This episode is about growth, both for a program and for the coach running it. Amanda and I talk about what it takes to manage a large roster, from keeping communication clear across dozens of players to making sure no one gets lost in the numbers. The conversation also turns to something harder to talk about: stepping outside your comfort zone as a coach. Amanda shares why reaching out to more coaches, asking questions, and trying ideas that felt unfamiliar at first ended up changing the way they lead. It's a practical, honest look at running a big program without losing the personal touch, and a reminder that the best coaches never stop learning from each other.

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Jason Leppo built one of the most respected programs in Pennsylvania high school volleyball at Delone Catholic, capturing the 2013 PIAA Class 2A state title, five District 3 championships, four York-Adams League playoff titles, and nine division crowns over roughly a decade. Then, in his mid 30s and at the peak of his field, he stepped away to find better balance between work, family, and the game he loves.

Now he is back on the bench, taking the reins at Dallastown. In this episode, we talk with Jason about what made those Delone teams special, why the relationships always mattered more than anything on the scoreboard, what he learned in his time away from the sidelines, and what drew him back to coaching high school volleyball. It is a conversation about building something lasting, walking away, and the pull that brings a coach back.

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After 32 seasons, Mark Pavlik has retired as the head coach of Penn State men's volleyball, finishing with 716 career wins, the third most in the history of college men's volleyball. In this episode he takes us back to the beginning: growing up in Derry, Pennsylvania, coaching in the state's high school and junior ranks, and rising through Penn State as a player, manager, and assistant before taking over the program in 1995. We dig into the 2008 national championship run, his eye-of-the-hurricane approach to coaching, the Olympians he developed, handing the program to longtime assistant Colin McMillan, and what he sees for the future of volleyball in Pennsylvania. A conversation about legacy, culture, and the relationships that outlast the wins.

Coach Tait would be very proud PAV!

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Ellie (Burns) Proksell has seen the biggest stage in Pennsylvania volleyball from every possible angle. A state champion player at Clarion, she went on to win five more state titles as an assistant coach at North Allegheny — one of the winningest programs in PIAA history — before picking up a whistle and becoming a certified official. In November 2025, she worked the PIAA A and AA state championships as both a stand official and a line judge in the same day. In this episode, Ellie talks about what it's like to compete for a title, coach for one, and now officiate one — and how each role has taught her something different about the game she grew up with. She also opens up about her family's deep roots in Pennsylvania volleyball, balancing motherhood with coaching and officiating.

Coach Mike Krause of Parkland High School joins the show to reflect on 22 seasons building one of Pennsylvania's most dominant volleyball programs — including three state titles won with his own daughters on the court. Mike shares stories from his playing days at East Stroudsburg, the mentorship that shaped his coaching under Penn State's Russ Rose, and the moments that turned a program with zero championships into a state powerhouse. He also opens up on what makes a great coach: curiosity, honest feedback, and building relationships that outlast the uniform.

North Allegheny's tenth state championship came against Hempfield in the 2026 final, the same program whose record they tied. Head coach Dan Long joins us to talk about the win and what it meant to reach ten. More than that, we get into the thread that connects him to Bob Miller and Dan Schall, the coaches who set the standard he now carries. This is a conversation about culture, continuity, and what it means to be built at North Allegheny.

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In this episode, we sit down with Nick Bancroft of Meadville, fresh off an undefeated season and a 2A state championship, to talk about the journey and a remarkable family achievement.

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The field is down to four in both 2A and 3A. Scott Trumbauer, PVCA Vice President of Boys Volleyball, joins us to break down every semifinal matchup standing between these programs and a shot at a state title. We have heard directly from the coaches still alive in the bracket, and Ryan is putting his finals predictions on the record. Four teams in each class. Two spots in the championship. Who punches their ticket to Penn State? Let's find out.

2A - https://www.piaa.org/assets/web/documents/2026_2A_BVB.pdf

3A - https://www.piaa.org/assets/web/documents/2026_3A_BVB.pdf