Father-Daughter Duo Growing Together on the Court
9/24/2015 12:59:00 PM | Features
Millersville, Pa. - As young kids, many of us were coached by our fathers, but for Taylor Smith that opportunity came a little bit later. Brian Smith is in his sixth season as the head coach of the Millersville women's volleyball team, and for the past four years, he has had one player on his roster that was very familiar with him: his daughter, Taylor.
"I started playing volleyball when I was in middle school," said Taylor. "At that time my dad wasn't my coach."
As Taylor grew up, Brian never pressured his daughter to play volleyball. It was watching him play that caused Taylor to become interested in the sport.
"He had always played on men's recreational teams " Taylor said. "I was always allowed to play whatever sport I wanted, but I think watching him play volleyball motivated me to play and sprouted my love for the sport."
Brian began coaching Taylor around the time she went to high school at Lancaster Mennonite where she led her team to two straight Lancaster-Lebanon League titles. He also ran a volleyball club that Taylor played with for four seasons.
The passion for volleyball runs deep in the Smith family as all four of Brian's kids played volleyball. Taylor's oldest brother Zach was an all-state outside hitter in high school and her younger brothers Harrison and Benjamin play as well. Zach, is currently a student assistant for the Millersville volleyball team. Still, it wasn't Taylor's plan to come play for her dad at Millersville.
"I visited West Chester and really loved the feel and look of the campus," Taylor said. "I hadn't seriously considered Millersville."
Brian said that he had minimal influence in Taylor's decision to join him at Millersville and believed she would choose elsewhere in part to play for somebody different.
"Her decision to attend MU and play volleyball here was mostly influenced by a few of her current teammates," said Brian.
Both Taylor and Brian were excited about the decision, but it did not come without some angst. Taylor knew playing for her dad in college would present some unique challenges that other players typically would not face.
"It's been hard at times to distinguish between interacting with my father and my coach," Taylor said. "He is harder on me and expects a lot from me."
Brian agrees it has not always been the easiest to coach Taylor, mostly because he does not want to seem like he is giving her special treatment.
"I think the most difficult aspect of coaching Taylor is my over-sensitivity to not treating her special," said Brian. "I believe she understands that I have to be sensitive to this and has given me a pass on the few times I may have been unfair to her."
Still, both Taylor and Brian are extremely happy things worked out the way they did.
"I wouldn't trade it for the world," Taylor said. "Being coached by my dad in college has been very special to me, and I feel lucky to have the opportunity to play for him."
"The best part of coaching my daughter is being able to spend time around her and to see her play," said Brian. "Watching her play and grow as a player and young woman has been a joy for me."
As a coach Brian has become a father-figure to his players in different ways. The same advice he gives to Taylor, he imparts to the rest of the team.
"Be true to yourself and your strongly-held beliefs, be a great friend, be thankful for the gifts you have," said Brian. "Be humble in victory and defeat and learn valuable life lessons the easy way, from those that had to learn them the hard way."
Taylor might have a hard time distinguishing whether she is talking to her coach or her father sometimes, but with advice like that, it's clear to see Brian's coaching extends outside the while lines.
"I started playing volleyball when I was in middle school," said Taylor. "At that time my dad wasn't my coach."
As Taylor grew up, Brian never pressured his daughter to play volleyball. It was watching him play that caused Taylor to become interested in the sport.
"He had always played on men's recreational teams " Taylor said. "I was always allowed to play whatever sport I wanted, but I think watching him play volleyball motivated me to play and sprouted my love for the sport."
Brian began coaching Taylor around the time she went to high school at Lancaster Mennonite where she led her team to two straight Lancaster-Lebanon League titles. He also ran a volleyball club that Taylor played with for four seasons.
The passion for volleyball runs deep in the Smith family as all four of Brian's kids played volleyball. Taylor's oldest brother Zach was an all-state outside hitter in high school and her younger brothers Harrison and Benjamin play as well. Zach, is currently a student assistant for the Millersville volleyball team. Still, it wasn't Taylor's plan to come play for her dad at Millersville.
"I visited West Chester and really loved the feel and look of the campus," Taylor said. "I hadn't seriously considered Millersville."
Brian said that he had minimal influence in Taylor's decision to join him at Millersville and believed she would choose elsewhere in part to play for somebody different.
"Her decision to attend MU and play volleyball here was mostly influenced by a few of her current teammates," said Brian.
Both Taylor and Brian were excited about the decision, but it did not come without some angst. Taylor knew playing for her dad in college would present some unique challenges that other players typically would not face.
"It's been hard at times to distinguish between interacting with my father and my coach," Taylor said. "He is harder on me and expects a lot from me."
Brian agrees it has not always been the easiest to coach Taylor, mostly because he does not want to seem like he is giving her special treatment.
"I think the most difficult aspect of coaching Taylor is my over-sensitivity to not treating her special," said Brian. "I believe she understands that I have to be sensitive to this and has given me a pass on the few times I may have been unfair to her."
Still, both Taylor and Brian are extremely happy things worked out the way they did.
"I wouldn't trade it for the world," Taylor said. "Being coached by my dad in college has been very special to me, and I feel lucky to have the opportunity to play for him."
"The best part of coaching my daughter is being able to spend time around her and to see her play," said Brian. "Watching her play and grow as a player and young woman has been a joy for me."
As a coach Brian has become a father-figure to his players in different ways. The same advice he gives to Taylor, he imparts to the rest of the team.
"Be true to yourself and your strongly-held beliefs, be a great friend, be thankful for the gifts you have," said Brian. "Be humble in victory and defeat and learn valuable life lessons the easy way, from those that had to learn them the hard way."
Taylor might have a hard time distinguishing whether she is talking to her coach or her father sometimes, but with advice like that, it's clear to see Brian's coaching extends outside the while lines.
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