. But one of the things that we talked about is because there's been kind of a coaching carousel here at St. Peter's the last few years, and it looks like I'm staying for a while and then I hope hopefully everything works out with CNN because with the election.
One of the things that I kind of offered to the girls was let's take this journey together. What kind of culture do we want to create? Not me, what do we want to create? So I'm giving them some ownership of that. So we're going to talk about that over the course of the next month or so and figure out who are we? What do we believe in? What do we stand for? What goals do we want to achieve? Sort of just laying down the building blocks of what St. Peter's volleyball could be in the future. So I'm kind of excited about that possibility of where this could go. Because one of the things like I said was they really haven't any stability. And I feel like that's one of the things that I've kind of brought is a little bit of stability and more of a positive outlook. I'm definitely positive person by nature, that's one of the things that I've been trying to instill upon them.
It doesn't matter what happens. Let's stay up, let's stay positive about it and let's keep pushing forward. So I'm kind of looking forward to seeing where this journey takes us together.
Morgan: Oh yeah, no, I agree about the stability. I think that's key to a team, trust and building. So I just wish you the best with everything because I can tell you guys are going to be fine, I can tell the passion you have for the sport. So thank you so much for joining us on the podcast and letting us get a glimpse into your wonderful team.
Coach Joe: Oh, thank you very much for the opportunity. This is great. It was really nice talking to you.
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Podcast made in partnership with Acanela Expeditions
Theme Song - I’ll Just Be Me by Gravity Castle