Jung Park Hired as Boys Varsity Volleyball Coach Athletic Department Brings in Experience to Lead the Young Team
By Chip Lebovitz ’10
News Associate Editor
With the departure of Coach Roderick Mobley last year, the Boys Varsity volleyball team was in desperate need of a new coach to lead them into the 2008 season. During the year, the Athletic department has interviewed a number of candidates. The long search ended this past week when the Athletic Department hired Jung Park to lead the Boys Varsity Volleyball team for the 2008 season.
When looking for a coach, Ned Gallagher, head of the Athletic Department, searched for the ideal candidate who embodies three important traits. The new coach had to be “someone who knows the sport, someone who interacts well with kids, and someone who fits into the philosophical approach of the athletic program.”
Gallagher explained that the hiring process for a new coach is divided into two phases. First the Athletic Department looked at internal candidates, those teachers already in the employ of the school. However, according to Gallagher, in this situation, the Department felt that they needed to look for a coach outside of the school.
After deciding that Choate needed to bring in a new coach, the school inquired throughout the Connecticut volleyball community about any coach who would be interested in coaching at the school. After reviewing resumes and completing background checks on possible applicants, the school brought in a select number of candidates to interview.
It was Jung Park’s resume that first brought him to the attention of the Athletic Department. Park grew up in Korea and came to Connecticut with his family in 1985. He stayed in this area, attended the University of Connecticut and played on the men’s club volleyball team for a couple of years as a setter. After graduating from UConn in 1993, he stayed there as part of the intramural sports program and later served as the coach of the men’s club team. Park has also been very involved in officiating.
Although Choate looks first at a potential applicants’ resume as a way to screen whether or not he or she would be a good fit at the school, the interview is just as important. Gallagher finds it important that any coach has a personality that fits in with school. Park’s personality clearly fit in with Choate’s system. Gallagher also observed that the hiring process went smoothly.
Choate’s volleyball program is at the moment in a state of change and rebuilding. As of the end of this year Gary Dormandy, the assistant head of the Athletic Department and Girl’s volleyball coach, is leaving. David Loeb, the highly successful girls junior varsity coach is slated to take over the program next season.
Likewise the Boys team is rebuilding as it is only returning one starter, two time all New England player and captain Dan Thomas 08’, from its 7-2 record last season. Thomas also underscores that this year will be a “rebuilding year.” However, he hopes that varsity players from last year that did not start will have improved their games to permit them to have a significant impact on the team. These varsity players include Suril Kantaria ’09 and Adi Rajagopalan 09.
It is important to note that the hiring of the new coach has occurred pretty close to the start of the season. When asked why it might have taken so long to hire a coach Thomas noted that since volleyball isn’t a major sport it might have been hard to find a candidate that would have fit Choate’s system.
The prospect of the new coach has excited some of the volleyball players. Kantaria is “excited by the prospect of being able to work with a coach with [Park’s] resume.” Gallagher also hopes that with the hiring of such a high profile coach that the team will be able to recruit more people for its 2008 season.
While Thomas noted that the upcoming season might be a rebuilding year, and Kantaria agrees with that, he also believes that the new coach will not change the volleyball program too much. “Choate volleyball is going to remain Choate volleyball,” Kantaria remarked. Kantaria’s point rings true because as the season approaches, the Choate volleyball team with its new coach is back on track to continue its winning ways.
Jung Park brings in experience and knowledge to Choate. Contributed PHOTO
