Viking_Yearbook_91

below: Shannon Thordarson sets the ball with skill. bottom: Erika Boggio, sophomore, leaps to return the ball to her opponents. Photo by Deborah Hallick Sports/Volleyball Coaches face challenges on the floor and at home eff Mozzochi is the head coach of PSU's volleyball team. His wife, Marty, is the assistant. Although this isn't the only husband and wife coaching duo in the world, it is certainly a rare situa tion, and presents additional chal lenges to the job for both of them. "Working together is a challenge. It changes every year, our responsibilities shift and we have to change. But it is a lot of fun. If we didn't enjoy it we wouldn't be doing it. Every year we evaluate how we did, and what changes we want to make. It is an ongoing process, definitely not stagnant or stale," said Jeff Mozzochi. "It makes for interesting conversation. We have to sit back at the end of each year and look at what was good and bad about that particular year in terms of our working relationship. We have to be open to changes, and be able to listen to each other. We learn a lot about each other. The key is knowing the difference when the one of us needs to blow off steam or when they are making an im- portant state– ment," added Marty Moz– zochi. BothMoz– zochis feel working with the young ath– letes is worth meeting those challenges, largely because of the success of their pro– gram. "I am good at coaching. If I wasn't good at it I wouldn't be doing it," said Jeff. "If we weren't in a position where all this hard work could pay off, or if I didn't really legitimately feel we had a shot at a national tide most of the time then I might have to think about why I was do– ing it." The coaching duo led the Vikings to Division II national titles in 1984, 1985 and 1988, and to a founh-place finish in 1990. "If you are going to put that much time and energy into something you want your athletes to have the opponunity to win the whole thing. As long as we can continue feeling we have that po– tential, we are going to stay here," Jeff said. "We have a love for the game and feel fonu– nate to be able to do what we love and get paid for it," Marty added. "There is a lot of satisfaction in seeing the benefits of hard work a group of people have to put together towards a common goal. There is a lot of satisfaction in seeing the young ladies improve and develop as people and as volleyball players." The two coaches recognize that they bring different aspects to the game and feel that this enhances their coaching. "We have very different strengths. I don't think that they are quite as opposite anymore be– cause we have been coaching together for a while, but we have very different personalities and we approach things differently," she said. The two coach– es co-coach the team, and al– though the job changes every year, one of them does not assume more responsibility over the team then the other. So working under her husband doesn't present much of a problem for Marty Mozzochi. "The only time that it is ever real– ly becomes a prob- lem is when there are things that are her responsibility that aren't getting done and I as the technical head coach have to say that it has to get done," jeff ~id. "And that is when I tell him to get out and mow the lawn," said Marty. • • • Deborah Hallick