JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Being a head coach on any level can be grueling. But imagine coaching two teams all in the same year.
Lauren Ford has no time to waste as the head volleyball coach at Edward Waters University (EWU), where she oversees both the women's and men's volleyball teams.
"My women report usually in early August. We'll have a three-week training camp, and then we start competing in September and our season goes from September to November," Ford explains.
"When one season ends, another picks up right in January. We go from January to April. We have our tournament here in April and then we have the big tournament late April," she elaborates.
"June is really my recruiting season so I go out and try to get kids to join my program, women and men. July, I do my final preparations and then I welcome them back in August," Ford adds.
Although she's in her second year at EWU, Ford's record speaks volumes. She led both the men's and women's teams to SIAC Division Championships.
"I always believe in experience and acting like you've been there before, and we have. This team has been to the championship twice. We won it last year," Ford proudly states.
Her players are equally impressed with her coaching style. Junior setter Kenyon Haynes commends Ford's unique approach, saying, "She comes from a different side of volleyball, and she brings all of the aspects from her side to our game and integrates it in a different way than a men's coach would."
So, when does Coach Ford have any time off? She told First Coast Sports she takes one month off during the month of May, a well-deserved break from her demanding schedule.