Livingston volleyball coach Alyssa Fielder has been selected to participate in the 2026 Texas High School Coaches Association R.O.C.K. Coaches Mentoring Program. The R.O.C.K. (Rare, Outstanding, Compelled, and Knowledgeable) matches a coach new to the profession (the mentee) with a veteran coach (the mentor).
The purpose is to gain advice, encouragement, and insights into their career aspirations and help coaches grow in their sports. This initiative is designed to support and retain first-through-fifth-year high school coaches in Texas by providing mentorship, resources, and professional development.
A collaboration between the Texas High School Coaches Education Foundation and Texas A&M University Thornton-McFerrin Coaching Academy, the program was established in response to data showing a high attrition rate among early-career coaches and teachers.
The program aims to cultivate and equip coaches with the skills, knowledge, and support necessary to thrive as coaches, educators, and leaders in the ever-evolving world of high school athletics. The 2025 R.O.C.K. mentees represent a diverse group of male and female coaches from all regions of Texas, encompassing every sport sanctioned under the University Interscholastic League (UIL).
THSCA coaches and athletic directors may nominate coaches who meet the following criteria: they must be in their first through fifth year of coaching, actively employed by a UIL-sanctioned school, and committed to the two-year mentorship program. A selection committee of athletic directors from across the state reviews nominations and selects mentees based on their potential to grow and contribute to the coaching profession.
The program officially kicks off with a symposium held at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. This two-day event includes workshops, keynote speakers, panel discussions, and networking opportunities designed to inspire and educate both mentees and mentors.
Mentees and mentors then engage in a year-long curriculum developed by the Texas A&M University Thornton-McFerrin Coaching Academy. This curriculum includes bi-monthly virtual learning modules featuring discussion prompts, situational challenges, and activities to foster meaningful mentor-mentee interactions. In July, mentees will participate in exclusive program-specific sessions at the annual THSCA Coaching School.
