Jillian Wanner
Staff Writer
Joe Podvin is in his first year of coaching RU’s volleyball team.
What brought you to RU and why do you choose to work here?
“In my original meeting with Garth [Pleasant], I saw the school to be high in integrity and to be growing, so I thought it would be a very good fit for me.”
What’s the easiest and hardest part of your job? Why?
“The easiest part is the actual coaching during the game. The operation is the hardest part— preparing, practicing is very hard. Once you get to the game, you really can’t correct a lot, so you just kind of manage what you already learned.”
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
“Thanks from players. I still take honor in being called coach. Whenever I get a present or a player says, ‘hey coach, I did really good tonight. I owe it all to you or some part of it to you.’ That is super rewarding to me.”
What do you do outside of your job to stay sane, relieve stress, etc.? Or what are your hobbies?
“Working out. I work out three times a week. I’m very religious to that. I golf too.”
Where did you grow up?
“South Troy”
What is your favorite thing to do in the Rochester area? Or in Michigan?
“I would say golf. Michigan has some world-class golf places. I love to just get away and golf.”
What is your most prized possession?
“I guess I would say my wife, but I don’t want to call her my possession. So, I would say my reputation.”
What is your most embarrassing moment?
“When I was 16, I got to travel into northern Canada. I played two years up. We got all the way up there—six hours of travel—and I forgot my hockey socks. When I got into the locker room, I was scared because all the guys were older and could shave, and I couldn’t shave at 16. I couldn't believe that I forgot my big long hockey socks. I went to my coach and he said, ‘How stupid are you?’ So I felt really dumb. He asked everyone for an extra pair of socks for Podvin, and a guy took a jersey and threw it at me. I was like, ‘What am I supposed to do with this?’It dawned on me. I took the jersey and put it upside down and used the arms for socks.”