PROFILE
Alumnae/iClass Notes Home Court Advantage with Our Alum Coaches Calhoun Athletics saw the return this year of five alumnae/i, each of whom took to the court in a new position as a Cougar coach. We sat down to hear their thoughts about being back at their alma mater, their coaching philosophies and how Cougar athletics has changed since their playing days. Here are excerpts of the interview with Brian Peters ’97, Casey Shane ’06, Sabrina Spiegel ’06 and Peter Zurkuhlen ’06. (Absent from the interview was Richard Lin ’97.) What’s it been like to come back as alums and coach a Calhoun sports team?
Casey: It’s been a tremendous experience. There’s a great relationship between the alumni coaches and players because
we took the same classes, had a lot of the same teachers, balanced similar workloads and even do some of the same drills.
Brian: I would add that there’s a different sense of pride when you actually coach the team you played for, because you’ve actually had real feelings for the team for years. Calhoun’s also a community that continues for life. So to be able to come back, give back, and hopefully help these kids develop, get better and bring more banners to the school—whether you won one yourself or just want to continue that legacy—its a big piece of the excitement for me. What do you remember most from your playing days? Peter: Being a part of a sports team really helped integrate me further into the
community; it gave me something unique in my education. Casey: Peter’s right. Calhoun’s teams create a different experience and build a
lot of the bonds and friendships that you make. For example, the first two years that Peter and I were here, our basketball seasons were rough—we went 1-19, maybe won two games the year after. But then in our junior year, we turned it around and were able to get to the championship and win. The experiences we gained from being at the lowest end of the spectrum to completely taking a 180 and going back to the highest end of the spectrum, not losing one game in the league in our senior year—those experiences are like no other. I don’t think any of us will ever forget that. Brian: In the ’90s, it was a growing time for us: In my freshman year, Calhoun
established a JV team for the first time. There were a lot of athletes and it was a very competitive time. I remember everything, from the lean years to the winning years. Of course, that was without the big gym, without the weight room and without the same amount of practice time. What is your coaching philosophy? alum coaches Brian Peters ‘97, Casey shane ‘06, sabrina spiegel ‘06 and Peter Zurkuhlen ‘06
Sabrina: There are so many things that I gained from my own coaches here. You
take what works and see what doesn’t, from drills to team-building activities beyond the court—homework help, nutrition lessons, community service.
Casey: The way I approach coaching is to make it as relatable as possible. I feel the players can learn from the mistakes I
made when I was out on the court. Most important, my philosophy is that, at the end of the day, you’re really here to have fun. I think that’s something a lot of teams forget; we do this because we love it and we want to have fun with it. Peter: In Middle School, it’s the first time they’re playing a competitive sport and representing their school. A lot of my job is really about shaping their attitude to be more team-oriented, to be thinking about a larger picture. There are a lot of building blocks that go into it, and I think something key for Calhoun going forward is to look at our athletics as a farm
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SUMMER 2011