From Volleyball Player to Volleyball Coach and Mentor: A Journey Fueled by Passion, Purpose, And A Commitment To Changing Lives

When it comes to building champions on and off the court, few names carry as much weight as Coach Ike Papes. With a relentless drive for excellence, and an unwavering commitment to his players, Papes has touched into a force to be reckoned with. Known for his sharp strategic mind and motivational leadership, Papes has earned the respect of athletes, peers, and fans alike proving that true coaching success goes far beyond the scoreboard.

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ike Papes.

Coach Papes, what first inspired you to become a coach?
I had a great coach in high school club volleyball who changed my life, and I wanted to give that same chance to another kid. My life is totally different because of that experience. My mom also coached me through grade school. I just love this sport the ins, the outs, all the in-between. I wouldn’t be doing anything else in my life except volleyball.

What’s the most rewarding part of coaching for you personally?
Watching the kids grow and learn new skills. The wins are nice and the losses are hard, but the guys I coach make it all worth it. I can connect with them and hopefully show and teach them that nothing is impossible—that they can achieve any goal they set.

How do you define success beyond wins and losses?
Growth. Just being 1% better every day. You’re not going to win every game, set, or point. And you’re not going to win in life every day. But it’s what you learn from it. That’s success without wins learning from when you lose and getting better because of it.

What’s one lesson your players have taught you?
Don’t look too far into the future be present. I’ve seen them go through the season saying things like, “I can’t wait till I graduate,” or “when I’m an upperclassman.” Then I see the sadness when they leave the team, and it hits me. I want to live every second with them and not take anything for granted.

How do you help your athletes grow as people, not just players?
We have a lot of talks about discipline and being a good person. I’ve laid out a handbook that’s structured to help them understand how to be not only a good player but also a good person. The whole goal after they graduate is to make them better people who are prepared for life.

How do you keep your team motivated during tough times?
We keep our eyes on the prize. We have a lot to work toward. We’re young and haven’t had a good year, so we’re always looking to get better. We’re not going to win those games without learning how to be in those games. Even when we lose the games we’re not supposed to, it’s always, “OK, how do we learn and never feel like this again?” Head down. Keep pushing.

What’s your favorite team tradition?
I wouldn’t call it a tradition, but we have “greeting touches.” When we see each other in the halls or whenever, you’ve got to fist bump, high-five, or hug some sort of connecting touch. I love it. I think it brings us closer, and it lets them connect without even realizing it.

What’s the proudest moment you’ve experienced as a coach?
Watching us win our first game with me as head coach—not for me, but for them. Seeing the change they made in just two weeks after I started, and realizing what we could do. I won’t get that feeling back of that first win.

How do you handle pressure and expectations as a coach?
Breathe. To be honest, I’m not going to be perfect. No coach is. I’m going to make mistakes. All I do is expect it, learn from it, and move on. When I feel like I’m under pressure, it reminds me how much I love this sport and how much I’m willing to do for it. I wouldn’t feel this way if I didn’t love volleyball.

What’s a fun ritual or superstition you have before games?
As a coach, I don’t really have any. I just let it begin.

How do you stay connected with former players?
We stay in contact through our group chats. We always have an alumni group chat to keep in touch—even 10 years from now. They’re part of what we were and they never leave.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to young coaches just starting out?
I’m young, lol but keep your head down and learn. I still have a lot of learning to do.

What legacy do you hope to leave behind?
A coach who changes lives on and off the court. The wins would be cool, but it’s about the kids, not me. I want to change lives.

How has coaching shaped you as a person?
It’s kind of changed my life. I was always a hothead in college, but coaching has taught me to stay calm and collected. Now, when I play, it’s a different feeling it’s not just fire; it’s about how I can win within the game.

How do you handle the emotional weight of being a role model for young athletes?
It’s hard. I’m almost as old as they are. But it’s about being disciplined and doing what I preach to them. I slip up sometimes, but people learn from example and that’s what I try to be.

What’s your coaching philosophy?
Discipline not punishment, but mental and physical discipline. When bad things happen, have the discipline to stop, think, and make the smart move. Same on the court. Physically, it’s easy to slack off, eat poorly, and skip the gym. But have the discipline to keep grinding.

Can you share a game that changed your life as a coach?
I haven’t coached enough, in my opinion, to say that yet.

What’s the biggest life lesson you’ve learned from a certain loss?
No matter how much training, extra work, or planning you do sometimes it just doesn’t work out. And that’s OK.

How do you nurture leadership within your team?
I remind them that class, rank, or depth chart means nothing. Anyone can be a leader on the court. It doesn’t have to be the best player. It can be anybody as long as they have the right intentions for the team.

What is one piece of advice you constantly repeat to your team?
Discipline. I know I keep saying it, but it is the motto the base of a good team. I drive it into their heads because once we have that, we’ll go far.

Do you have a signature phrase or principle?
“100% for 100%.” Give me all of you, and I’ll give you everything I’ve got as well.

What is the toughest coaching decision you ever had to make?
I had to bench our best player for a weekend, and we lost three games we could have won. But I had to teach a lesson. It was the worst, but it had to be done.

How do you stay current with the game to keep evolving as a coach?
I play in the VLA and also play a lot of grass volleyball. I see new trends and try them out myself so I can show my guys how they work and how effective they are. I also love taking drills and techniques from other coaches on social media.

What would your players say about you as a coach?
I hope they’d say I’m a good coach who listens and pushes them to be their best on and off the court. Someone who wants to see them succeed more than anything.

How do you want to be remembered as a coach?
As a tough coach, but one who helps with hard life decisions and is there when things go bad. A path-changer, helping them find the right direction in life.

Whether you’re a coach, athlete, parent, or sports fan, I’d love to hear from you. Have a story idea? Want to collaborate on coverage? Looking to feature your team or athlete? Use the form below to get in touch.