“There’s a lot to be learned and lots to be shared.”
Jason Watson, the head coach of women’s volleyball at University of Arkansas, sits down with us in this episode of the 35,000 feet podcast going over his coaching journey, his advice to athletes, and some exciting travel experiences.
In this episode, we discuss:
How this past season went for University of Arkansas Volleyball team (0:18)
How Coach Watson got into coaching (3:12)
Jason’s favorite travel experience (6:39)
One thing that no one knows about Jason (9:48)
Jason’s advice to athletes wanting to play in college (12:38)
Jason’s next adventure (17:03)
University of Arkansas Volleyball’s Past Season
Morgan: Hi guys. Welcome back. It's Morgan. Today I'm sitting down with Coach Jason. Thanks so much for joining us.
Jason: You're welcome. I'm excited.
Morgan: Yes. And we're excited to have you here and just get an insight into you and your team and your travels. One of the questions I wanted to just start out asking you is if you could tell us about some of the highs and lows of your season.
Jason: Yeah, certainly. I think no two seasons are identical. There are ebbs and flows and good times and challenges. And this past season, we were relatively young. Actually, we're a really young team and we don't use that as an excuse. It's just a fact. And so with that, it turns out that we were playing some pretty good volleyball at the end of the season, perhaps not as good and clean, as efficient at the beginning of the season.
We take some good comfort in [inaudible 00:01:30]. We want to begin with the end in mind. And with that, we want to always be good at the end of the season, playing our best at the end. And we were able to achieve that with a young team. I've only ever coached volleyball, so I don't know what it is to coach other sports, but I know it takes a long time to get good at playing volleyball. So yeah, it takes a long time for freshmen to get to understanding their season.
And so yeah, so it was a bit of a rollercoaster as most seasons can be, but what's exciting for us is the fact that we're young and we're getting better. And I think we're on the cusp of riding this nice wave with the athletes we have in our gym now that are coming. And so yeah, it's exciting. The future is exciting, but yeah, the ebb and flow of the season, it takes its toll on all of us.
Morgan: Oh, it's true. And I feel like that sports, it comes with ... There's ups and downs. There's different challenges that come and I love that you mentioned just getting through that and moving through those, so thank you.
Jason: Yeah. I've read where people talk about athletics and it's like life with the volume turned up or something like that. And I've never subscribed to that idea, because I think life is hard too. Especially now, life is much harder for other people. But I think what's comforting is that as we go through these ebbs and flows, we learn a lot about each other and we learn a lot about ourselves. We're better coped to deal with those things as we move forward. That's the hope as we go through these ebbs and flows that yeah, that we get to be better for it.
Morgan: Oh, it's true. It teaches you so much too. Sports, I feel like you learn so many different lessons just from playing and having a team and working through difficulties and that ebb and flow like you mentioned.
Jason: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
Jason Watson’s Start of His Career As A Coach
Morgan: Yeah. Well, I'm curious, Jason, how did you get to be a coach? What's your story there?
Jason: Yeah, that's an interesting journey actually. I grew up playing volleyball in high school, actually in Sydney, Australia, so playing at Homebush Boys High School, and it's one of the few high school programs in that area that actually had a gym. Most of the time we were playing outside.
Morgan: Oh wow.
Jason: Yeah. And so from there, made my way to Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah and was on the men's team there.
Morgan: Wow.
Jason: And I was fortunate to get in when it wasn't hard, meaning the team wasn't very good. Nobody wanted to go there.
Morgan: That's funny.
Jason: Yeah, and it was cheap to go to school there, of course. And so I fit a number of the requirements. The primary requirement is, "Hey, we'll take anybody," and I fit that bill. I got to play there starting in '91 and was heavily influenced by a college coach at the time there. He's since passed away, but Coach Carl McGown was the coach at BYU when I played. Magnificent human being and I loved him dearly and I just think besides my parents and my wife now, he's had such a profound effect on my life.
And so because of that, I gravitated towards coaching, and so that's how I got into it. And so my first assistant job was in, I think, '96 up at Montana State and Bozeman, Montana for a coach by the name of Dave Ganton. And I've been lucky and fortunate to work with and alongside some really good coaches as I've gone through this progress, if you will. That's how I got into it, heavily influence. I think it's probably a reoccurring theme that most coaches get into coaching because they've had such a positive experience by people who have coached them and that's not a unique story, no doubt.
Morgan: No, but I think it's awesome the influence that that coaches make because every coach ... I don't know, the coaches in my life and made a huge impact, so I think it's awesome that they made an impact on you and then you're going and making impact on your players, so I think that's awesome.
Jason: Yeah. I mean, I think there's only two ways this goes. Either you've been heavily influenced by your coach and you're going to end up coaching like them or being heavily influenced by a coach and there's no way you're ever going to coach like them because it was such a negative experience.
Morgan: Yeah, that's true.
Jason: Coaches are going to influence us one way or the other, I suppose.
