Coaches Spotlight

New this year...
We want to spotlight our coaches
so you can see what makes us great!


Our first coach in the spotlight is Jan Baird,
the 2008 Gulf Coast Juniors 10s and Unders Coach (and 12s teams assistant).
Jan Baird has been coaching with Gulf Coast for 6 years and the head coach at Guardian Angels Catholic for 10 years. Her energy and enthusiasm is like no other, especially when you combine that with her impeccable background and knowledge of the game. Her patience merged with high expectations in dealing with the youngest players has produced many of the top players in this county as she teaches them the game and gets them ready to compete at a high level earlier than most imagine possible. Not only does she work well with the kids, she also relates well with parents (using her own experience with 3 daughters going through the club and school volleyball scenes) and if she's not coaching she's in the stands helping adults better understand the game. She is always smiling and finding a lesson to learn from every experience.

You will not find a stronger or harder working coach in the 12 & under age groups in this area.

Background:
  • Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, Coaching Minor at Bowling Green State University (Ohio), 2-sport collegiate athlete volleyball and track.
  • 1980 Head of Elementary Physical Education program @ Miami Country Day School, Miami Florida
  • 1980 Head High School Volleyball Coach Miami Country Day School
  • Moved to Clearwater area to begin Applebee’s restaurants in the State of Florida in 1989.
  • Married, 1984 to Craig, VP of Operations Applebee's (West Central Florida), Moved to Clearwater area in 1989.
  • 4 Children: Kristin 20, Sophomore @ University a Central Florida, Connor 18, Senior @ Clearwater Central Catholic, Katie 15, Freshman @ CCC, Kalyn 13, 8th Grader @ Guardian Angels Catholic School.
  • Began teaching elementary physical education @ Guardian Angels Catholic School, narrowing focus to the start-up of a higher-level volleyball program.


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    As a coach:
  • GA Inaugural Year (1998) win-loss record: 1-10, Current Season (2007) record: 21-0
  • Established the first program in the state of Florida where 8, 9, & 10 year-olds executed a 6-2 offense. “When you step onto MY court the learning starts with minute #1 whether you're 6 or 16." (For example, Allie Russell (Skycrest Christian) & Haley Barrett (St. Paul’s), knew the difference between a 5-1 and a 6-2 offense when they were 8 years old.)
  • Recently 3 of her Guardian Angel and Gulf Coast-trained players have made Varsity teams upon tryouts as freshmen: Mallory Kiley (Palm Harbor University), Natalie Mahy (East Lake), Vanessa Annoni (CCC), at least 2 more played varsity by the end of their Freshman season: Paola Annoni (Georgetown University) & Shea Fontana (Palm Harbor University).
  • Other non-Guardian Angels players that she coached at Gulf Coast that have made their Varsity teams upon tryouts as freshmen: Allison McClintock (from Skycrest), Amanda Russell (from Skycrest), Kahley Patrick (from Oak Grove), Shannon O’Donnell (from Skyrest)


    • Motto: "Always teaching; always learning."

    Best advice to young players: “Trust me. Your win-loss record at age 10 is irrelevant. My goal is for you to walk into high school tryouts and be acknowledged by a (sometimes unfamiliar) coach, that you are a true player and a student of the game. That you will be confident (not arrogant) and ready to play and compete with anyone in the gym. That you are a teammate every player wants on her team.”
    What she wants you to know: "The most intriguing thing about teaching 8, 9, & 10 year-olds is that they are often physically awkward because they are usually growing sooo fast. (The 9 year-old that barely made you notice often develops into your best asset if you pay attention.) But their brains are always on fire and ready to learn the concepts of the game (blocking for instance) long before they can ever reach the top of the net. Keeping their brains engaged in the 'chess match' components of the game is vital. The goal is to develop the player into an athlete who is in love with the game, in love with movement in general, and in love with competitive aspects of sports. But you must challenge them athletically, cognitively (brain-work) and affectively (I love my sport, I love my team, I love to learn)."

    "And most importantly, this is a TEAM sport. You can’t just take the ball and run with it. And you can’t hit the ball over a fence (softball). Nor will you ever have the chance to ‘run somebody over’ so that you can have the ball (soccer, basketball). Other than serving an ace, you’ll need someone to pass the ball, set the ball, & hit the ball. Notice to the young player: if serving is the only skill you’re clinging to, you’ll be in the bleachers by high school."

    Hobbies: Running & Gulf Kayaking; Travel (France, Germany, Italy, Ireland); Running History: Ran 21 marathons. 4-time Boston Marathon Runner, first female runner to meet Boston qualifying standards while pushing a running stroller. 17 Marathons with a running stroller.

    We are glad to have Jan Baird as a part of Gulf Coast Juniors and congratulate her on an incredible middle school season in 2007. Thanks for all of your hard work and keep up that incredible energy and devotion to improving young athletes' knowledge of the game.