Our basketball Jewel
August 5, 2014Honoring football with 25 words about each NFL team
August 5, 2014
The Nicholls volleyball team is in the midst of a rebuilding effort – a transition that coach Tommy Harold hopes will see the Colonels emerge as one of the best teams in the Southland Conference.
That process became a little bit easier this week as the team hired one of the premier assistant coaches in the country to help mold its players.
Harold announced this week that he has hired esteemed coach Marko Majstorovic to be his first assistant coach.
A native of Belgrade, Serbia, the new Colonels coach lands at Nicholls after spending the past five seasons with the University of Memphis. Majstorovic also spent time at the University of Oregon and was a professional coach in his native land.
“We are excited to have Marko join our staff,” Harold said. “His experience in the gym and as a recruiter will be a great addition as we more the program forward.”
In Majstorovic, the Colonels will be obtaining the services of a well-rounded coach who will work on the team’s on-court training, recruiting, video analysis, blocking and defensive systems.
It’s the above-mentioned defensive acclaim that was Majstorovic’s calling card at Memphis. In the 2008 season, the Tigers led the Conference USA in blocks and were in the upper-half of the league in most defensive statistics.
But perhaps Majstorovic’s biggest impact will come in aiding the team’s recruiting efforts, especially in luring overseas prospects to Thibodaux.
Since becoming a coach in 1998, Majstorovic has established himself as one of the top, up-and-coming coaches in Serbia. As a professional coach in his native land, the Nicholls coach guided several Serbian teams at all level of competition. His coaching stints in Serbia include work with Banjica Belgrade, Radnicki Volleyball Club, Banovic Strahinja Volleyball Club and Volley Star Belgrade.
While with Radnicki Volleyball Club, Majstorovic ascended to be the team’s assistant coach for its A1 Pro League Team, while also serving as head coach for the club’s U17 squad.
In 2000, that combination was a winning recipe, as the pro squad finished second place and the U-17 team earned a state championship.
Back in the United States and more recently, Majstorovic had success as the head coach of the Asics Memphis Metro U-16 Junior Olympic team. During that tenure, nine of Majstorovic’s 10 players went on to earn NCAA Division I scholarships and continue their playing careers.
Before getting into coaching, Majstorovic was an accomplished player good enough to ascend himself to the professional level of play.
Majstorovic was the Best Outside Hitter in the Serbian Pro A2 League in 1995. He won Best Defensive Player Award honors in 1996 as a libero.
He later ascended himself to the top level of play in Serbian volleyball – the Pro A1 League. While there, he played for Partizan Belgrade, where he enjoyed success.
To get things turned around at Nicholls, Majstorovic will have to do a lot of work in a short span of time.
The Colonels begin their 2014 season on Aug. 29 with a non-conference tilt with Alabama A&M.
Nicholls finished the 2013 season 5-23 and just 2-16 in Southland Conference play, but with many returnees back from that squad, Harold has said that he’s optimistic that the team will be improved in the upcoming season.
Having Majstorovic by his side surely helps make that a reality.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL ADDS GOFF TO STAFF
Harold wasn’t the only Nicholls coach busy working on his staff this week. Across the hall in Stopher Gymnasium, Colonels women’s basketball coach DoBee Plaisance hired a new hand to assist in Nicholls’ ongoing quest to win the Southland Conference.
Plaisance announced this week that she has hired Kris Goff to serve as an assistant coach on her staff.
Goff is a native of Walker, La., and he joins the team after a one-year stint as an assistant at Southeastern Louisiana. While with the Lady Lions, Goff’s primary duty was player development. In his one season with the team, Southeastern had two All-Southland Conference players.
“Kris brings energy and enthusiasm,” Plaisance said. His coaching skillset compliments what (assistant coach Justin Payne) and I have been cultivating within the team. He appreciates what it means to be a part of Nicholls and he will be a tremendous asset to our program.”
Prior to his time at Southeastern, Goff worked in the high school and junior high levels in Louisiana. Goff coached at Denham Springs Junior High, Albany High and Springfield High before taking his role with Southeastern – his alma mater.
Goff is also active on the AAU circuit, having spent time with the Mardi Gras Gators and the Louisiana Lady Select – two gigs that have earned the coach national exposure.
