Juggling College and Coaching - Jax State Senior Inspires as Head Volleyball Coach
11/20/2024
By Brett Buckner
Most college students wait until after graduation to start their careers. But experience, a well-earned reputation for leadership and an accomplished resume put Haleigh Molock ahead of the game. Molock is a Jacksonville State University (Jax State) senior, finishing her bachelor's degree in social studies and secondary education. She's also the head volleyball coach for Faith Christian School of Anniston.
"I've wanted to coach since I was young ... It just came a little earlier than I expected," she said. Last summer, Molock received an email from Cristie Brothers, her former volleyball coach at Snead State Community College, about a job opening at Faith Christian for a junior high volleyball coach/assistant varsity coach. Molock applied and was hired. "They liked that I'd played before," she said, "and I had really good references." The opportunity became more than she'd dared to dream when the current varsity coach left for another position, "and they just bumped me in."
Molock was understandably nervous about accepting the job, knowing that she'd have to juggle coaching with being a full-time student and completing her senior practicum. Normally, Molock attended class from 4:30 to 7:30 pm on Thursdays, which was a problem. "There's no way I could go to practice or any of the games," she said. "Most of our volleyball games were on Thursday." Her professors were "very supportive," she said. For example, Dr. Russell Hammack allowed Molock to do her independent study with him in person from 2 to 4 pm, "so I could go to practice and go to the games," she said. "It was definitely a lot. It was stressful, but I got through it."
Molock knows something about hard work. The 21-year-old Spring Garden native started playing volleyball in 7th grade and moved to varsity in 8th grade, playing all six rotations as an outside hitter, which is impressive considering she's only 5'6". "But thanks to a jump program during the offseason, I had a 26-inch vertical that was far from natural," she said. "So that helped." At Spring Garden High School, Molock was named Player of the Year and Cherokee County MVP in 2020. After graduating valedictorian from Spring Garden, she went on to play two years at Snead State Community College in Boaz. During her sophomore year, Molock tore her labrum and bicep. "The doctor told me my season was pretty much done," she said. "But I ended up playing that year with cortisone shots and stuff. It was rough." That would be Molock's final season – as a player.
Known as a hard-working, intense player, Molock admits that it took some time before she could relate to students who, at 18, weren't much younger than she is. "Playing, for me, was all about hustle and being energetic," she said. "It's weird when you want your kids to do what you did or to try as hard as you did, and when they don't, it can be frustrating. "I had to figure out how to get them just as excited about volleyball as I was." The staff and parents of Faith Christian were thrilled with the hire. "Haleigh brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to our program," according to a post on the school's Facebook page. "... Haleigh's dedication to developing young athletes both on and off the court makes her a valuable addition to our school community."
In her first year, Molock led the Lions to the Class 1A state quarterfinals, where they lost to eventual state runner-up University Charter. "I'm so proud of them," Molock said. "A lot of places were calling us a Cinderella team because no one believed we would get there, but they worked their butts off. That's all I can ask of them – to work hard and have a good attitude." Molock considers the season a success on a personal level, too. "I have a newfound respect for all the coaches I've had," she said. It is so much more time and effort than I ever would've thought. But it's all been worth it because I felt like I really impacted these kids' lives."
With the season over, Molock is considering her options, knowing that there's a job at Faith if she wants it. "You never know where the next door will lead. But whatever happens, I couldn't have done this without a great support system or without God helping me get this opportunity."