Colorado University Athletics
Mahoney's Progress Rapid At CU Volleyball Helm
April 13, 2016 | Volleyball
BOULDER — In the four months since he was named Colorado's fifth head volleyball coach, Jesse Mahoney has done just about everything possible — except take a break.
"Not really time for that," Mahoney said with laugh earlier this week. "There's a lot to accomplish and only some much time to do it."
Mahoney's punch list has been a lengthy one. Since taking the job on Dec. 17, he and the Buffs have:
— Filled out a coaching staff with assistants that bring with them experience at some of the nation's powerhouse programs;
— Embarked on a spring workout schedule that has included matches against one NCAA Tournament team from last season (Colorado State) and an NCAA Final Four team from last year (Kansas); as well as an upcoming April 21 home match at the Coors Events Center vs. Northern Colorado (free to the public), and a spring finale against defending national champion Nebraska;
— Hosted some of the nation's top recruits, while also spending countless hours on the road lining up future classes;
— Seen three Buffs selected for elite USA Volleyball squads;
— Welcomed a standout transfer to the program, along with signing two stellar recruits;
— And, perhaps most importantly, started setting the foundation for next year, a season Mahoney believes could be a special one for the Buffs.
"Right after spring break, we started turning a corner and made some big strides," said Mahoney, who came to CU from Denver University. "I know I've said there hasn't really been a No. 1 priority for us because everything is important, but really, the big priority for us has been the group of players we have right here. There's so much talent on this roster, we're trying to figure out ways to maximize that talent and be ready to be a really good team in the fall."
Those, of course, are just the highlights. Mahoney and his staff have been busily attending to every detail possible with the program, from strength and conditioning to recruiting to practice to summer schedules to organizing camps. While there haven't been any surprises, his time in Boulder has reaffirmed things he already knew.
"One thing I knew coming in but has just been reinforced is that the leadership of our athletic department is top notch," Mahoney said. "They've made it clear from Day One that they have a vision and a plan for what our program — what all the programs — are going to accomplish and want to accomplish going forward. It's been great to work with a department that is truly dedicated to success."
That chance for success should be good, beginning next fall. While the Buffs did lose a pair of standout seniors who were part of a team that finished 19-13 a year ago and 11-9 in the rugged Pac-12, there's nevertheless a returning nucleus of players who should make CU competitive right out of the gate.
The list includes junior Gabby Simpson, recently selected to play on the USA Volleyball Collegiate National Training team that will tour Europe this summer, as well as being named to a Pac-12 All-Star team that will tour China; sophomore Alexa Smith, a transfer from Purdue who will play with a USA Volleyball Collegiate team that will tour China this summer; and redshirt freshman Taylor Joachim, who will play with the USA Volleyball Collegiate team's Indianapolis training program this summer.
Meanwhile, the Buffs have already selected co-captains for next season, with senior Cierra Simpson and junior Joslyn Hayes assuming the roles. Cierra Simpson is also one of four returnees who played in at least 100 sets last fall — the others are Gabby Simpson, Naghede Abu and Anna Pfefferle.
It's a strong returning group and a solid foundation on which to build. But there's also another part of the equation, the unknown that always comes with the transition to a new coaching staff.
Mahoney said that hasn't been an issue.
"They've been fantastic," Mahoney said. "Not that I was worried about it, but the transition has been terrific. They are good kids, great volleyball players, great students, active in the community — it's by no means been a surprise, but it's been a great confirmation of what we expected when we got here."
Mahoney's staff, meanwhile, has some impressive credentials.
Assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Lee Maes has been an assistant at Louisville and Nebraska and the head coach at Virginia. At each stop, he earned a reputation as a top-notch recruiter. Evan Sanders — a former Centaurus High School standout — played for Mahoney when he was the associate head coach at Colorado State, then spent a year at Washington. After a professional career overseas, she spent last season as a volunteer assistant at Texas, helping the Longhorns to an NCAA runner-up finish.
Now, the entire staff is on the recruiting trail at every possible moment, both in state and around the nation.
"Statewide, the reception has been great," Mahoney said. "I've been in the state for so long and know everyone so well, everybody we talk to is happy for our staff and program. It's been the same nationally — everywhere we go, people are excited about the program and the potential for the Buffs."
The Buffs are now on the home stretch of their spring season. They'll host the April 21 home match vs. UNC at 6 p.m., then travel to Ogallala, Neb., two days later for a match with the defending national champion Cornhuskers.
When the spring semester is finished, players will then head out of town for a month to play with club teams, beach volleyball and USA Volleyball squads before returning to Boulder in time for the program's summer camps in July.
Soon after that, they'll begin fall camp and the first season of the Mahoney Era.
"One thing that's been great from the beginning is that the players have been very receptive to what we've asked them to do," Mahoney said. "We didn't come in and make wholesale changes to everything, but we did make some philosophical changes we felt were important and their response had been great.
"Now we have two more weeks of spring, which means we have 10 more opportunities to get better. We'll try to cram as much information is as we can — and then when we get back in July for camp and August for preseason, we can pick up where we left off."
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
