Coach: Katie Winsor
School: Legend
Sport: volleyball
How many years have you devoted your life to coaching? What got
you into coaching initially?
I have coached at summer camps since high school, but I began
coaching club volleyball my junior year in college for Front Range
VBC. My college coach was one of their premier coaches, and I
started with their 12-year-olds. After college, I coached at our
rival school, Regis University — I attended Colorado Christian
University. Then I spent seven years at Smoky Hill High School —
four as the junior varsity coach and three as the varsity coach —
before starting the program at Legend. In total, I have coached for
13 years.
What is your history with volleyball, as a player or otherwise?
What’s most exciting about it to you?
I played club volleyball in high school, and then went on to
play in college. I absolutely love the competitiveness and family
aspect of volleyball.
Can you describe a moment or two when you found coaching to be
truly rewarding?
It’s difficult to beat back-to-back state championships at Smoky
Hill — I was an assistant coach — but I remember team dinners to be
particularly fun. We also helped each other set personal goals on
our old JV team — that was an awesome way to hold each other
accountable for making good decisions and working things out with
family members, etc.
As a coach, what is your No. 1 goal every time you walk into a
new season? What is usually the first thing you take care of
walking into the season?
Set the tone for hard work. Get kids to buy into the idea that
good things come from effort and sacrifice.
What is the first thing you establish as a coach in preparation
for the coming high school season?
My staff. They need to have an idea of what the program looks
like, especially at a new school.
We all know being a head coach requires a lot of time and
devotion. How much does family and friend support come into play
when trying to guide a successful prep sports program?
They sacrifice like crazy. This year is even harder with an
infant than last season was being nine months pregnant for me.
Grandparents are such a blessing. My husband also coaches the boys’
soccer team in the fall, so we see each other about 15 minutes a
day.
What is most rewarding about working with high school athletes
specifically?
To see the personal growth season to season, month to month.
Your team just won the state championship, given your choice,
where would you want to celebrate?
Knowing my girls, probably at a buffet.
What do you do for entertainment that doesn’t relate to
volleyball?
What doesn’t relate to volleyball? Once a year, it would be nice
to go to dinner or a movie with my husband. If we are really lucky,
we would like to go to a play downtown. Usually we just try to make
family time and play with the kids on our living room floor. That’s
the best stress relief there is.