LINCOLN — When it comes to volleyball, Rachel Schwartz has just about done it all.

She was an All-Nebraska player at Lincoln East High School in 2004, and a member of Nebraska's national championship squad in 2006. She also had a one-time foray into professional beach volleyball last year at Qwest Center Omaha.

But life has changed for the 23-year-old Schwartz. She was married in May to Tim Culwell and then took another giant leap a few months later, taking over as the varsity volleyball coach at Lincoln Christian.

“I'm very excited about getting this opportunity,” she said. “I didn't really know what to expect, but I wanted to give it a shot.”

Schwartz isn't a total stranger to coaching. She was a volunteer assistant last season at Lincoln East, has coached at the club volleyball level and has worked at several summer camps and clinics.

But life as a varsity head coach can be tough, and Schwartz found that out during a recent practice. She spent much of the time talking privately to her players one-on-one to inform them whether or not they had made the varsity.

“Right now, that's been the hardest part of the job,” she said. “I know some girls are going to be disappointed, and that's hard for me to see.”

Schwartz said her coaching style isn't going to startle her players.

“I'm usually pretty quiet,” she said. “I don't want to intimidate them.”

As far as coaching role models, Schwartz has two very good ones. Former Lincoln East coach Myron Oehlerking is the state's all-time leader in high school victories with 793, while Nebraska's John Cook is recognized as one of the top collegiate coaches in the nation.

“I think I've taken something important from both of them,” she said. “Coach Cook was very big into the mental aspect of the game. And with Coach O (Oehlerking), you just knew that he loved you.”

While they might not love her quite yet, Lincoln Christian team members certainly like Schwartz as their new coach.

“When we heard she got the job, we were pretty excited about it,” senior outside hitter Joelle Andersen said. “We all knew who she was, and we knew what she's accomplished.”

Andersen, a four-year varsity player, said Schwartz doesn't act like a novice.

“From the beginning, she's been very detailed,” Andersen said. “It's obvious that she has a plan to help us become a better team.”

Schwartz said she hasn't set team goals for the Class C-2 Crusaders. Instead, she wants to emphasize two main points.

“I want them to focus on being Christ-like,” she said, “and I always want them to try and do their best.”

Reaching the state tournament would be an accomplishment for a school that hasn't been there since 1996. But Andersen said the team is optimistic.

“As a senior, it's something I'd love to see,” she said. “But to do that we'll need to really be united, and I think coach has us working toward that.”

As for Schwartz, this coaching gig has put her graduate classes temporarily on hold. She is working on her master's degree in communications and will resume her classes during the second semester.

Schwartz added that she's lucky to have an understanding husband. “He's been phenomenal,” she said. “He was as fired up as I was about taking this job.”

There's nothing easy about the start of the season for Lincoln Christian. The Crusaders travel to Hastings for a triangular Thursday night with perennial Class C-1 powers Grand Island Central Catholic and Hastings St. Cecilia.

Sharon Zavala is in her 36th year as coach at GICC and has 786 career victories. Alan Van Cura is in his 36th year at St. Cecilia and has 690 career wins.

Schwartz will be looking for victory No. 1.

“It's going to be a challenge,” she said. “But I think we can accomplish some positive things here if we all work together.”

Contact the writer:

444-1350, mike.patterson@owh.com

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