x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

The Coaches Group Chat

Matthew Houlihan, Arielle Houlihan, Chad Gordon

Grab a drink and a seat at the table with hosts Matt Houlihan, Arielle Houlihan and Chad Gordon as we chat about the world of volleyball, coaching, business, and whatever else Arielle feels like!

sports volleyball

All Episodes

26:03

S4E7: Hecklers, Banners, And Volleyball Day in the Bay

The Coaches Group Chat ·

2026/03/04

We swap our favorite heckling stories, then shift to a thoughtful case for reinstating Hawaii’s vacated 2002 title before rallying the Bay Area for a massive volleyball day push. Humor, history, and a concrete plan to pack the stands drive the hour. • mid-season energy and a new competitive drill • whiteboard wit and the line between sharp and mean • Big West heckling culture and nostalgia • Stanford deep dives and Hawaii’s electric arena • the 2002 Hawaii title, rule changes, and fairness •...

en-us

31:14

S4E6: Chair Etiquette, NCAA Rule Changes, Setter Dunks

The Coaches Group Chat ·

2026/02/25

We kick off with a viral chair-etiquette debate, then push into real fixes: retire work teams with smarter tech, clarify NCAA rule changes, and make the case to let setters dunk with two hands. Along the way we argue for consistent officiating, cleaner gyms, and better fan behavior. • chair etiquette and common-sense seating • parents’ role in sideline tension • removing work teams with AI-assisted tools • rebranding officiating roles for clarity • NCAA pursuit rule and space constraints • c...

en-us

36:44

S4E4: All-Puerto Rico Team, Volleyball Fumbled the...

The Coaches Group Chat ·

2026/02/12

Super Bowl week turned San Francisco into a branded maze and sparked a bigger talk about how events shape cities and attention. We celebrate Puerto Rican volleyball legends, question why volleyball hasn’t captured LGBTQ fandom like hockey has, and debate whether modern lineups make traditional middles expendable. • citywide Super Bowl activations and event fatigue • Benito Bowl reactions and why representation hits • all‑time Puerto Rican NCAA picks across eras • why programs should teach th...

en-us

25:19

S3E4: Euro Talent, Hawai'i Insider, Building a...

The Coaches Group Chat ·

2026/02/05

We argue whether the surge of European players lifts the NCAA at the expense of USA Volleyball, then turn to how culture and community create lasting power. Devin Young’s hire at Pacific sparks a blueprint for rebuilding fast with Europe, the portal, club stars, NIL, and storytelling. • tradeoffs between international recruiting and USA athlete development • whether the NCAA should test international roster caps • why Hawaii’s culture creates stars and traveling crowds • tapping Asian ...

en-us

23:22

S4E2: Matt at Stanford, Daniel's Conspiracies,...

The Coaches Group Chat ·

2026/01/28

Matt shares a short-term leap onto the Stanford bench, how it reshapes his voice and time, and why serving the team takes priority over hot takes. We also unpack the canceled Honda Center NIL event, question rankings logic, and preview Stanford vs UC Irvine with deep club ties. • a three‑month Stanford coaching role and its constraints • honoring family coaching legacy and purpose • social media boundaries when you represent a program • the NIL tournament cancellation and missing details • c...

en-us

38:37

S4E1: The 2026 Prediction Episode

The Coaches Group Chat ·

2026/01/22

We trade life updates for bold calls, then break down who wins men’s college volleyball and why. Awards, freshmen to watch, coaching philosophies, officiating shifts, and the growth of the sport all get a clear, candid look. • Title picks for UCLA, USC and Stanford with reasons • Player of the year cases for Andrew Rowan, Dillon Klein and Jaylen Phillips • Freshman standouts including UCI’s French pipeline and Sosa • Coach of the year criteria and nods to Kniffin, Winder and Pavlik • Technic...

en-us

24:12

University of the Pacific Men’s Volleyball Returns

The Coaches Group Chat ·

2025/12/01

The headline is big, but the backstory is bigger: Pacific is bringing back men’s volleyball, and we walk through how it actually happened—step by step, meeting by meeting, and milestone by milestone. From the first conversations with President Callahan to the detailed planning with Athletic Director Adam, we saw how patient leadership, alumni persistence, and the right partners turned a long shot into a green light. We dig into the mechanics behind the moment: why First Point Volleyball Foun...

en-us

25:45

S3E2: Volleyball Rehab, Death to #GrowTheGame, &...

