No More Walking on Eggshells: Chloe Walker on Building Confidence in Young Athletes

Chloe Walker is a United alum, first-year coach in our Locals program, and a young professional building her career through a salon apprenticeship at Huntsville Hair Company. In this conversation, Chloe shares what it feels like to go full circle - from being coached at United to now stepping onto the sideline herself.

You’ll also hear practical insight on creating team culture fast (consistency, communication, small compliments), helping athletes stop apologizing for mistakes, and why progress often looks like “messing up” first. Chloe connects those lessons to real life, opening up about choosing a non-traditional path after high school, navigating expectations, and embracing the mindset shift that’s carried her through volleyball and her professional life: “I don’t have to be here - I get to be here.”

In this episode, we cover:

• Coaching different personalities (quiet vs. loud) and helping a team connect

• Creating a low-pressure gym: “there are no stupid questions”

• Growth mindset in action: why she tells athletes not to apologize for mistakes

• Progress over perfection - and why “it gets worse before it gets better”

• Lessons from the salon: relationships, consistency, professionalism, and uncomfortable growth

• Choosing a non-traditional path after graduation and trusting your own timeline