This year, I set myself a challenge to photograph as many head coaches as possible, regardless of the sport they coach. Sports editor Niles Krueger and I always talk about taking images of coaches and keeping them on file every year.
Some sports are more difficult than others, but when it comes to high school volleyball, there are a lot of valuable shots.
Coaches may not like the images or they may not be flattering, but photos can tell a story, tell a personality, and show not only wins but also defeats.
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Let’s say the momentum can change slightly.
As Niles said, “I’ve always been struck by how volleyball is so different from other sports in terms of emotion and moment-to-moment momentum swings.”
So, I’ve been taking high school sports photos for 48 years, and I’m glad I gave it a try this fall.
I have been photographing St. Mary Catholic Central coach Kim Windham for several years. It started when she was a player at SMCC and continued while she was coaching at Monroe, Airport and SMCC.
I remember when Kim was in Monroe. I sometimes called her my feisty coach. She was always emotional as Monroe advanced to the state playoffs.
Taking over at SMCC this season, she may be peppy at times, but her mannerisms are different. That may be true, but I didn’t see it that way before, but Coach Windham expresses himself by the way he looks at the players and referees. Maybe a simple smile.
There are a few coaches I photographed this fall that I call firecracker coaches. Caitlin Hinojosa of New Boston Huron, Alyssa Tam of Ellie Mason, and Ashley Begeman of Ida. They love to stand in front of the bench with the players and get involved, they scream loudly when they score, and they’re always on the move.
I have so much fun taking pictures of volleyball coaches. I’m always looking for that image from the baseline or from the other side of the floor. There are always photos taken during huddles during timeouts, but for me it’s about capturing the moment.
Recently, I paid close attention to Bedford’s Bree Laseau as she backed up along the bench. A rare moment of Mason’s Alyssa Tam scoring a goal, or of Whiteford’s Janie Valdez anticipating her success, throwing her hands in the air and screaming. My first child was born in March and I am currently talking to the players.
One of my favorite shots of the volleyball coach wasn’t on the floor, but as he was leaving for the state semifinals. Former SMCC coach Karen O’Brien high-fived players’ parents in the hallway on her way to the bus. This image was taken from behind her, and I felt it spoke volumes about the situation in the year of COVID-19.
The photos I took may not necessarily be flattering, but thank you, coaches, for making my career interesting in so many different ways.
Unfortunately, I didn’t have a chance to photograph Dawn Perry of Summerfield or Mackenzie Kaiser of Flat Rock this fall.
Tom Hawley is now in his 48th year of photographing high school sports.
