When he’s not in The Convo or the weight room, Deane Webb can be found hunting in the woods.
That is, when finds the time to get away.
Nowadays, Webb, Ohio’s new volleyball coach, is in the process of putting his team together. His first task has been to show the Bobcats how he wants to run the program, after five-year Ohio coach Ryan Theis vacated his position for the head gig at Marquette in January.
“I love the mentality of all the new coaches, when we’re in the gym it is all business,” junior outside hitter Kelly Lamberti said. “There’s no more laid-back environment. It’s very active and they’re more intense in the gym.”
Webb, who will make $120,000 annually as part of his five-year contract, coached Belmont for 11 years before coming to Ohio. He built the Belmont program from the ground up, as it was at the lowest of lows before his arrival.
“At the first day of practice at Belmont, they had seven volleyballs that were in one volleyball cart that was missing a wheel,” Webb said. “It didn’t resemble volleyball on that first day.”
But Webb and his coaching staff built a competitive program and led the Bruins to five consecutive 20-win seasons. In 2008, Belmont claimed its second Atlantic Sun title and NCAA Tournament appearance in three years.
Belmont senior outside hitter Jen Myer spoke highly of Webb’s ability to bring out the best in his players.
“Webb has a great ability to delegate responsibilities to utilize the maximum potential of all players and staff,” she said in an email. “I believe he gets the most out of his players through his use of others to be an impact. The seniors and captains carry larger roles and serve to motivate and encourage others.”
Maggie Johnson, a Belmont outside hitter from 2008-2011, was added to Webb’s Ohio staff and will be one of its two assistant coaches. She was named the A-Sun co-player of the year her senior season and said one of Webb’s strengths is picking out long-term individual goals for student-athletes.
“(Webb) is good at picking out the top of a player’s potential and pushing them to that point,” Johnson said. “He did that for me when I was a player. He saw things that I didn’t even see (when) starting my career.”
Webb, who left as the winningest coach in Belmont athletics history, also became the youngest coach in Division I volleyball to win 300 career matches in September of 2010.
Despite being active and intense on the floor, Webb is a different person away from competition and is always willing to help others with a positive spirit, Johnson said.
“I’ve learned as I’ve worked with him that he’s really funny. It’s not necessarily a side that you see of him as a player,” she said. “It takes a little bit to get to know him, but he’s always going to be sincere. It’s nice to know when you’re talking to him you’re getting exactly what he thinks.”
Past players, Myer included, have praised Webb for his open-door policy, meaning he’s always open to players and coaches stopping by to chat.
He also wants Ohio to be not only the hardest-working team in the Mid-American Conference, but also in the nation. He thinks the program can make waves in the NCAA Tournament in the near future.
“I want fans to know that when they come to watch us, we’re going to give them our best and we’re going to work incredibly hard,” Webb said. “Whether we’re the bigger team or more athletic team or not, our goal every night is to be the hardest working team.”
Webb led Belmont to three conference titles and as many NCAA Tournament appearances, in addition to coaching 22 players who received first or second team all-conference honors. In 2012, the Bruins joined the Ohio Valley Conference and won its championship during their first year competing in the league.
Webb has since taken the reins of an Ohio program that has sent teams to the NCAA Tournament twice in the past four seasons, including a first-round matchup with Michigan State this past December.
“Geoff (Carlson) and Ryan (Theis) have done great jobs building this program and getting to where it is today,” Webb said. “Now it’s not going in and having to rebuild everything … it’s coming in, finding certain things we want to improve, focusing on those, and also making sure that we keep the things that we’re good at.”
@Alex_Busch91
ab109410@ohiou.edu
Quick Six
Favorite athlete growing up
Magic Johnson
Favorite sports team
Houston Rockets
Favorite movie
The original Star Wars
Favorite vacation spot
Outdoors, Gatlinburg, Tenn.
Favorite music artist
Josh Turner
Favorite hobby
Deer hunting
