The Coaches Group Chat
The Coaches Group Chat
Matthew Houlihan, Arielle Houlihan, Chad Gordon
Grab a drink and a seat at the table with hosts Matt Houlihan, Arielle Houlihan and Chad Gordon as we chat about the world of volleyball, coaching, business, and whatever else Arielle feels like!
S4E14: NCAA Championship Recap, Tourney Expansion, Transfer Portal
We come back from the NCAA men’s volleyball national championship trip fired up about the crowd, the chaos, and how good the event felt in person. We also get honest about what still holds the sport back on TV, plus the portal and replay issues that keep stealing oxygen from the volleyball. • getting media passes and roaming the arena like it’s normal • why the building sounded full but the broadcast looked empty • ticket pricing and camera-side seating as a fixable problem...
May 15
32 min
S4E13: May Madness, Touch-Gate, Final Four Predictions
The NCAA men’s volleyball tournament delivers a chaos filled quarterfinal weekend where matches swing on stoppages, challenges, and pure nerve. We break down the biggest replay controversies, talk about how momentum collapses after an overturned finish, then lock in our completely split Final Four champion picks. • Tournament expansion paying off with high drama matchups • Penn State vs Irvine fifth set chaos and long stoppages • Cameron Kosty blood delay and the legendary ...
May 6
24 min
S4E12: Bracket Challenge, Big West is More Entertaining Than MPSF, Milan Mania
We lock in our NCAA men’s volleyball tournament predictions and argue where the real upset windows are hiding, especially around UC Irvine’s ability to turn a match with serving pressure. Then we zoom out to the sport itself, from Big West entertainment value and rivalry heat to what “Milan Mania” teaches about training, leadership, and letting athletes put on a show. • bracket pick’em challenge details and why the submission data is interesting • UC Irvine vs Penn State picks and...
Apr 30
41 min
S4E11: Conference Tournaments, Pacific Gives, D-Ops
We run the full men’s volleyball playoff gauntlet, from the NEC and EIVA through the MIVA, MPSF, and Big West, then put real picks on the table for who wins and who sweats the bubble. Along the way we get into bracket expansion math, Pacific Gives fundraising chaos, and why behind-the-scenes ops work is the secret weapon of great programs. • Stanford season ends at BYU and the playoff mood shifts fast • NEC and EIVA quick hits, matchups that feel like annual destiny • MIVA ...
Apr 24
32 min
S4E10: Jordan Lucas, UC Merced, and LOVB Finals
We react to the Jordan Lucas broadcast clip that set off a viral storm in men’s volleyball and use it to talk about how inclusion actually shows up in sports culture. We also pivot to UC Merced’s packed gym, LOVB’s golden set playoff format, and a quick wedding update that somehow turns into bachelor party planning. • our apology for a lost recording and the chaos that follows • the UC Irvine vs CSUN moment and why the “popped” comment hits differently • how Jordan Lucas’ v...
Apr 15
26 min
S4E9: Volleyball Day In The Bay, Are "Yeller" Coaches Done For?
Volleyball Day in the Bay becomes less about a single match and more about building a real Bay Area volleyball tradition around Stanford men’s volleyball. We unpack what worked, what fell flat, and how coaching intensity changes when trust and emotional intelligence lead the way. • tailgate energy and cross-club volleyball community showing up • beach volleyball at Stanford and why the venue feels special • youth clinic logistics and the value of getting kids on the floor • attendance goals,...
Mar 17
35 min
S4E8: Volleyball Antagonists, Mid Season All-Americans, Message to Younger Volleyball Self
We argue about men’s volleyball “antagonists” and end up in a real debate about what turns casual fans on or off, from missed serves to confusing calls and commentary. Then we shift into mid-season player picks, youth club culture, and the hardest part of sports, being a parent or teammate who can let people fail and still feel supported. • Hawaii volleyball fans as the internet antagonist • David Kniffin as the mysteriously snubbed “bad guy” • Missed serves as a barrier to...
Mar 13
36 min
S4E7: Hecklers, Banners, And Volleyball Day in the Bay
We swap our favorite heckling stories, then shift to a thoughtful case for reinstating Hawaii’s vacated 2002 title before rallying the Bay Area for a massive volleyball day push. Humor, history, and a concrete plan to pack the stands drive the hour. • mid-season energy and a new competitive drill • whiteboard wit and the line between sharp and mean • Big West heckling culture and nostalgia • Stanford deep dives and Hawaii’s electric arena • the 2002 Hawaii title, rule changes, and fairness •...
Mar 4
26 min
S4E6: Chair Etiquette, NCAA Rule Changes, Setter Dunks
We kick off with a viral chair-etiquette debate, then push into real fixes: retire work teams with smarter tech, clarify NCAA rule changes, and make the case to let setters dunk with two hands. Along the way we argue for consistent officiating, cleaner gyms, and better fan behavior. • chair etiquette and common-sense seating • parents’ role in sideline tension • removing work teams with AI-assisted tools • rebranding officiating roles for clarity • NCAA pursuit rule and space constraints • c...
Feb 25
31 min
S4E5: All-Puerto Rico Team, Volleyball Fumbled the Gays, Middles Obsolete?
Super Bowl week turned San Francisco into a branded maze and sparked a bigger talk about how events shape cities and attention. We celebrate Puerto Rican volleyball legends, question why volleyball hasn’t captured LGBTQ fandom like hockey has, and debate whether modern lineups make traditional middles expendable. • citywide Super Bowl activations and event fatigue • Benito Bowl reactions and why representation hits • all‑time Puerto Rican NCAA picks across eras • why programs should teach th...
Feb 12
36 min
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