John Hawks: From UCLA Assistant to Head Coach | Building a Championship Culture

What does it take to build a championship culture in college volleyball? And what is it like to return to one of the sport's most historic programs — this time as the head coach?

On this episode of Bump Set Chat, we sit down with John Hawks, Head Coach of UCLA Men's Volleyball, to explore his remarkable volleyball journey, from discovering the sport and balancing coaching with a full-time engineering career to coaching at the highest levels of college and international volleyball.

John takes us behind the scenes of his journey from UCLA assistant coach to head coach at Loyola Chicago and ultimately back to UCLA. We discuss the opportunity to lead the Bruins, his first season at the helm, and how he is building his own culture while upholding UCLA's championship tradition.

We also dive into the value of international coaching experience, bringing Milan to the staff, developing players, the realities of NIL and the transfer portal, and what it takes to remain competitive in today's college volleyball landscape.

Plus, John shares advice for freshmen adjusting to college volleyball, what separates good players from great ones, what clubs should prioritize when developing athletes, and the most rewarding part of being a coach.

If you enjoy conversations about volleyball, coaching, player development, recruiting and the people behind the game, subscribe to Bump Set Chat for more interviews with the coaches and athletes shaping the sport.

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