Coaches Corner – Craig Dyer, Asst. Coach, Creighton – Front Row Five Questions
When your watching volleyball at a gym or an arena, Where is the closest seat in the house? The first row. Close? How about the bench? Yes, the team bench. This is the true FRONT ROW! My Coaches Corner Series…
Access all of Prep Dig
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingWhen your watching volleyball at a gym or an arena, Where is the closest seat in the house? The first row. Close? How about the bench? Yes, the team bench. This is the true FRONT ROW! My Coaches Corner Series will be devoted to Collegiate Coaches of all levels and five basic and fun questions to share
The assistant coach of Creighton, Craig Dyer is the recruiting coordinator of the Blue Jays and oversees all contact with recruits that are looking to attend Creighton. Personally, I’ve known Craig since 2008 when we met working a USAV High Performance boys camp for together. He then went on and was the coach for the 2008 Men’s Junior National team that year,
Dyer: I started playing volleyball with my church youth group in high school. My high school did not have a team and club volleyball was not big in my area. So I had to play in adult leagues until I got to college. My college, Susquehanna University, did not have a varsity team (still doesn’t) but we had a club team. I played on that team for 4 years and was “All-Conference” as a setter my SR season. Also during my junior year, the womens varsity (Div III) hired a new head coach. I volunteered with him as a student assistant during my senior year and stayed on as his assistant for two years after graduation. His name was Bill Switala and he was my first coaching mentor. I fell in love with coaching and have been in the profession since 1995. Creighton is a wonderful institution and they put a lot of resources into Athletics. I have been an assistant at large Power 5 schools (football schools) and at smaller schools without football. I prefer the small school feel. All athletics departments claim their department is just like a family – but at Creighton I truly feel like I am part of a family. There is a lot of support between programs and amongst the coaches. Our Head Coach Kirsten Bernthal-Booth has great energy and drive. She wants to win an NCAA Championship not just a Big East Championship. We are constantly working toward that goal as a staff with training and recruiting.
BG: 2. What do you enjoy the most about the recruiting aspect of your job.
Dyer: I enjoy the connections that I have made over my time as a coach. I continue to see and keep in touch with club coaches from my time as a Div III asst almost 25 years ago. While the recruiting rules have changed recently, I also enjoy getting to know the players and their families to see if they are a good fit for our program. We can still do that, but just not as early as we used to.
BG: 3. Who did you look up to when you played volleyball and why?
Dyer: I didn’t have a lot of exposure to high level volleyball when I was in HS. This was obviously before the internet and again, not many boys HS programs in my area. When I went to college, I would go up to Penn State to watch men’s matches in the early 90’s. I remember being impressed with the team and specifically the 1994 National Championship team. Ironically, I was fortunate enough to be an assistant with that same program years later.
BG: 4. If you could give one piece of advice to a high school student-athlete concerning volleyball, what would it be?
Dyer: My advice would be to play the whole game. Even if you are a middle, make sure you can ball control. If you are a DS, make sure you can send a downball over the net. The more you can play the whole game the more marketable you will be for higher levels (HS, Club and College).
BG: 5. Being a Pennsylvanian such as yourself, what is your favorite Pennsylvanian food you miss from home. (Mine is teaberry Ice cream)
Dyer: I grew up on the outskirts of Philadelphia so I would have to say Philly Cheesesteaks.
BG: I promised not to ask Which Cheesesteak? Gino’s East or Pat’s.