The Coaches Group Chat ·

2025/10/10

We recap a whirlwind women’s volleyball weekend, break down Stanford vs Louisville with real tactical detail, and lay out a case for mandatory mid-major conference tournaments. We also explain how Bay to Bay chartered flights to save families money and why “grow the game” needs to retire. • Stanford vs Louisville as a gritty benchmark for the 4–10 tier • Louisville setter as the match’s key differentiator • Stanford stronger in the middle, Louisville deeper at the pins • Santa Clara–Pepperdi...

en-us

27:11

S3E1: NCAA Women's Volleyball Vibe Check

The Coaches Group Chat ·

2025/09/30

We return with a pop-up episode to track the surge in women’s volleyball—national TV windows, marquee kickoff events, and a top tier led by Nebraska and Texas—while naming sleepers that no one wants in a Sweet 16 draw. We also break down Milan’s move to UCLA and grade USA men’s first season of a youth-forward reset. • AVCA First Serve impact, ESPN and Fox spotlight • Nebraska and Texas separating, context on early undefeateds • UCLA’s transfer haul and the Penn State win • Texas practice ins...

en-us

31:57

S2E14: Natty Champs Recap, Long Beach Culture, Too...

The Coaches Group Chat ·

2025/05/13

Long Beach State secures another national championship with a commanding sweep over UCLA, showcasing their unparalleled team culture and championship mentality. Their "blue collar" approach and ride-or-die brotherhood has created a volleyball program where bench energy is so intense it earned yellow cards during their championship celebration. • Long Beach's first set domination, hitting nearly .800 against UCLA • Moni Nikolov's clutch serving, delivering two consecutive aces when UCLA led 2...

en-us

47:28

S2E13: Grand Canyon Cuts Men's Volleyball, NCAA...

The Coaches Group Chat ·

2025/04/29

Grand Canyon University has abruptly cut their men's volleyball program, effective immediately, with no advance warning to coaches or players, sending shockwaves through the volleyball community. We explore what this means for the future of men's volleyball and share insights from our personal experiences with program cuts at Stanford and University of Pacific. • Blueprint for fighting program cuts based on Stanford's successful campaign to save their program • Importance of building alumni ...

en-us

41:19

S2E12: Long Beach v. Hawaii, USC Injuries, Volleyball...

The Coaches Group Chat ·

2025/04/16

Arielle, Chad, and Matt dive into a lively discussion of recent collegiate men's volleyball action and debate the future of the game. • Hawaii splits with Long Beach State • USC battles significant injuries to key players, creating strategic challenges for upcoming matches • Conference tournament predictions across MIVA, EIVA, Big West, and MPSF • Data reveals NCAA men's volleyball is 16% international athletes • Discussion of whether international roster limits would benefit American player...

en-us

49:15

S2E11: Weekend Upsets, Foreign Roster Caps, Long...

The Coaches Group Chat ·

2025/04/08

The NCAA's back-to-back scheduling format deflates the impact of big upsets by forcing immediate rematches, preventing storylines from developing and limiting media coverage opportunities. • The weekend featured multiple top-5 upsets including CSUN over Hawaii, UC San Diego over UC Irvine, and GCU over UCLA • Back-to-back scheduling forces teams to play the same opponent twice in consecutive days, eliminating the buildup between matchups • The upcoming 18-man roster cap will significantly im...

en-us

40:48

S2E10: Long Beach v. Irvine, Peeps, and Adolescence

The Coaches Group Chat ·

2025/04/01

We dive into men's collegiate volleyball rankings and break down the implications of Long Beach State's split with UC Irvine in what was a high-level volleyball showcase with sold-out crowds. • Clear separation exists between the "top five" teams and everyone else in men's volleyball • Long Beach maintains #1 ranking despite their loss to UC Irvine in a sold-out match • Debate over Loyola Chicago's #6 ranking after being "called out of rotation" • Discussion of whether Long Beach's loss will...

en-us

31:01

S2E9: We're back baby, Traitors Poll, Replay Systems,...

