When the men’s volleyball team takes on the University of
Hawai’i this weekend, it will be without an integral part of
its coaching staff. That’s because assistant coach Mike Sealy
will be in the islands watching the matches, but not as a Bruin.
Hawai’i women’s volleyball coach Dave Shoji announced
Saturday the hiring of Sealy as his new associate head coach. Sealy
will be replacing Charlie Wade, who left the position in January to
head the University of Pacific team, and will be joining the
Rainbow Wahine in preseason training beginning Monday. Sealy made
the decision to apply for the position because it was an
opportunity for him to advance himself in the career he loves.
“If I want to move up in the coaching ranks, then obviously I
need to go outside of UCLA to make that happen because there are
two major staffs in place now,” Sealy said. “I
appreciate both (the women’s and the men’s game), but
the way that it’s set up right now, there’s 10 times as
many women’s programs as men’s. So to get into the
women’s game, it leaves so many more options available for
the future.” Sealy has spent four years as the second
assistant coach under Al Scates and a year coaching under
women’s coach Andy Banachowski. Without either coach leaving
any time soon, Sealy looked to further his career at Hawai’i.
“As an assistant coach, if you want to be a career coach, you
have to move on to some place else to do it,” men’s
volleyball assistant coach Brian Rofer said. “Unfortunately
in men’s volleyball and women’s volleyball, there
aren’t a whole lot of career options.” Sealy’s
experience and talent as a player and coach will be missed among
the members of the UCLA volleyball program. Sealy’s has
helped the Bruins’ game with his experience, having set the
1993 team to the nation’s highest hitting percentage (.420)
and played professionally in Europe for years. But despite the
loss, the coaching staff supports Sealy’s decision to move on
to bigger and better things. “I’m disappointed that
he’s leaving UCLA, but it’s a great opportunity for him
to take a step and further his career,” Banachowski said.
“I think he’s making the right move for himself.
I’m just disappointed that we’re going to lose a great
coach.” “He’s been trying to get a first
assistant job for awhile now,” Scates said. “I expect
the second assistants to move up if they can. More importantly,
he’ll have a chance to be a head coach soon.” Scates
plans to fill Sealy’s position by hiring undergraduate
assistant Kris Kraushaar to second assistant coach, and he also
anticipates help from former Cal State Northridge men’s and
women’s volleyball coach Walt Ker. Ker, the father of UCLA
All-American sophomore libero Tony Ker, is to help as a volunteer
coach to the team.
TONIGHT: The No. 9 Bruins can rely on
Sealy’s coaching for at least a few more games as they take
on No. 10 Loyola-Chicago at 7 p.m. in Pauley Pavilion.
Loyola-Chicago enters tonight’s match with a 15-1 record. The
team is first in the Midwest Intercollegiate Volleyball Association
and its .355 hitting percentage is second in the nation. After
being swept three matches in a row, the Bruins plan to put a halt
to their nine-game losing streak.