Auburn, ME – Head women's volleyball coach, Kyle Chapman, is entering his second year at the helm. Originally from Phoenix Valley in Arizona, Chapman didn't start playing volleyball until his junior year in high school. Although late to the sport, he was able to pick up the game fast and by his senior year he excelled, culminating with an All-Tournament team selection at the USAV Boys Junior National Championships.
After high school, he attended Brigham Young University where he served as in the student manager role for the men's volleyball team. Chapman adds, "During those four years, I was able to learn from some of the best athletes and coaches in the country. That experience showed me the type of coach that I want to be." Being able to stay involved with the game after suffering a back injury, proved to be monumental for his future as a head coach. After college he moved to Arizona and coached boys' volleyball at the high school and club levels.
He relocated to Maine when his wife got a new job and he instantly started to grow the game in the Lewiston/Auburn area. This led him to creating a new girls' volleyball team at Lewiston High School as well as a club program out of the Lewiston Armory. Soon after that, he was named the head women's volleyball coach at CM.
During his first year as the head coach at CM, the Mustangs made history by finishing with their best record in program's history. Now with a big recruiting class coming in, Chapman is looking to build on the success they had last season and take the Mustangs to their first post-season appearance. While recruiting, Chapman looks for student-athletes who are dedicated to the sport of volleyball and as well as their academics. "We are trying to make something special here at CM, something that we can be proud of. A culture of success, on the court and in the classroom. I am looking for athletes who work as hard in the classroom as they do on the court," explained Chapman.
Chapman uses a saying that women's basketball coach, Andrew Morong, says "No one is bigger than the team." He wants athletes that personify that phrase and are humble enough to put their team before themselves. His coaching philosophy is that he is a teacher first and a coach second. John Wooden said, "If I am through learning, I am through." Chapman tries to create a culture of learning and trying new things, because that is the only way that players grow as individuals and as a team.
Recently, Chapman was brought on as a full-time professor here in the Exercise Science and Physical Health Specialist department. Now being on campus full-time, he is able to be more available for his student-athletes if they have any issues or concerns or just want extra help. Before his students arrive back on campus, he is running two volleyball camps. He has an "Intro to Volleyball" camp the beginning of August with an "Elite Volleyball" camp the following week. All geared towards expanding the sport of volleyball in this area and in the state of Maine.
Interested in attending one of his camps? Click here to register.
