Olympic Gold Medalist to Bridgeport

BRIDGEPORT – In Bridgeport’s Fairchild Wheeler High School gymnasium Olympic gold medalist Todd Rogers studied the way each player passed the volleyball. Rogers got into ready position - knees slightly bent, arms extended, eyes on the ball – and showed the players how to pass correctly. The Professor was at work.

The Olympic beach volleyball player and former All-American at UCSB was invited to be a guest coach by the Mizuno East Volleyball Club (MEVBC) on Tuesday and Wednesday. It is the only New England club to send teams to the Boys National Volleyball Championships the last four years.

Rogers is known for his ability to be both a teacher and player on and off the court. Throughout the practice, Rogers was not just teaching the high school players but the coaches too.

“Todd Roger’s nickname is The Professor because he is considered to be one of the most knowledgeable players in the game,” said MEVBC and Roger’s beach volleyball coach Mark Fishman.

During the practice Todd talked to the coaches and showed them what to work on with their players. Mark also used Todd to show the players proper technique.

Rogers stated that his job at the practice was to reinforce what the MEVBC coaches are teaching the players. “I’m sure 99% of these coaches are telling them the same thing but when I come in… it resonates and clicks… it’s from a different viewpoint from someone who’s done fairly well in the sport, coaching at a high level, etcetera.”

MEVBC coaches want to teach more than volleyball skills, they want to teach the players how to strive to be the best they can be in life. Fishman said, “We want to teach players to push yourself in what you choose to compete in.”

The coaches want to create structure and become a positive catalyst for their young players.

Clearly, Todd Rogers is not the only professor. The coaches want to make sure the players know how to compete on the court and in real life.

To learn more about MEVBC, visit http://www.mevbc.com/.