Natalie Reagan’s Volleyball Journey | Oregon State to Long Beach State HC

Natalie Reagan joins the show to share her volleyball journey—from playing Division I volleyball at Oregon State Beavers women's volleyball to becoming the head coach of Long Beach State women's volleyball.

We talk about her transition from assistant coach to head coach, the culture surrounding Long Beach State volleyball, coaching inside the iconic Walter Pyramid, recruiting, leadership, and advice for young middle blockers looking to play at the next level.

🏐 Topics Include:

Natalie Reagan’s volleyball journey
Playing Division I volleyball at Oregon State
Transitioning into coaching
Becoming head coach at Long Beach State
Building team culture
Recruiting advice for athletes
Tips for young middle blockers
The experience of coaching in The Pyramid

@lbsuathletics @NCAAChampionships @NCAA

0:00
1:35 NR background
2:00 discovering volleyball
3:10 dont put the tall girl in the middle
3:35 Path to Oregon State *
4:50 Recruiting process
5:40 pressure of freshman year **
7:10 Support for that freshman year *
8:05 the coaching bug *
9:20 Coaching is not an easy career **
11:40 coaching when you are close to the age of your players **
12:50 path to LBSU **
14:35 things NR took away working at Nebraska **
17:00 The small world of volleyball ** Dan Meske
17:50 Nat's nickname
18:00 Tyler Hildebrand *
18:55 no longer the fun uncle - the big adjustment **
21:45 First year advice for Coach Nat *
22:40 Long beach coaching philosophy coming in as head coach* Changes word
24:00 Grit Brand coming over from the Men's team **
25:15 The pyramid - what makes it special **
27:00 Beach community and team connection
27:50 What it means to NR to coach at Beach **
29:10 Players thoughts when they leave the program **
30:35 Intangibles in recruits **
32:20 Favorite volleyball day **
33:45 leadership *
35:50 Transfer portal ** NIL
39:00 Freshman advice **
41:35 More avenues to the court
42:30 Yes coach Gio **
43:00 Gio and checking in *
43:35 finding beach players *
44:40 Nebraska winters
45:05 Clubs need to work on **
47:45 second sport **
48:35 what separates a good middle blocker vs a great middle blocker **
50:15 top 3 training priorities if NR was training high school middles today **
52:30 Mentors over the years **
53:20 resetting **
54:33 Poop housing ***
55:20 Tension cracker **
56:25 most hated drill **
58:10 most rewarding aspect from coaching *
58:50 Toughest position **
1:00:20 This upcoming season **
1:01:33 Away from the court **
1:02:40 Who is next **