New coaches often encounter a myriad of difficulties, including earning players’ respect, adjusting them to strategy or recruiting players. New head volleyball coach David Tatum overcame these obstacles and earned the title of West Sequoia League (WSL) Coach of the Year, leading his team to state playoffs.

Tatum says he began his stint as head coach with anxiety and also some hesitation about filling his schedule with teenage girls.

“I was definitely nervous to coach especially because it was a girls’ team,” Tatum said. “If you had asked me if I wanted to spend six months hanging out with a bunch of girls, I probably would have said no.”

During the summer practices former coach Shailey Jones practiced and conditioned the team, but with a few weeks left of summer she left for Reedley High School, leaving an opening for Tatum. Despite a past record of 27-11-1, Tatum says he felt quite unprepared for the season.

“Since I came on with only a few weeks left in summer I felt like I had a big disadvantage,” Tatum said. “Having to get to know them in a short time and see how they are able to play was tough. It was hard because I didn’t get to work with them as much as I wanted to before the season had started.”

Although a first-time girls coach and lacking summer practices, Tatum received the WSL Coach of the Year award.

“I was sitting in a Starbucks with all the other coaches,” Tatum said. “The way it works is we all cast a ballot and then they are read off in a ‘survivor’ kind of way. The vote was unanimous for me which was cool that my peers felt that I deserved the award. It was also nice to have them recognize me, especially since it was my first year.”

At most volleyball games, Tatum can be seen sitting in a chair calmly watching the game. Despite his apparent tranquility, he admits he feels “the jitters” too.

“I may not show that I’m nervous but I have the butterflies just as much as they do,” Tatum said. “I’m excited for them, I get the bursts of adrenaline they get, but I try to keep my composure for them so they don’t get even more nervous because of me.”

Tatum’s wife Jennifer Tatum, the girls soccer coach and PE Instructor, finished a close second in the run for coach of the year last season. She admits a little jealousy at David’s success.

“I was a little bitter about the fact that he got it (Coach of the Year) his first year coaching,” Jennifer said. “I almost got it last year, so I was a bit jealous that he got it. It has encouraged me to want to get it this year though.”

In spite of a “husband vs. wife rivalry,” Jennifer says she finds deep satisfaction in his accomplishments.

“I’m very proud of him,” Tatum said. “I think he has done a wonderful job coaching the girls this season. He has made school history in his first year. He has taken second in two tournaments and second in the valley and made it to the quarter-finals in state, which volleyball hasn’t done before.”

Outside hitter Emily Schoettler, ’11, says Tatum is a perfect choice for the award. She is determined to keep him as coach.

“He’s really down to earth and funny, but at the same time he pushes us to be the best we can be, so he is very deserving to get the award,” Schoettler said. “He is my favorite coach I have ever had and I couldn’t imagine anyone else I would want to coach me my senior year.”

Many people believe the coach makes a team excellent, but Tatum attributes his success as a first-year head coach to his team.

“A lot of coaches, especially first-year coaches, would probably have wanted as good of a team like the one I’ve gotten,” Tatum said. “I’d like to be able to say that we’ve gotten so far because of me, but it’s really because of the girls working hard. I look good because of them working hard and playing well.”

Coach of the girls volleyball at Fowler, Darin Williams who earned the WSL award at Washington Union in 1987 says from Tatum’s experience at Buchanan and Point Loma Nazarene University he was able to lead his team.

“Coach Tatum obviously knows what he’s doing,” Williams said. “He’s been coached by some good coaches and he takes what they’ve done and uses it for his team. Also, the girls had to buy into his program which I think they did. The girls at Fresno Christian certainly are very disciplined and know what their goals are and want to achieve things.”

Principal Todd Bennett, also a new administrator, went through similar trials of adjusting and takes pride in watching Tatum’s achievements.

“I’m very excited for coach Tatum personally, but also for our school,” Bennett said. “Because I know how hard it is to come into a new program following a very popular coach and being able to get the students to buy into your program, which he has done. Also, how he has been able to build a real strong team and that it’s all based on Christian values which is the most important thing.”

Tatum says he already has plans for next season, and hopes to break the cycle of placing second in tournaments. At the Caruthers Raisin Harvest tournament, Coast Union tournament and at CIF Central Section Division V playoffs they took second.

“I’ve joked with the girls about how we’ve been the ‘queens’ of second place,” Tatum said. “So, I’d really like to see them take a first place in a tournament and go undefeated in league. I’d also like to be competing for Valley every year and going to state every year which would probably be my main overarching goal. They’ve done so well this year and my hope would be that they would continue to do well and even better.”

Compared to public school coaches, private coaches have the oft-considered privilege to pray and share God with their team. Tatum says he relished the opportunity to reach his team for Christ.

“Being able to pray with them and do devotionals has been a real fun thing,” Tatum said. “Coaching this season has been kind of a small group kind of deal where we get to have Bible study and talk about life along with volleyball.”

In addition to the FC tradition of praying as a team after games, the volleyball team took it to another level and reached out to opposing players.

“A cool thing about the girls is that they have really shown Christ by asking other girls if they can pray for them,” Tatum said. “I’ve told them that we win with class and lose with dignity. And no matter what, be an example of Christ.”

Tatum says he learned valuable lessons this year, but above all, to bring honor to the Lord.

“As Christians we do everything for the glory of God,” Tatum said. “I’ve seen as a coach that by the end of the day, all we do is for God. I’ve learned life lessons and have built character. In the end win or lose it’s all about bringing God glory.”

For more information, read the Volleyball sport shorts or the Sept. 9 article, Tatum combines family, volleyball.

Tatum is the second campus coach to receive the WSL Coach of the Year award, after head football coach Bonner Cunnings. For more information, read the Nov. 30 article, Eagle skipper garners Coach of the Year award.