(This story has been up to date with a information launch from the Omaha Supernovas)
Simply two video games in and with a 1-1 report, the Omaha Supernovas have relieved Shelton Collier of his teaching duties.
In a press release Tuesday morning after this story was posted, the staff mentioned in a information launch:
At this time, the Omaha Supernovas introduced head coach Shelton Collier will function an Advisor to the Group, and named assistant coach, Laura “Hen” Kuhn, because the interim Head Coach. Moreover, former Creighton volleyball standout, Jazz Schmidt, joins the Supernovas’ spectacular teaching workers as an assistant coach and operations assistant.
Omaha, which opened the Professional Volleyball Federation inaugural season with a house, five-set loss to Atlanta earlier than a crowd introduced as 11,624, got here again and swept San Diego final Saturday earlier than a crowd introduced at 11,403. These are the 2 greatest crowds within the younger PVF season.
The Supernovas, picked by the coaches in a preseason ballot to win the brand new league, are house Wednesday for the Las Vegas Thrill.
Collier, 2022 AVCA Corridor of Fame Inductee, beforehand coached at Pittsburgh, Georgia Tech and for the final 20 years of his profession at Wingate College. He was employed by the Omaha franchise final Might. Kuhn performed for him at Georgia Tech. The teaching workers consists of John Corbelli and John Xie.
Extra from the Omaha information launch:
“With the Supernovas off to an incredible begin, we have to increase our operations in preparations for our speedy future wants. We’re lucky to have Coach Collier’s expertise in shifting into this function as Advisor to the Group,” Supernovas President, Diane Mendenhall, mentioned. “As Head Coach, Shelton has been an important a part of the formation of this staff; serving to us recruit a world-class roster that Omaha and our state have embraced. He additionally assembled a particularly gifted teaching workers, whose collective talent units, expertise and dynamics, will proceed to raise the momentum in constructing a championship franchise.”
This teaching workers enlargement comes at an important time for the Supernovas because the franchise operationalizes the subsequent section of the group’s progress. In his new function, Collier will likely be evaluating gamers all through the nation and internationally as Omaha prepares for the upcoming free company and the Professional Volleyball Federation Draft. With Kuhn serving as interim head coach, a nationwide search is underway for a everlasting head coach.
Collier mentioned, “I’m appreciative of the chance to have been the pinnacle coach for the Supernovas. I’m happy with the gifted roster we assembled and am very happy with the groups’ growth and efficiency. The gamers obtain large help from the possession group, the workers, the media, and the unimaginable followers, and they’re well-positioned for a championship run this season and, sooner or later, as properly. I’ve nice confidence and respect for Hen. I’m additionally extraordinarily excited in regards to the quick time period and long-term success of the Professional Volleyball Federation and am trying ahead to seeing this league develop and increase this 12 months and for years to come back.”
On Kuhn, Mendenhall shared, “We’re thrilled Coach Kuhn has agreed to step into the interim Head Coach place, permitting us to internally develop the construction of our group for this subsequent section. She has been an important a part of our staff as our lead Assistant Coach and alongside together with her teaching duties, she has served in the important thing function because the participant relations coach constructing our large staff tradition. Her useful expertise as a extremely revered head coach and collegiate participant has been an important aspect within the launch of the Supernovas. Moreover, we now have large assistants in place, permitting us the time and alternative to conduct a nationwide search.”
Kuhn brings useful management expertise to the Supernovas as she steps into the brand new function, serving as the pinnacle coach for the Texas A&M volleyball program from 2018-2022. Kuhn was named the 2019 SEC Coach of the 12 months after main the Aggies to a Candy 16 look within the NCAA Event. Previous to Texas A&M, Kuhn established herself as one of many high assistants within the nation, profitable the 2015 AVCA Nationwide Assistant of the 12 months, because the Affiliate Head Coach on the College of Kansas the place she helped the staff attain its first Closing 4 at school historical past.
Kuhn shared, “I’m past grateful for the chance Coach Collier has created for me and the mentorship he’ll proceed to supply as we trailblaze the trail for our sport. He put his time and skills into constructing this staff and has set this group up for fulfillment. We now have a few of the finest athletes on this planet taking part in right here in Omaha, and we’re making historical past in the USA on this inaugural season of the Professional Volleyball Federation. There are only a few occasions in life that we’re in a position to do one thing for the primary time, and I’m happy to have the ability to proceed supporting this historic effort as interim head coach.”
Kuhn is assisted by gifted, veteran coaches who, collectively, type one of many high teaching staffs within the Professional Volleyball Federation. Assistant coaches John Xie, John Corbelli and Technical Coordinator Thomas Robson are volleyball veterans with huge worldwide and collegiate expertise.
Moreover, former Creighton star Jazz Schimdt has joined the Supernovas as assistant coach and operations assistant. Schmidt was an All-American reverse and setter throughout her time at Division II Palm Seashore Atlantic College earlier than transferring to Creighton for her closing collegiate season in 2022.
Kuhn mentioned, “Jazz is a pure connector and has seamlessly made her presence felt inside this group. She has been an absolute pleasure to have within the health club and can function an ideal player-coach shifting ahead. Her power and insights will solely make our group stronger.”
Schmidt shared, “I’m past grateful and honored to have the chance to be a part of the Supernovas group within the inaugural professional volleyball season. I’ve discovered a lot pleasure on this staff from the start of Minicamp although Coaching Camp, and I’m excited to proceed working with this gifted group of athletes and those that we now have right here in Omaha! Particularly as a Bluejay, it’s extremely particular to be part of bringing skilled volleyball to Nebraska.”
Xie has labored with USA Volleyball for greater than 20 years and serves because the Director of Operations and Assistant Coach, which incorporates a number of roles on the gold-medal profitable 2020 Tokyo Olympic staff.
Corbelli has been teaching volleyball since 1981 serving as an assistant coach on the College of Nebraska, USA Volleyball and Affiliate Head Coach at Texas A&M. That additionally features a stint as Head Coach for San Jose State College.
Robson presently serves because the Technical Coordinator for the Supernovas and brings his experience from his time with the College of Wisconsin Volleyball program, after which main the NAIA volleyball powerhouse, Viterbo College.
When Collier was employed, the staff had this in a information launch:
The Omaha-based staff is owned by Jason Derulo, Danny White and Chris Erickson.
Erickson acknowledged, “As a Nebraska Native, I perceive the significance of volleyball in our state. We now have a accountability to place an distinctive staff on the courtroom and Coach Collier has the fervour and expertise to ship on that promise.”
White shared, “Coaches play a vital function in bringing out the perfect in gamers and the staff. Coach Collier already has an unimaginable core group of high gamers who’ve dedicated to our Omaha staff. We’re trying ahead to Coach finalizing an exceptional roster with extra free brokers in addition to drafting gifted collegiate gamers in November.”
