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 Coach 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, .

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0:00
1:45 best thing about being a dad *
2:33 JH roots
3:10 discovering volleyball *
4:20 the volleyball hook **
5:35 volleyball post High school *
7:00 Coaching not easy to break through for a career *
8:30 Long days balancing coaching and a real job *
9:40 VHS tapes
10:17 Splitting Asst coach salaries *
11:10 UCLA Path** First time
12:12 Allan Knipe and Andy Reid **
12:55 putting your self out there * Getting the call from John
13:40 How did being at UCLA taught JH about being successful **
16:44 Seeing former players reaching the highest levels *
17:25 Leaving UCLA to be a head coach at Loyala **
19:05 Merrick **
19:44 Moving one chair up **
21:30 Scholarships for mens vball **
22:30 getting the call t o come bac k and coach UCLA **
25:00 walking into paulie pavillion as the head coach **
26:40 1st season the most thing JH is proud of
28:00 reflection after the first sea son **
29:40 Coming in putting his mark UCLA **
31:22 Non negotiables for a JH team *
33:50 Milan **
36:50 Making players being uncomfortable **
37:50 what does Milan bring to a gym that an american coach doesnt - sean kelly
39:50 Effiecient practice
40:30 First year advice to JH *
42:10 Coaching a TEAM USA team *
43:50 Volleyball community **
45:29 lessons from the international level back to the college game *
47:10 Which ball - mikasa or Molton
47:55 UCLA Community and fans *
49:22 Why UCLA
50:25 Pre game rituals *
51:15 favorite volleyball day of the year *
52:00 advice for the freshman *
53:15 Adjustment from the alpha to a role player for freshman *
55:20 what should clubs be working on **
57:00 What separates great players from others *
58:35 NIL
1:00:40 New coach advice *
1:01:35 Who were some of JH mentors *
1:03:15 most rewarding thing from coaching **
1:04:25 state of the game *
1:07:05 Toughest position in volleyball *
1:07:40 away from the court
1:08:50 who is next **