For Casey Veen, accepting the head coaching job is going back to where her coaching career started.
Before coming to Livingston the first time, Veen was a student athlete at the University of St. Thomas in Houston. She was an All-American in volleyball, but also took up golf when they began a program in her fifth year.
Not long after graduating, she received a phone call that the Livingston volleyball head coaching position was open. She applied, late in July, and was hired at 22 years of age.
Her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, prompting a move closer to home for Veen and her husband, Ben, then a Livingston football, basketball and baseball coach. He took a position at Baytown Sterling and she went to Houston Lamar. They were later able to carpool with jobs at Goose Creek Memorial. When Barbers Hill needed a new spike coach, Veen decided to spend the last six years leading the Lady Eagles.
Last year, she guided the team to a 40-6 overall record, with a 14-0 mark in district. Of her six seasons in Mont Belvieu, her teams lost a grand total of one district match.
After all the district championships and playoff success, why move?
“My husband and I, we were here when we were young,” Veen said. “It was a really cool place to be. Everyone was so nice. Throughout our coaching journeys, we stayed in contact with everyone that we coached with.
“It's pretty neat to see all the people that we keep in touch with, it's a majority Livingston people – and we were only here for two years. So, even people that were only here for one year, we still keep in contact with, because we built so many fantastic relationships here with people that we worked with.
“Then, this kind of just opened up. We weren't thinking about leaving Barbers Hill. My husband got out of coaching to help with our kids and just be a teacher, because we have three, and they're all almost the same age and it’s just a busy life. He's about to be an assistant principal. This was always a great place that we've always remembered. We can't really miss out on this opportunity, because he now gets to pursue what he wants to do.”
Livingston had the right puzzle pieces open. Needing both an assistant principal and head volleyball coach, the Veens will once again be on the same campus.
With knowledge of the schools in 19-4A, Veen has also taken in recent history at Livingston. Girls coordinator Heather Mosser was the volleyball coach just two years ago, leading the group through multiple wins in the playoffs. Allyssa Fielder, now at Conroe High School, took the team to the area round behind a strong second half of the season.
“I know the district; we played against Huffman,” Veen said of sweeping the Lady Falcons in October. “I know what Hamshire-Fannett looks like and what Liberty looks like. I know what Hardin-Jefferson looks like. I looked to see what was returning (to Livingston).
“That was one of the first things that I asked both coaches (Mosser and Athletic Director Tucker Carter), you know, tell me about the program. They were like, ‘It's in a great state. All girls sports had success last year.’ Being a multi-sport athlete myself, I did seven sports in high school. It was just something that I wanted my kids to experience. Not, you know, you have to select before you get to high school.
“Knowing that the girls programs were very strong across the board, even if they're not a volleyball player, just be an athlete. Understand how to have discipline, structure, accountability, standards – I can teach volleyball. It just seems like it's trending upward. I'm really excited just to add a little bit of me to the program and help guide them where they are.”
Livingston is excited for Veen to add her formula to the mix. In 14 years of coaching, her teams have reached the playoffs for each of them, compiling a 413-130 overall record. She has coached in the regional finals, and 21 athletes have continued on to participate in college volleyball.
Yet, it’s not the wins or championships she likes to talk about the most.
“I think mainly the big thing is that I have a lot of girls that I keep in touch with. We still have good relationships. I think, ultimately, that's the biggest highlight, is that I still have girls that are reaching out. When Livingston athletics posted that there was a meet and greet and a little bit about me, it was really cool to see some of the girls that I coached here comment on it. I mean, that just made my heart full. I was like, ‘I haven't talked to her in so long.’ It was just really cool. So, I hope to bring a good culture and good relationships to the girls.”
Veen said traits that characterize her teams are a loud group that communicates well, while playing scrappy and aggressively.
“I love structure, discipline. I'm a really big person on we're going to all look the same – uniformity. Just really passionate players – I still coach how I used to play. I'm constantly talking, yelling, making adjustments – I'm very wild with my hands. I hope the team can get it in their head that they're capable of being highly successful and winning and going multiple rounds, because they are capable of that. I just really hope to see a lot of fire on the court.”
What Livingston ultimately runs will depend on the talents of the team.
“I've done multiple different defenses, I've had different offensive strategies, just whatever the team is presenting to me, then I try to create what is best for them and what makes us the most successful. I'm pretty unorthodox when it comes to things, because I feel like whatever is given to you, you have to adjust.
“If your best middle is your setter, then you're going to have to finagle something there. I’m just really going to take in what the girls show me this summer. Then, hopefully by the middle to end of July, we're rolling, ready for Aug. 1.
“What is nice is to have people that have already tasted success and they want more. A true athlete is never satisfied. Even if you win state, you want to win it again. If they are hungry to be successful, then that's where we're going to go with that. It gives us a little bit of experience in that sense, so that we know what success feels like. We're also going to rely on them to train up younger girls of, ‘Hey, this is not how we do things here. This is the expectation. This is what we want. This is what we're capable of.’ Hopefully, we can blend in from previous coaches and systems and what I bring to the table, and then just create something really fantastic.”
Goals of the team will be unapologetically lofty.
“When you start the season, you're trying to go to state. If you're not trying to go to state, then what are we doing? So, we're trying to put our eyes on the big prize. If we fall short, then we fall short. But ultimately, we're going to hold ourselves to a higher standard.”