Morgan: Oh no, that's actually a really good point. That's true because you learn what you do and you don't want to do in your coaching.
Jason: Yeah, for sure.
Coach Jason Watson’s Memorable Travel Experiences
Morgan: That's true. Well, thank you for sharing your story. I think that's awesome how you got to be a coach and your story there, so thank you. The next question I want to ask you is about your most memorable travel experiences. Do you have any that come to mind?
Jason: Yeah, I think when you're traveling and you're traveling teams, every trip is memorable for some reason. You're moving large groups of people through and around airports and things like that. But I think I've been pretty lucky and one of those lucky opportunities was a number of years ago. I was able to go to China with one of the USA collegiate teams and it was done through Tim Kelly and his organization, USA Volleyball. And there was some apprehension. China perhaps isn't for everybody. And there's some unique things that go on there, especially these days with everything that's going on. And so in my limited experience in China on this one trip I had, I had just a remarkable time and really enjoyed it. And we hit a number of the ... the Great Wall and Tiananmen Square and all of those things, which were wonderful.
Morgan: Oh, so cool.
Jason: But Kyle Robinson, who's now coaching at Quinnipiac I think, and so we were able to go and walk around at night. Yeah. It felt completely safe and we have like three words that we can speak in Chinese.
Morgan: That's funny.
Jason: Yeah, it was this really, really cool experience. Yeah. And the volleyball was great and the team was wonderful and those were precious moments, but just had a great time, so much so that I would hesitate to go back at any time, knowing of course that you can't always replicate that past trip, but certainly enjoyed that, so that's great. And of course, anytime I get to go home to Australia is a wonderful trip [inaudible 00:09:18] itself. So yeah, home is home and there's something special about home.
Morgan: No, it's true. I feel like with traveling, no matter where you go, there's a different culture, different environment and you learn and have fun in every place you go. I think China, it is such a unique experience, but I think that's what makes it so special.
Jason: Yeah. I would agree. There's lots to be learned, lots to be learned, lots to be shared and experiences and growth that come through travel. And so yeah, I've been really lucky to see quite a bit of the world and would like to see more of it of course once [inaudible 00:10:02].
Something Noone Knows About Coach Jason Watson
Morgan: Yes. And there's so much to see. It's amazing. It's amazing. There's so much out there. Well, thank you for sharing those traveling stories with us. And this next question, it's a little bit different flow of a question, but what is one thing that no one knows about you that you could share with us today?
Jason: Wow. Would it be a year and a half ago? My son is in college. I have three children. My oldest is going to school here at the University of Arkansas. My middle son, Brandon, is in Idaho Falls, Idaho serving-
Morgan: Oh wow.
Jason: ... yeah, serving a church mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. And so he's up there and my daughter is a senior in high school. Anyway, everybody was in school, of course and so I decided that it was my turn, so I went back to school. Always wanted to get my master's, never really been in a place in my life where I can devote the time and the resources to it.
And working alongside the Health and Human Performance Center here at Arkansas, we were able to create a little plan. I am in grad school and at the end of the summer, all things going as planned, I will graduate with my master's. And so that's exciting for me.
Morgan: Wow.
Jason: Yeah. And it's been a long time since I've been in school, so Blackboard and discussion boards and all of these things were really kind of, yeah, new. I was going to say troubling, but they're not probably, they're just new. Discussion boards are ... Well, that's for another time, I suppose. But yeah. I should be getting my master's here.
Morgan: That is so cool.
Jason: Yeah. I wanted to get it and I'm back in school and really enjoying it actually.
Morgan: No, I think that's awesome. I think with schooling, I love that you can just do it. Whenever you feel like it, you can pursue something new and keep learning. I think that's incredible.
Jason: Yeah. I've enjoyed it and learnt an enormous amount and enjoy the challenge of being a little uncomfortable in that environment. And so yeah, so hopefully come out the end of it with a master's and a better coach.
Morgan: No, think that's amazing. And I think any schooling is good because education is so important. I think learning is just important, so congratulations. That's awesome.
Jason: Yeah. Well, let's hold off and see if it comes to fruition at the end of the summer, but I'm edging closer and closest, so that's a positive. We're moving in a positive direction.
Morgan: Good, progress. That's what matters.
Jason: Yeah, for sure.
Coach Jason Watson’s Advice to Collegiate Athletes
Morgan: Well, that's awesome. Well, thank you so much. And then the next question I wanted to ask you, if you're an athlete wanting to play for a team or university, what would your advice be to them?
Jason: Yeah, so I think there's a lot. That's a really broad question and, and there's nothing wrong with the question, of course, but it's a broad. I think for potential student athletes that looking at colleges, they want to, I think, cast as wide a net as they possibly can. And there are lots of really, really good options, especially in our sport, women's volleyball. There are lots of really good options out there that run a wide range of levels, from D1, D2, D3, NAIA, junior college. There is a lot.
