Our motto "PLAY LIKE A CHAMPION" for the volleyball coaching staff at NDA is not only about the way we approach the opportunity to work with the student athlete in preparing for competition, but is also a description of the way we, as coaches, and our teams want to be perceived off the court as well. We will compete very hard with the expectation to win, but we will be gracious when we do not.
Too often, in today's competitive environment, we can get too caught up in competitive moments and lose sight of the athletes incremental improvements day to day. We as a coaching staff work to push our players to reach their peak, and recognize each players successes every day. They will be pushed to be mentally and physically strong, to grow both individually and as a team through the season. Their preparation, hard work and dedication will lead to our success, and they will each be a champion.
Varsity
Head Coach Tom Larsen
Tom started his volleyball coaching career at Premontre High School in 1989, as the junior varsity coach, on staff with Mary Jane Klister. When the three local Catholic schools merged to become Notre Dame Academy in 1990, Tom joined NDA as well. He was named the Varsity Coach in 1992, and lead the Tritons to the conference championship in their first year in the Fox River Valley Conference in 1993. The Triton Volleyball Team team also qualified for the WISAA State Tournament in 1992, 1993 and 1995. Tom was also an assistant coach for the Green Bay Junior's boy's club team, working with Lee Stuyvenberg in 1995 and 1996. "It was an honor to work with Lee in the boy's program. He is a legend in the volleyball coaching family in the area" Tom "retired" from Notre Dame in 1997, to spend more time with his family.
Though not coaching volleyball at the high school level, Tom helped to start the local volleyball club - Hangtime in 2000. He was the club director, for Hangtime, for two years before joining Wisconsin PoWer in 2004. Over the last 6 years, he has coached several different age groups for Wisconsin PoWer, from 12's to 15's. "I really enjoy working with the younger athletes. They are hungry to learn."
"It was an honor to come back to NDA, in 2008, after a 11 years away from the High School coaching ranks. The academic and athletic reputation of this institution is well known throughout the area and I am thrilled to be on staff at NDA again."
You can reach Coach Tom via email at: tsamj5@sbcglobal.net
Assistant Coach Pat Lynch
Pat began playing volleyball with his family from an early age. His parents and family have been instrumental in offering many opportunities for athletes interested in learning about volleyball at many levels throughout the Midwest through USA Volleyball. Pat began his playing career officially, at Wauwatosa East High School, and continued on the Men's volleyball club team at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
As a Coach, Pat has worked with the U12 boys team in Tulsa, OK from 1994-1998, and 6th-8th grade girls at Monte Cassino School, also in Tulsa, OK. After coming to Green Bay in 1999, Pat worked with the 6th-8th grade girl's teams at Holy Family School thru 2008. In 2004, he joined the coaching staff at Wisconsin PoWer - Green Bay, working with the 4th - 8th grade Taste Of Power athletes.
In 2008, Pat joined the volleyball staff at Notre Dame Academy as a Varsity Assistant. He has a tremendous amount of experience working with young athletes, and does a tremendous job of working with the athletes to understand the importance of the details to improve their game.
Junior Varsity
Coach Ben Wolf
JV Coach Ben Wolf is on his 5th year of coaching and his 2nd stint of coaching for the Tritons. He was previously an assistant NDA coach under current St. Norbert volleyball coach Bethani Thibodeau from 2005-2007. In 2008, he was hired by the Pulaski Community School District as an 8th grade science teacher and their head freshman volleyball coach under a current Notre Dame coach, Peg Mastey. When he received a call from Tom Larsen to come back to Notre Dame, he jumped at chance to join the staff and is now enter his 2nd year back. "I feel I am truly back where I belong", Wolf said.
Wolf's volleyball career began as a freshman at UW-Green Bay, playing for their men's club team as a libero and a setter. He also helped with the Red Smith Middle School team in Green Bay throughout college. In the off season, Wolf coaches for the Green Bay PoWer club program, working with the 18 and Under BOYS team. He is currently in the works with NDA to try and start a boy's club volleyball program that will eventually grow into a full fledged varsity sport.
Freshmen
Coach Peg Mastey
Go Team!