Lady Pioneers work on ‘Tech’-nique: TTU coach instructs at volleyball camp
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In the past head volleyball coach Franklin Fisher has used college players and coaches to come in and work with his squad. This year was no exception, as coach Fisher called upon new Tennessee Tech coach John Blair.
Blair is one of the top college coaches in the nation, and comes from the University of Mississippi where he spent 16 years and collected 210 wins. He coached six all-SEC players and had over 70 players named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll.
Blair is no stranger to Tennessee, as he is a native of Knoxville and earned his degree from the University of Tennessee in 1976. He played volleyball for the Volunteers under coach Bud Fields and was an assistant coach at Tennessee. He has also been the head coach at Illinois.
Blair competed in the World University Games in 1973, and was a member of the United States training team for the Pan Am Games in 1974 and the U.S. National team in 1975.
“I have been really impressed with coach Blair this week,” Fisher said. “It’s been all business and hard work for the girls but everybody has learned so much — including myself.
“In the past, when other college coaches have been here, they seemed to let their players do most of the teaching. And that’s fine. But coach Blair is a hands-on coach, and has been out on the floor working with each one of our players and giving them some expert advice.”
Blair put the Lady Pioneers through their paces, and concentrated mainly on techniques such as footwork, body position on the court and passing.
“Every place I have ever coached we do clinics in the summer and I really enjoy working with the high school players,” Blair said. “There’s so much you can teach them to make them better players.
“It’s a good way for me to get out into the communities and see what kind of talent is out there. The biggest message I want to get across to the kids is academics. That comes first and volleyball comes second.”
Blair said through his years of experience, he has found the average high school player lacks proper technique and strength — two aspects he stresses when he works camps like this week’s.
“We try to teach them proper body position on the court, which will help them be in the right position to make a play and show them drills that will help build their stamina during matches.”
Fisher said Blair helped make this week’s camp a very successful one.
“This is one of the best camps we have ever had,” he said. “We have a young team, and coach Blair has helped get this group of girls off to a good start.”
Fisher has 15 players working out this summer and will give the team a few days off before going back to work next week with regular practices after school.