“Why I Coach” with Harlan grad Liz Stein

(Underwood) Underwood head volleyball coach Liz Stein joins the “Why I Coach” podcast. The Harlan native is in her first year with the Eagles after a four year stint at Audubon.

Many factors drew Stein towards coaching. Among them were growing up in a competitive culture in Harlan and having an active family. “I loved sports. I loved the impact that my coaches had on me. Just kind of the belief they instilled in me. I loved that and I wanted to hopefully impact some kids like they did.”

She had a long list of influential coaches during her career with the Cyclones, but standing out amongst the crowd was the late Bill Hosack. “With all the great coaches I had it’s hard to pick one or two, but the one that probably stands out the most to me would be Bill Hosack. He coached track in Harlan for forever. He was so hard on you, but he was so kind as well. He knew how to talk to you and maybe chew your butt a little bit, but also you knew that he was your biggest supporter. It also helped that that guy is a character. He’s just the biggest sweet heart in the world and he was probably the one that stands out the most to me.”

Stein is married to head Harlan baseball coach Heath Stein which can be a unique dynamic. “It can be tough at times,” laughs Stein. “Especially now we have a little one year old. Last summer was a little rough on me, but I also love it because I can come home and he knows ‘Oh maybe he shouldn’t talk to her right now, she’s a little mad about that game.’ He comes and supports as well and I can bounce things off of him, different ideas, different strategies. Sometimes he tells me the things I don’t want to hear, but I know he’s always there and just trying to make me a better coach.”

Another interesting element of Stein’s coaching career has been competing against her sister Faith Bruck who is the head volleyball coach at Logan-Magnolia. “She’s always been someone that I’ve learned a lot from that’s been supportive. I can always bounce questions off of her. It’s really nice having her in the conference too.”

Stein points out her Eagles swept Bruck’s Panthers this past fall. “I’ve got to tell you it’s a great feeling. I mean we are probably the two most competitive people in our family. It was nice to rub that in her face this year.”

The first four years of Stein’s career were spent in Audubon. “I saw the job posting at Audubon and I was really excited. It was somewhere close to home, but somewhere different that I wasn’t super familiar with. It was a small school which is what I wanted and it was a perfect fit. I loved teaching and coaching over there. There are some awesome people over there. Great, great girls. Just a good place to start my teaching and coaching career.”

She lists Molly Lange and Sue Hawkins as two great mentors during her time with the Wheelers. Stein says basketball was her favorite sport to play, but she admits she’s a better volleyball coach.