The Coaches Group Chat ·

2025/03/25

We make our triumphant return for Season 3 (it's actually season 2 episode 9 but it's been forever since our last episode), putting to rest any rumors about internal fighting while offering sincere apologies for the technical difficulties that prevented the release of our previous recordings. • Debating the latest Traitor's Poll rankings with special focus on CSUN vs Loyola placement • Criticizing current replay systems in college volleyball and proposing either professional-grade systems or...

en-us

37:24

S2E8: MVB Beer Olympics, Boycott the AVCA Rankings,...

The Coaches Group Chat ·

2025/02/25

Our latest episode dives into the humorous and competitive world of Fantasy MVB Beer Olympics! We discuss team selection, strategies, and what it means to build a cohesive unit ready to take on the challenge. • Introduction of our Beer Olympics draft • Boycotting the AVCA rankings • Matt's NSFW social media • Capitol Hill Classic recap • Women's volleyball roundup

en-us

25:10

S2E7: All-American Dream Teams, High School Rule...

The Coaches Group Chat ·

2025/02/20

We are putting the AMERICA into our All-American team while discussing the scarcity of top-tier American rosters in college volleyball today. We highlighted key American players, examined high school volleyball rule changes, and ultimately celebrated the importance of recognizing homegrown talent in the sport. • Crafting an all-American team of volleyball players • The significance of celebrating American players in international-dominated NCAA • Recent high school volleyba...

en-us

37:49

S2E6: Rankings Debate, UCLA vs. Long Beach Recap, and...

The Coaches Group Chat ·

2025/02/11

Our latest episode dives into the fluctuating AVCA rankings, addressing issues surrounding team standings and the perceived favoritism affecting teams like Hawaii and UCLA. The discussion includes insights on weekend matches, reflections on coaching changes, and the evolving dynamics of college volleyball. • Critique of current AVCA rankings and their formulation • Arguments on Hawaii's ranking despite a recent loss • Recap of Long Beach vs. UCLA: a disappointing outcome&nb...

en-us

30:35

S2E5: Babies on Benches, Spring Tryouts, Moni Nikolov...

The Coaches Group Chat ·

2025/02/06

A transformative week in volleyball sees the introduction of the Baby on Benches Rule, allowing coaches to bring their babies onto benches during matches. We discuss the impact of this change, alongside John Cook's retirement, spring tryouts excitement, finishing with a discussion on volleyball superstars: Moni Nikolov vs. Harper Murray. • Discussion of the Baby Bench Rule and its implications • Insights on John Cook's retirement and coaching changes • Recap of the experiences fr...

en-us

47:46

S2E4: New NCAA Rules, Foreigner Limit, NIL & Transfer...

The Coaches Group Chat ·

2025/01/28

This episode dives into the complexities of NCAA volleyball rankings, exploring their quirks, controversies, and significant impacts on team dynamics. We discuss player transfers, upcoming matches, and potential rule changes:• Insights on coaches' polling and its biases • Discussion on the world of NIL in college sports• Preview of key upcoming matches between top teams • Proposed rule changes (foreigner limit, remove open hand tips, service error foul out)• The future of NCAA volle...

en-us

34 results

Similar Podcasts

Keeping Karlsson Fantasy Hockey Podcast

Elan Dubrofsky and Brian Kom

Daily Fantasy Sports by Ship It Nation

Ship It Nation

Fantasy Football Today

CBS Sports, Fantasy Football, FFT, NFL,...

Bring The Pain

Heat00veride

ESPN SportsCenter Update

ESPN