Spring 2021 Northwest Herald Volleyball Coach of the Year: Woodstock North’s Eric Schulze

Thunder won their first conference championship in program history

Without no postseason to play for, Woodstock North’s volleyball team went into the COVID-19-shortened season with one objective: winning the first conference championship in program history.

Despite missing numerous players throughout the year, the Thunder (11-2) accomplished their goal by finishing with a perfect 10-0 record in the Kishwaukee River Conference.

Over the final two weeks, North was without its starting setter and libero, and then lost its backup libero, because of COVID-19 quarantine, in addition to missing more players on vacation. North used multiple lineups throughout the final stretch of its schedule and defeated crosstown rival Woodstock, the 2019 KRC champion, in the final week of the season to take the conference title outright.

Players who missed the KRC-clinching match against the Blue Streaks FaceTimed into the postgame celebration, ending a season like no other.

For leading the Thunder to a breakthrough year, North coach Eric Schulze was voted as the Spring 2021 Northwest Herald Volleyball Coach of the Year as selected by the sports staff with input from area coaches.

Schulze recently spoke with sports writer Alex Kantecki about the biggest challenges of a unique season, how he got his start in coaching, earning the first conference title in program history and more.

What was the biggest challenge this season?

Schulze: I think for me it was just the change to all of the normal activities we do. Even as something as simple as not being able to support my lower levels, that was challenging and difficult. You have all of these routines that you’re used to and you couldn’t do them. Everything kind of had to be invented. For the players, I think it was just the environment. Not having any of their classmates in the stands to support them.

What got you interested in coaching?

Schulze: When I was in college, my objectives and goals were to coach football. Volleyball wasn’t on my radar at that point. I started playing [volleyball] in college. I played on a men’s club team at Illinois State University. When I came back to the area, I got on [football coach Mike] Noll’s staff at McHenry. That’s who I played for at McHenry. At that same time, I got myself coaching through a series of coincidences at Sky High [Volleyball] … and it took off from there. I interviewed to coach at Johnsburg after my first year coaching club. It kind of started there and it never stopped.

What were you most proud about this season?

Schulze: The incredible depth that the program has built over the last four seasons. On top of that depth, the way the kids supported each other throughout the whole season, whether it was by FaceTiming their teammates to pregame huddles or postgame celebrations to text messages being sent to freshmen from the starters and helping them – just completely having these kids’ backs when they stepped onto the court and make them feel comfortable and part of the team. They just showed incredible character.

Is there a particular match you will remember this season?

Schulze: The stretch of matches toward the end where we had to keep using different lineups because of quarantines and vacations. Every day, we were like, ‘OK. Who’s going to be available today?’ Each one of those matches took on their own special meaning because kids had to step up and do things that they weren’t used to doing, or maybe had not had an opportunity to prepare for.

What were those matches against Woodstock like?

Schulze: When we wrapped up the conference and knew we were not going to share it, that was a special moment for the kids. But also an awkward moment as we FaceTimed in three of our main players (Kylie Schulze, Kaitlyn Wickersheim and Madison Miller) to celebrate. That was definitely strange.

What’s your biggest pet peeve?

Schulze: I’ll go with lack of commitment. Anytime you make a commitment you have an obligation to follow through with your commitment, and I think that’s probably one of my largest pet peeves in any walk of life.

If you could have dinner with any three people, who would they be?

Schulze: From a volleyball perspective, I’d love to sit down with Karch Kiraly (the United States women’s national volleyball team coach). I think watching his evolution from being the most dominant player in the world to being one of the best coaches in the world, I’m curious how he did that and how he’s found success in that. My wife is somebody I would love to sit down and have dinner with. The lifestyle of a coach doesn’t allow for a whole that a lot. On top of that, she’s a volleyball mom who is chasing our two daughters around and watching them do what they love. I would love for us to have some quiet time and do that again. And all of my former players. Would love to have the opportunity to catch up and see where life has taken them.

Which one of your players do you find really inspiring?

Schulze: I think the junior class I’ve got right now has been an inspiration to me from Day 1. We’ve asked a lot of these kids. Three or four of them had to really step up and play significant roles as freshmen, and every year there’s been more and more kids that have come in and impacted the program. The junior class has been an inspiration in terms of where they started as freshmen to where they are now. How they are impacting the program has been pretty special..

Which one of your players make you laugh the most?

Schulze: Alyssa Wickersheim knows how to put a smile on my face just about quicker than anybody. She walks in every single day and always asks me how my day was. Between her and Madison Miller, she’s another one that can get me going pretty good.

What are you looking forward to most next season?

Schulze: Normalcy. Getting back to routine and playing 35 matches. Getting a chance to see how this team can grow from the start until the end. I’m looking forward to that junior class getting their senior year. The legacy those kids is going to leave behind in this program is going to be special. I’m not looking forward to that senior night because it could be nine kids that have all big parts of what we’ve been doing. But I am looking forward to seeing them, hopefully, put together another special season and wrap up their high school careers in a special way.