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Man On A Mission Women’s Volleyball Coach Charlie Wade Hopes to
Prove There’s More to Tradition Than Just Memories…
By D. TOM PATTERSON, Pacific Digest Editor
In the middle of the building where Pacific runs its sports program, you will find the Paulsen Family Champions Room. It’s more than a conference room: it’s a celebration of the athletic program, with framed photographs highlighting 16 sports and a Wall of Fame hosting some of Pacific’s superstars from years gone by.
On any day, if you are the first to arrive for a meeting, open the door and the only thing you will see is two golden trophies—NCAA Volleyball National Championship trophies—from the years 1985 and 1986 behind glass and under spotlights.
Simply stunning.
A few seconds in the dark and overhead lights suddenly turn on. Somewhat daunting, somewhat haunting, yet wonderfully displayed, this provides a memory to last a lifetime—just as Pacific hopes those trophies will.
No one, it seems, ever wants to forget the memories….
Not long ago, Lynn King, the athletic director at Pacific, received a call from a fan.
“The person was upset that we were picked to finish sixth in the Big West in women’s volleyball,” said King, with a confident tone that comes with knowing that isn’t likely to happen. “The person said, ‘When I was in school there, we were picked No. 6. But it was No. 6 in the nation.”
We share this because these are things Charlie Wade uses to build upon.
And if ever Pacific is to return to triumph, golden trophies, and national ranks in women’s volleyball, it most likely will happen under his watch.
So where do we begin?
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Eighteen months ago, senior associate athletic director Cindy Spiro made the call to Hawaii, where Wade had coached for 11 years. Wade was happy, but he was taking calls and listening, because every year another school would call.
Another call, another opportunity.
“I had been contacted for every job that opened up for the last four or five years,” said Wade.
Oregon, Washington, Arizona State, Fresno.
“It wasn’t like I was looking, but I always was willing to listen. I always said I wouldn’t take a job unless it was better than the one I had. With Pacific, with the tradition, with this conference, there were so many positives.”
Done deal.
Deal done.
“The national championship trophies don’t represent pressure, it represents opportunity,” said Wade. “When Lynn called me, he told me the president of the university (Don DeRosa) said, ‘We want to be good in women’s volleyball.’ It’s a priority here. It’s important to the university, the alumni and the community.”
Now in his second season—last year’s team finished 8-21—Charlie Wade brings something Pacific hasn’t had in a long time: Contacts. It used to be said the most important part of hiring someone was their Rolodex—not what they knew, but often who they knew.
In Charlie Wade’s case, he needs two Palms.
“I know a lot of people and I’ve been around the juniors for 15 years at the highest level and that’s important knowing club coaches when you go out recruiting. They know I’ve been in the trenches with them. It’s important to walk into a convention center with 150 courts and know who’s who.”
Coaching time at Cal State Fullerton and the experience at Hawaii opened doors to meeting other college coaches. All this helps in a master plan.
For Pacific, it became a case of rebuilding the old house with the new builder.
The match, though not always easy, has been ideal.
Questions abound. What will it take for Pacific to get back and is it even possible?
“Absolutely,” says Wade. “The fact that Santa Clara went to the Final Four a couple of years ago sends notice that it’s possible.”
Since the NCAA began a women’s national volleyball championship there have been 26 champions, but only 10 schools have won all those titles. Pacific owns two of those—over Stanford and Nebraska.
“It’s still a pretty small list, but we’re starting to see a trend with the big BCS (Bowl Championship Series) winners making a presence. It’s BCS big-buck schools who are making the growth.”
Some think that might make it harder for a school the size of Pacific.
Not Wade.
“It’s reality,” he said. “There’s nothing I can do to overcome or change what is taking place. We just have to take care of what we can, and that’s working harder. Hey, we can talk about education and in our sport, that’s a huge factor. That’s a big advantage for us over many, many schools. And when we hear something about these new bigger schools suddenly making a presence, we remind them there still are only 10 schools who have won national titles. And, yes, we are one of the 10.”
What he didn’t mention as an advantage for Pacific was the contacts. What he didn’t mention was his recruiting ability—that when he gets in front of parents and potential superstars, he’s a great salesman. That comes from experience.
Simply put, if Charlie Wade were to go one-on-one with most college volleyball coaches, you’d be smart to bet on the guy who now calls Stockton home.
Wade grew up meeting new people and talking. He was born in southern California, lived in Texas, Detroit, Chicago and went to high school in Indiana. “The day after graduating from high school, I jumped in my car and drove to southern California where I lived for 14 years before moving to Hawaii.”
Wasn’t it 1962 when Hank Snow made that song popular, “I’ve been everywhere man…”
“We have to look at places that are less than obvious. We have to create a mindset, a culture that becomes attractive and appealing,” says Wade. And the players finally have bought into that.
While no one was jumping with joy over an 8-21 record, improvements have become significant.
Example: Last year at this time, Pacific had no one who had ever set in a collegiate match. Now they have four.
Example: Last year Pacific lacked depth, particularly at the hitting position. Now they have four outside hitters.
Example: Last year Pacific had only two kids who could play middle. Now there are five.
“Are we good?” Wade asks himself. “We don’t know, but we do know we are better and we are excited for the chance to prove it.”
Whatever Wade has done, he has created excitement and momentum. He is the Everready Bunny who never runs down. So far, it’s been fun, but not necessarily easy. Charlie Wade would have it no other way. Summer camps attracted 350 young players. Wade frequently makes public speaking appearances. He and his players visit schools. All this to restore the belief that those old memories can become reality again.
It even took his players time to buy-in, Wade says.
“I think the players now understand me, it’s certainly better,” he says. “I know I feel more like their coach and they feel more comfortable knowing me, especially when there’s some good-natured joking around.”
One of the fitness requirements Wade brought in last season was that players had to run the mile under eight minutes.
“Originally, no one could do it and a few of them thought I was trying to get rid of them, that this was an unreasonable request,” said Wade. “Now, Meagan MimMack is calling me out, wanting me to race her. She struggled with it at first and now she’s doing 6:30 and challenging me. And to think I used to call her, ‘8-Minute MimMack’ All this is a credit to these players because that’s something they have done on their own.”
One final question, which finally slowed Wade.
What has surprised him the most?
There was a long silence and Wade struggled to find an answer.
“I guess what surprised me is how passionate about the program everyone is. I knew there was great tradition, but people are really passionate about this. It’s a good surprise.”
Passion? Perhaps.
But just maybe, no one ever wants to forget the memories....
