Alyssa Fielder didn’t have the problem that faces many recent college graduates. One of the challenges can be finding that initial job to begin a career after graduation. Her volleyball coaching journey will continue in Polk County.
That’s right, continue.
Fielder played college ball at Sam Houston State all four years. While working on the court and toward a degree, she took up coaching club teams.
“About my sophomore year, me and my mom decided to coach together at this small – now it is bigger – club in Willis called Montgomery County Juniors. I have been here for three years, and I've coached the 15 national team. We travel almost every month and my girls play. It is very competitive and it keeps me growing as a coach. The girls I saw when they were younger have grown up to be these amazing athletes.”
Fielder graduated in May, but already had a decision to make for her coaching career. Her choice was remaining on the collegiate level as an assistant or taking on a head coaching role in high school.
Livingston High were the lucky recipients, and Fielder felt like it was the right place for her.
“When the Livingston job opening came up, I just said, ‘I think this is God.’ I knew some of the girls because I coached them at Montgomery County Juniors. Everything just fell into place and our (athletic director) Coach (Tucker) Carter had the same morals as me and I trusted him and Coach (Heather) Mosser. I like how it is a small town and just being there and being around all the girls just felt like a family.”
Mosser, who has rebuilt the program into a unit that were regional semifinalists last year, will not be part of the coaching staff. She will instead settle into the role of assistant athletic director, along with her head softball duties.
The new coach, hired in March, has been able to get a good feel for what her team is about.
“The girls are super close, very coachable, and they want to win,” Fielder said. “I have girls that are very gritty and they love to learn about the game. Before going for that job, I had to do a little research just so I knew a little bit about the program.”
Coaching is a family legacy that continues through Fielder. Her father, Edward Hawkins, is also the Lady Lions’ new varsity head basketball coach.
“He coached me in middle school and coached me in high school all four years,” Fielder said of her father. “My thing is I have said I always wanted to be like my dad, how he was a mentor and how he was there for his kids. Even on bad days, those kids could go to him. It doesn't matter in a win or loss, he was always there for them and in their corner. His goal for me was to get me to college and he got me there. That is the same goal I have for all of my kids that I coach. (The desire to coach) started in my senior year (of college) and in just having multiple conversations with my dad about the next step for me.”
The Bearkat spiker describes herself as strict, organized and knowing what she wants.
“A lot of people will say I am a young coach, but I also know the game. I know the ins and outs of the game and I have seen it all, to where it doesn't really matter my age. It is like I told my girls, ‘Anytime I step on that court, I have full confidence in you to play. We work on it all week and we do it for weeks. Whenever you play, it is just to show your product.’ That is the mindset I tell my girls and the mindset I have as a coach. If you have a heart for it and you want to get better and you want your girls to get better, that is all you need.”
Serving as club coach wasn't easy either. As time-consuming as being a Division 1 athlete is, Fielder was able to also juggle her role leading the junior team in the moments she had available.
“All spring and even in the fall, it was a lot of work,” she said laughing. “I was traveling and going out of town and my college coaches worked with me. I had to be organized while having three things at a time in school, (volleyball at) Sam and club.
Assisting with track is a possibility for Fielder that will be discussed at a later date. In the classroom, she will help with credit recovery. In volleyball, she feels there is plenty of talent in her young group.
“I just have really good athletes, honestly. Their I.Q. is there, too. Carly Pipes is about to be a sophomore, Maddie Akers will be a junior this year and Audrey Rios will be a senior this year. Corinne Henderson is an outside hitter. They are just a talented group.
“I am very much an energetic person, so there is going to be a lot of energy. You will see me very involved and there will be a lot of heart out there. No matter what type of lineup I put out there, if it is a 5-1 or 6-2, there will be heart. With the girls that I have now, I want to run a 6-1, because I have a talented setter, but I also have talented hitters. After I got the job, I was able to come to the school and see them play. They have run a few practices and now in the summertime, I am fully in coach mode. I have seen everyone and know how everyone plays. I have a lot of girls that are doing travel ball, so I have some who are in and out of workouts. Next year, there will be a lot of camps and summer ball going on.”