And each school I think is going to have something unique and special about it, and what level they play at is irrelevant to what is potentially unique and special about that school. And so the bigger challenge is to find and to really narrow down what it is that you're looking for. Is there some specific major that you're looking for? Is there some specific coaching style that you're looking for, some specific system and where do you fit in that system? And hey, are you the type of individual that's going to be patient that you're going to have to put in your time before you see playing time or you're like, "No, I don't want to ever do that. I've got to play right away"?
And so I think those are the things that you need to figure out. And perhaps more importantly is, okay, what is the depth and breadth of the relationships that I'm going to have with this staff, with this coach and with the players? Because those relationships are really going to determine your level of happiness and success. And so if you have some reservations about those relationships, but it's at a really high level, then that high level isn't going to make you happy. And so I think you've got to put in your time and you've got to perhaps take the time to ask yourself some really serious questions. And then once you do, then you're going to narrow that scope and you're going to find a place that you're going to be happy with.
I think that's a missing piece. I think we look at crowds, we look at uniforms, we look at prestige. Everybody wants to play for what we would call a sweatshirt school, where when you put the name of the school on your sweatshirt, everybody knows where it is and what it stands for, but that doesn't always mean you're going to have this great and wonderful career. And for most people, their volleyball career after high school is going to be short. I mean, it's four years, five years and then it's over. So you've got this really short window and you want to make the most of it, and so you better do your homework and ask around. That would be my advice, and of course there's countless of other opinions on it that surely sounded reasonable and good advice as well, but that would be mine.
Morgan: No, and that's great advice. I love how you mentioned finding the team for you. Find what you're looking for and do what you can to find out what team you'll be happiest with, because I think there's so much more to school than ... Again, like you said, sports only lasts so long, so find something that makes you happy that will help you.
Jason: Yeah. And to that point, you're going to spend a lot of time with these people. And these people are going to see you at your best and these people are going to see you at your worst, and likewise. And so you want to be surrounded by people that are going to do and say the things that are going to make you better, and that's not always found everywhere, because it varies. What you want and what I want is different. And so you got to know what you want, and then you got to be true to who you are.
Coach Jason Watson’s Next Big Adventure
Morgan: Oh, no, I couldn't have said it better myself. That's great advice and I'm excited for people to hear that. What's your next adventure, Jason?
Jason: Yeah. I don't know. My next adventure is getting back to work. That's probably the next adventure. We all are waiting patiently, doing our part. Who knew that three months ago that we'll be saying we're going to flatten the curve?
Morgan: I know.
Jason: But we are, and we're all doing our part. And I think that the next adventure is, what does the new normal look like? When we do all get to go back to work what is that going to look like for collegiate athletics? It's certainly going to look potentially different than it did before it started. That's the new adventure.
Travel-wise, our team gets to go to Montana State this season and. I get to go with my team back to Bozeman, Montana where it all kind of started for me. And that's going to be a pretty precious trip for me. They have a great coach there, Daniel Jones, that spent some time in Utah. He's also from New Zealand, so that's fun for us.
Morgan: Oh wow.
Jason: There's a nice, healthy rivalry between Australia and New Zealand of course. So yeah, so I'm excited to go back to Bozeman, Montana, and Montana's this beautiful place and Bozeman is this wonderful gem in the state of Montana. I'm excited for that, but yeah, no other [inaudible 00:19:02], no trips to Bora Bora or anything like that coming up, but one of these days. That's ... Is it a bucket list? Is that what they're called these days?
Morgan: Yeah, the bucket list.
Jason: The bucket list. For me, if I'm going to go anywhere on my own, I'm going home. I'm going to Australia.
Morgan: No, and those are awesome adventures. I think everyone's kind of waiting for things to get back to normal and then that's when the adventure is going to start again.
Jason: Yeah. Well, it will. It will. It'll get back to normal at some point in time.
Morgan: It will. And that's awesome that you guys are going to Montana. I think that area of Montana is beautiful, so that'll be fun for your team.
Jason: Yeah, the Gallatin Valley there is just magnificent, just up above Yellowstone there. And yeah, it's a beautiful part of the world, especially in the summer. It's not quite as wonderful in January and February, but I'm not sure. Cold.
Morgan: It's true.
Jason: I'm okay. I'm okay living somewhere where it doesn't get cold. I've done cold. I don't need to do it anymore.
Morgan: It's true. I can tell you like that warm, especially because you grew up in Australia.
Jason: I'm Australian. What can I say?
Morgan: Yes, it's true. That is true. Well, perfect. And seriously, thanks so much for letting us get a glimpse into your wonderful team. It's been so fun talking to you and just hearing your journey into your team and your travel. Thank you for sharing that with us and joining us today.
Jason: You're welcome. And I appreciate the opportunity to share with you the things we're doing here in Arkansas and myself. Yeah. I really appreciate it.
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Theme Song - I’ll Just Be Me by Gravity Castle