In defense of Coach Fuller

The recent letter to the editor from Susan Riopel bashing Jackie Fuller has prompted me to tell the side of the story that isn’t being heard.

It’s been stated repeatedly by those against Fuller that 13 girls from last year’s team did not go out for volleyball because of her coaching. For starters, four of those girls moved away. Some girls are not playing this year due to the demanding schedule. Some girls did not return to play because of those seniors mentioned by Fuller in her original interview. These “hard working honors student, athlete, volunteer and leader” girls were hell-bent on having the team their way. Some players supported Fuller yet were afraid to speak up for fear of retaliation from these senior girls. That’s not leadership.

Coaches want players that are coachable — players that will work hard every day utilizing fundamentals and strategy they are taught. There are three coaches to 30 girls. Who should have to learn the system of whom? This situation leaves me wondering: Do these fine, honor society, upstanding senior girls have trouble with other coaches? Are the parents of these girls the squeaky wheel in the ear of the athletic director and coach? Are these parents the ones in the stands complaining?

Take a look in the mirror parents, you know who you are. Just because you are “professionals, combat veterans, and contributing citizens” does not make you more knowledgeable than a Hall of Fame volleyball coach on how to run a successful program. If you wanted to create a culture of change under Fuller, you needed to advise your daughters to just PLAIN WORK HARD. It’s not easy to build a winning program. Jackie knows her craft and knows how to get the most out of her players, the coachable ones anyway…

Annie Green is a resident of Kalispell.