Chuck Schallhorn teaches Psychology at San Benito High. Perhaps,
he can analyze the dreams which kept him up all of Saturday night,
just two days before the first day of volleyball practice for the
Balers.
”
I couldn’t get to sleep until about 4 a.m.,
”
said Schallhorn, who held his first practice of the 2003 season
on Monday.
”
I’m so excited about this season.
”
Chuck Schallhorn teaches Psychology at San Benito High. Perhaps, he can analyze the dreams which kept him up all of Saturday night, just two days before the first day of volleyball practice for the Balers.
“I couldn’t get to sleep until about 4 a.m.,” said Schallhorn, who held his first practice of the 2003 season on Monday. “I’m so excited about this season.”
Schallhorn has some large shoes to fill as he takes over for Larry Nabzeska, who retired after winning at least a share of five league titles in his five-year tenure. First-year Athletic Director Randy Logue feels that Schallhorn, age 40, can handle the pressure-packed job. Schallhorn was the first coach hired by Logue.
“What we liked about Chuck is that he wants to teach kids life skills and teach them how to be a productive member of the community,” said Logue. “I was very impressed with him. He has a great sense of humor, which is one of his strengths.”
“Chuck is really fair,” said Baler outside hitter Melissa Moore. “He wants to get everyone playing time.”
Schallhorn has about 20 players trying out for the varsity squad, but Shallhorn will only keep 12 or 13. There will be no list on the wall for the varsity players.
“It is better to tell them individually if they don’t make the team and to explain to them why,” said Schallhorn. “It’s always difficult, but if there’s just list then players tend to steam.”
Coaxed to coach
During the summer of 2002, Schallhorn taught a couple of Baler volleyball players in a summer school class. One of them was Jacky Denton.
“I knew Chuck had coached volleyball out of state before he came here,” said Denton, who graduated last June. “I encouraged him to contact coach Nabzeska to see if he could help coach. He’s always positive and never negative.”
This the first head coaching position for Schallhorn, who was born and raised in Michigan and went to high school in Rochester, New York. He attended Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Indiana. It was there where the volleyball bug took hold of Schallhorn, who didn’t play in high school because there was no volleyball program.
“I played intramurals at Valparaiso,” said Schallhorn. “It was real serious. We won the championship three years in a row.”
Schallhorn began coaching volleyball as an assistant in 1987 and went straight through until 2001. He spent many years at Munster High in Indiana before helping out a Muncie Burris in Muncie in 1998. That team won the state title, its 10th in a row.
Since coming to Hollister, Schallhorn has befriended staff members, especially in the Social Science Department.
“I’m very good friends with the staff,” said Schallhorn. “They have made me feel welcome. I tried the bigger city life before and I’ve come to realize I’m more comfortable in a small town.”
Should be good
Schallhorn likes what he sees thus far of his Baler squad, which has only three seniors.
“The sophomore and junior classes have a lot of talent,” said Schallhorn. “We had a summer conditioning program where we had 30 girls participating in. It was from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. There are a lot of dedicated kids here.”
“Chuck has enough personnel where he should do very well there,” said Nabzeska. “I expect the league to be tougher, though. I don’t see whey Chuck can’t succeed with that team.”
Schallhorn admits that he is not like Nabzeska as far as coaching style.
“Larry is much more intense than I am,” said Schallhorn. “I’m more laid back. I want it to be fun. You won’t hear any Knute Rockne speeches from me. I don’t believe in scouting. I feel that if we take care of what we do, then we should be fine. If we’re prepared and we’re the better team, than we should win. If we lose, then I’ll still be proud of my team.”
Assisting Schallhorn will be Juan Hernandez, who teaches Economics at the high school.
“He gives me a fresh set of eyes,” said Schallhorn of Hernandez.
Marlene Villegas will coach the junior varsity, while Debi Fowles coaches the freshmen.
“They’ve proved themselves as capable coaches and they’re well-liked by the players,” said Schallhorn of Villegas and Fowles. “They’re ultimately creating the foundation for the varsity level.”
Look for a preview of the Baler varsity soon in the Free Lance.
