“I’m a fundamentalist,” said Schroeder, who compiled a stellar record during her 24 years as the head volleyball coach at Southwestern Community College in Iowa. “I am a believer that those core fundamentals will win games for you down the road. That’s what I’ve spent most of my career really emphasizing.”
This week, Schroeder was at Troup High to teach those fundamentals that she holds so dearly.
Schroeder has been running a summer camp at Troup High for four years now along with Troup coach Jodi Dowden.
Dowden was an assistant coach under Schroeder from 2001 through 2004, and the two have remained close since.
Four years ago Dowden was looking to build up the program at Troup, so she asked Schroeder to come south and run a camp, and they’ve been doing it together since.
“It’s always a good experience with coach Schroeder,” Dowden said. “They have a very good time.”
Schroeder said she’s seen a big difference in the skill level of the players since her first year.
“I love coming down to the Georgia pines and working with these kids,” Schroeder said. “And you know from that first camp that I did down here in Georgia, I have to extend a lot of credit to what Jodi has down with the program.
“The kids have a different mindset and work ethic. It’s night and day from when I did the first camp down here. She gets the credit for that.”
Still, while there are a number of advanced players,
Schroeder said the skill level among the campers varies greatly, which makes it a balancing act for the instructors.
“Summer camps, we often come in and we find talent that is from one end of the scale in terms of inexperience to very experienced,” Schroeder said. “It’s kind of a tough balance.
You want to continue to introduce new information, and challenge those kids that have a little more experience.”
Schroeder said, whether she’s coaching in college or leading a youth camp, her goal is help every player become the best player she can be.
“Somebody has to help them see that can do better, and they can get better, and they can push a little harder and expect a little more from themselves and their teammates,” she said.
Schroeder has a sterling coaching resume that includes a 705-372 record during her 24 years as head coach at Southwestern.
Schroeder is no longer the head coach, although she has remained with the program as an assistant coach, and she still travels across the country offering camps.
She’s been coaching a long time, but teaching the sport is something she’s never grown tired of.
“I have a passion for the sport and have great passion for the kids,” Schroeder said. “I’m truly blessed.”
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