Kristy Rodriguez has built her coaching career around more than wins and losses. For the Ellsworth head volleyball coach, the most rewarding part of the job is teaching the game, building relationships and watching her players grow.
Rodriguez began her coaching career as an assistant under legendary Sacred Heart High School coach Mary Pat Weese. She later took over as head coach at Sacred Heart before becoming the head coach at Southeast of Saline, where she led the Trojans to back-to-back state tournament appearances, including a fourth-place finish in 2012.
Now in her second season at Ellsworth, Rodriguez has already helped make school history. Last season, the Bearcats qualified for the state tournament, marking the program’s first state appearance since 1997.
“This is my second year coaching at Ellsworth and it has been a great experience,” Rodriguez said. “Last season, we qualified for state, which was the school’s first state appearance since 1997. Being able to bring that back to Ellsworth was pretty special.”
Rodriguez’s approach to coaching centers on education. She believes players become better when they understand not only what they are doing, but why they are doing it.
“For me, you have to be a teacher of the game,” Rodriguez said. “I want our girls to understand the why behind what we are doing, not just know where they are supposed to be and what they are supposed to do.”
That philosophy encourages Rodriguez’s players to become students of the game. She wants them to develop the ability to read situations, make decisions and play with confidence rather than simply follow instructions.
“I want them to learn how to read the game, make decisions and become confident players,” Rodriguez said.
While Rodriguez has experienced success throughout her coaching career, she said the support she has received from the Ellsworth community has made her time with the Bearcats particularly meaningful.
“The Ellsworth community has been absolutely awesome!” Rodriguez said. “I couldn’t ask for better support from our students, parents and community.”
That support is something Rodriguez believes her players feel every time they step onto the court. The enthusiasm surrounding the program also serves as a reminder that the team represents more than itself.
“They have embraced the team so much and you can feel that support every time we play,” Rodriguez said. “Their support makes our girls realize they are representing more than just themselves when they step on the court, and I think it gives them something extra to play for.”
For Rodriguez, some of her favorite memories from coaching have come from state tournament trips. Those experiences became even more meaningful because she was able to share some of them with her daughters, whom she coached.
“The state trips, of course, but being able to share those experiences with my daughters made them even more special,” Rodriguez said. “Getting to coach them and experience those moments together is something I don’t take for granted.”
However, Rodriguez said the memories that stay with her the longest often have little to do with what happened during a match.
“Honestly, the things I remember the most aren’t necessarily volleyball-related,” Rodriguez said. “It’s the relationships you build with the players and getting to watch them grow.”
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