This year, the volleyball team welcomes new leadership as Deborah Newkirk steps up as the new varsity coach.
Just out of college, Newkirk was immediately pushed into the world of coaching. She started her career as a basketball coach, and it wasn’t until she got hired, and shook the administrator’s hand, that she learned that she would coach volleyball too.
“It just launched me from a very young woman who kind of got thrown into volleyball to being extremely passionate and dedicated to my field coaching many years later,” Newkirk said.
After previously living in Texas, Newkirk decided she wanted to be in a place that she loved but was also close to her family. Ending up in Lawrence with this new position was not something she planned.
“The position kind of found me I think,” Newkirk said. “I fell in love immediately with the traditions of Lawrence High School. Mr. Gilman shared so many beautiful things about the school.”
The team has noticed a difference in her coaching compared to previous coaches. Senior Maddy Crawford thinks that Newkirk’s time in Texas plays a role in this.
“People do different things everywhere, but in Texas, they do a lot of different plays apparently and she’s trying to bring some of that here,” Crawford said. “I think that’s really cool and fun.”
Senior Harper Dye thinks that this brings some new challenges to the team.
“Coming from Texas just with them doing different things, it is challenging because there is a little bit of a barrier,” Dye said. “I don’t know, we kind of do volleyball a little bit different.”
While Crawford has enjoyed learning volleyball from a new perspective and training with Newkirk, the team still has bonding to do.
“She doesn’t really know us well enough yet because it’s her first year, she’s still figuring out everyone’s weaknesses and strengths,” Crawford said. “I think once she figures that out, it’ll be fine. But for right now, it’s just tough trying to figure out where everyone’s at.”
The players are committed to working as a team, Newkirk believes there have been no hardships yet this season.
“Everyone’s pushing their chips forward and we are working hard. We are engaged. We are listening. We are high-fiving. I’m so proud of the leadership and the expectations and holding each other to a standard,” Newkirk said. “So there’s been no struggle.”
The transition has been a good opportunity for the players to try new drills and techniques at practice.
“We’re doing a lot more weightlifting, especially over the summer and we’re going to lift more in season,” Dye said. “We’re lifting once a week, just a workout in the weight room, which is different. We’ve never done that in the past.”
Off the court, Newkirk is teaching a career and life planning class for freshmen. Additionally, Newkirk has written books about youth volleyball curriculum and runs her own company, allowing her to work as a summer camp director. She created her company as an entrepreneurial move and believes many other coaches have similar projects.
“It’s just that we’re passionate about what we do, that we like to stretch out, rub elbows with other coaches, and learn from the best,” Newkirk said.
Making it to state is a goal for Dye but her main priority is having fun for her senior year. She believes that with Newkirk’s positive energy, she can make that happen for the seniors. Newkirk has the same goal as her athlete and is working for the team’s success.
“My number one goal is that our senior class, this class of 2025, has an extraordinary experience,” Newkirk said. “We want to build culture, positive and uplifting life lessons, and a highly competitive nature.”
Through it all, Newkirk remains humble and ready to focus on her athletes and their successes.
“I don’t know that I’m a standout coach, but I know that I’m waking up thinking about it, and I go to sleep thinking about it, and I might even wake up in the middle of the night thinking about it,” Newkirk said. “I’m passionate about what I do and it’s just my wiring. It’s just how I’m built.”
