3 UW Women’s Volleyball – How a Good Coach Can Make a Team Great
By: Emmi Foltz, Vanessa Cisco, and Vivian Vu
The Start of Gabriel’s Legacy
Coach Leslie Gabriel stands on the sidelines during a timeout, passionately outlining the next play to her team. Her energy and leadership have been the cornerstone of her remarkable journey. As the ninth Head Coach in the history of the University of Washington Volleyball—and only the fourth woman to hold this position—Gabriel’s legacy is already taking shape.
Gabriel’s ties to UW Volleyball run deep. Before stepping into her current role, she spent 22 years as an Assistant Coach, during which the Huskies won seven Pac-12 Conference titles and reached the NCAA tournament 21 consecutive times. She made five Final Four appearances—including a National Title victory in 2005 (UW Tyee Club, 2023).
Despite challenges like managing one of the smallest and youngest rosters in program history—and dealing with a slew of injuries—Gabriel achieved an impressive winning record in her first season as Head Coach in 2023. Her ability to adapt and persevere underlines the powerful influence of experience on a team’s performance and success.
Who is this Legend?
Check out this video to learn more about her inspiring journey and coaching philosophy.
Wins and Losses: A Closer Look
University of Washington Women’s Volleyball Game Outcomes
(Wins – Purple, Red – Losses)
To better understand the evolution of the UW Women’s Volleyball program, we’ve compared its performance across three coaching eras:
- Jim McLaughlin (2001–2014)
- Keegan Cook (2015–2022)
- Leslie Gabriel (2022–present)
This is also the link to their current game schedule for the 2024 Season:
https://gohuskies.com/sports/womens-volleyball/schedule/2024
The Bigger Picture: Sports and Institutions
Sports are more than just games—they’re a vital part of university life, fostering education, physical health, and social connections. At the varsity level, the relationship between sports and the institution takes on even greater significance, helping to create a shared sense of community and pride.
Coaches play a pivotal role in this dynamic. Our interviews showed that the bonds coaches form with their players significantly affect team dynamics, culture, and performance. Great coaching isn’t just about strategies—it’s about mentorship, consistency, and the ability to bring out the best in each athlete.
The Impact of a Great Coach
We’ve seen the transformative power of excellent coaching time and again. One former Seattle University basketball player shared how the lack of consistent coaching hurt her team’s dynamics. In contrast, her team thrived when led by a stable, supportive coach. A former soccer player echoed this sentiment, crediting his coach’s expertise and motivational drive for his team’s improved performance. Similarly, a wrestler attributed their regional success to their coach’s guidance and leadership. In all three cases, the presence of a strong coach elevated both individual and team performance—underscoring how impactful a coach can be on the lives of young athletes.
Gabriel’s Influence: A New Chapter in UW Volleyball
Leslie Gabriel’s leadership exemplifies coaches’ profound role in shaping a team’s identity and success. By examining trends in UW Women’s Volleyball and listening to former athletes, we see a common thread: experienced, dedicated coaches inspire their players and build teams that perform at their best. Beyond wins and losses, coaches like Gabriel create a ripple effect, fostering pride and unity within the university community. They unite athletes, students, and fans, embodying their institution’s shared values and aspirations.
AI Disclaimer
We used AI as a resource to conduct our research and generate topic ideas.
References
2024 Volleyball Cumulative Statistics – University of Washington Athletics. (n.d.). University of Washington Athletics. https://gohuskies.com/sports/womens-volleyball/stats
Leslie Gabriel – Volleyball Coach – University of Washington Athletics. (n.d.). University of Washington Athletics. https://gohuskies.com/sports/womens-volleyball/roster/coaches/leslie-gabriel/6327
OpenAI. (2024). Response generated by ChatGPT [Computer software]. Retrieved from https://chat.openai.com/chat
UW Tyee Club. (2023, April 4). Conversation with Coach: Volleyball’s Leslie Gabriel – UW Tyee Club. https://www.uwtyeeclub.com/article/conversation-with-coach-volleyballs-leslie-gabriel/#:~:text=During%20Leslie%27s%20tenure%2C%20the%20Huskies,the%20Final%20Four%20five%20times
