The Players Haven’t Changed. The Parents Have.

A Proactive Coaching podcast interview with Sue Doering, who recently retired after 39 years of volleyball coaching in Washington state — the last 30 at Colfax High School, where her program had a 25-year streak of top-four state finishes — hosted by Lori Thomas. Topics covered: coaching as relationships and communication, being a role model in a small community, goal setting and consistent discipline, balancing coaching with family and faith over four decades, the case for multi-sport athletes (problem-solving, injury prevention, well-rounded development), how parents have changed more than players, and advice for young coaches: know your community, set high but reachable expectations, don't tie success to winning, never conference alone, motivate without demeaning, and hang in there.