Lady Panthers welcome new head coach
Hollie Huston had every right to wonder what kind of reception she would receive when she became Colleyville Heritage’s new volleyball coach.
She followed a legacy where former head coach Jamie Siegel had directed the Lady Panthers to two consecutive Region I championship game appearances (2012 and 2013). The program also produced several Division I players.
But concerns quickly dissipated when she met her players on her first day in late April.
“The players at Colleyville Heritage were the most receptive at any place I’ve been to,” Huston said. “They were open to change. We had buy-in. I’ve been in situations where it’s taken a couple of years to feel really comfortable.”
It may be a rebuilding season for the Lady Panthers. It may be a continuation of what Siegel started in 2009. That’s what made the off-season in May critical for Huston to see where the program is and what she could do to prepare for the season that begins at the end of this month.
Huston, who is also the girls athletic coordinator, comes from Saginaw Chisholm Trail. She opened that program three years ago and guided it to the brink of making the Class 5A playoffs in 2014. That team just missed.
The attraction to this position was the recent success along with a demographic where volleyball players are engaged with the sport throughout the year. A successful volleyball program needs a bevy of players who are involved in club.
“It’s exciting because here there are kids who are creating opportunities,” Huston said. “There’s a culture where they are getting touches. We weren’t able to do that yet at Chisholm Trail. I want to build on the successes and get Colleyville Heritage to the state tournament.”
She starred as a 5-7 outside hitter at Springtown and led the program to the 1994 and 1995 Class 3A state tournament. Now, 5-7 isn’t ideal for playing at the net. However, Huston used hard work as the foundation. It translated into her playing collegiately at McMurry in Abilene as a setter.
Huston, 35, credits her former coach at Springtown in Cari Lowery for getting her into coaching. Colleyville Heritage is Huston’s fourth stop. She coached at Elgin and Andrew before coming to Chisholm Trail. Her career record is 266-179.
Huston will implement a tough love approach. She calls herself “a little old-school.” Once a mistake is made, it’s corrected and everybody moves on. She wants her players to do things the right way.
Although she had a month to get to know her team, she and her staff will need the upcoming week camp to determine who can play where. Sophomore Laura Evans could move from outside hitter to setter. Senior Rachel Goodwin was the team’s libero. It’s unclear what her new role will be. Senior setter Katherine Anthony appears to be a lock at setter. But Huston is eager to learn what junior outside hitter Tatum Tickner can do. Tickner missed the offseason due to an ankle injury. However, Huston saw Tickner play at a national tournament in New Orleans and said Tickner appears to be fully recovered.
“I didn’t have a lot of God-given height or talent,” Huston said. “But I believe that hard work will beat talent. You just have to be ready for any situation.”
This story was originally published July 13, 2015 at 3:55 PM with the headline "Lady Panthers welcome new head coach."