"I'm no where near a finished product..."

Tom Black explained the drill to two courts of coaches, many of who weren't paying attention. He finished his explanation on his whiteboard, and sent the coaches to their courts to start the drill.

Then he waited.

The coaches were confused, asking him questions, but he didn't answer them. The coaches got more confused and frustrated. Black knew they hadn't listened as they assumed, as is often the case, that the coach next to them understands what they're doing and can explain it.

But they didn't.

The drill sludged along for a few minutes, then a couple of coaches came over to the white board, studied it and shouted instructions to the other coaches. Suddenly, one of the two courts started to get the idea and the other court soon followed. While it took about 10 minutes longer than necessary, the coaches had figured out the drill on their own.


Mission accomplished!


Tom Black is a teacher. And with this interview, done a few days into 2019, he explains in detail his journey from a young boy forced to play volleyball, "kicking and screaming" to his work as an assistant coach of the USA Women's National team in the 2016 Olympics working alongside Karch Kiraly.

His current residence is at the University of Georgia where he is positioned to turn around a program in desperate need of volleyball success.

Along the way, Tom talks about himself as a young coach and his transformation into a never satisfied coach who "always needs to get better." 

Enjoy this 35 minutes with one of the best teachers in our sport and one of the better gentlemen to coach our profession.

Tom Black Interview