Coach Tepe (Westphal)

Volleyball Coach | Strength Coach | Avid Learner Christ Follower ☝🏼

[Coach Tepe (Westphal) @mwestphal5]

Doing what I was born to do 🤍

[Camus @newstart_2024]

Wayne Dyer’s orange metaphor just hit me like a gut punch (47-sec clip):

Squeeze an orange as hard as you can… what comes out?
Orange juice.
Every single time. No exceptions. Never apple juice. Never grape juice.

Why?
Because that’s what’s inside.

Now look in the mirror:
Life squeezes you — betrayal, criticism, loss, pressure, cruelty.
What spills out of you?
Rage that burns your chest?
Resentment that poisons your nights?
Fear that paralyzes you?
Self-pity that drowns you?
Bitter venom you didn’t even know you carried?

Don’t point at the person squeezing.
They didn’t put that darkness in you.
They just pressed — and it poured out.

If what comes out hurts you…
If it poisons your relationships…
If it keeps you small and angry…

You can change what’s inside.

47-sec clip — raw, tear-jerking, soul-shaking truth 👇

When life has squeezed you hardest, what ugly, painful thing came pouring out that you never wanted to see?

And what poison in your heart are you finally ready to let go of — right now?

[Brian Kight @BrianKight]

If you’re a coach who wants to challenge players while building awesome relationships, you should read this.

The problem is . . . challenging players in uncomfortable ways is absolutely necessary for excellence but risks turning them off, damaging trust, and undermining confidence. They seem to work against each other.

But it only seems that way.

The truth is . . . you can challenge players incredibly hard AND build deep trust. They're not opposites.

The key is making players feel how the challenge comes from caring, not instead of it. Most players in your program have never experienced that from a coach. They’ve had intense coaches who challenged and caring coaches who connected, but not a coach that does both. At the same time.

Here’s the phrase to use —>
“High love with high standards.”

That's the phrase you need to repeat over and over and over. To yourself. To your players. To their parents. To your staff.

1000x a week.

High love is high standards. Lowering standards is not a sign that you care. It’s not an act of love. It’s an act of fear. Soft coaching is the opposite of love. It says, "I don't think you're capable of more or better."

High standards is high love. Holding high standards doesn’t require that you withhold love or connection. A player’s connection with you (and teammates) is the single most powerful force you can tap into to drive high standards. People will do anything for the people they love.

Every player is a person first, a player second. Show each player you see them as person first. Before practice, during water breaks, after mistakes, when they’re struggling.

Learn their unique desires fast. Ask about specific details in their lives, not just “How’s school? How’s your family?”. Notice their effort, not just their results.

When they feel that YOU are FOR them, they'll run through walls for you.

Then bring the intensity.

"Not good enough! You can do better! You must be better than that!"

When a kid knows you love him and believe in him, he hears your challenges totally different. Your challenges become proof that you care. But only if THE PERSON believes you care about him specifically. It’s now how much you think you care. It’s how much the person believes you care.

E+R=O helps you stay clear, disciplined, and confident as a coach:

The OUTCOME you want is better performance and a stronger relationship, improvement AND connection. You don't have to pick one or the other.

Your EVENT is their performance (effort, focus, execution).

Your RESPONSE is direct, honest feedback—HIGH LOVE + HIGH STANDARDS —delivered with energy and belief.

Players WANT a coach who expects excellence. They just need to know you won't abandon them when they struggle, fall short, or fail.

So challenge them in the moment, then reinforce the relationship immediately after.

"That was sloppy. Focus and fix it. You can do this. Now let's go."

High love with high standards. 1000x a week. Watch your players, and your relationships with them, transform.

[Greg Berge @GregBerge]

Sean McVay nailed the job description.

Be an elevator.

Lift people to their highest potential.
That's it.
That's leadership. 🔥

[Inky Johnson @inkyjohnson]

Compete.

[Nebraska Men's Basketball @HuskerMBB]

No other choice.

@samhoiberg is a finalist for the Nolan Richardson National Player of the Year, which recognizes the player who is the heart and soul of his team and a leader on and off the court.

[NCAA Women's Volleyball @NCAAVolleyball]

🗣️ "For the rest of your life, you're going to be able to say you're National Champions."

#NCAAWVB x @AggieVolleyball

[ESPN PR @ESPNPR]

The 2025 @NCAAVolleyball Regionals were the MOST-WATCHED ON RECORD 🤯

🏐 530K avg. viewers, up 32% YoY
🏐 @AggieVolleyball-@HuskerVB delivered 1.2M viewers, most-watched Regional Final on record
🏐 Demo gains: P25-34 (+147%), P2-17 (+89%), women (+39%)

#NCAAVolleyball

[Coach Tepe (Westphal) @mwestphal5]

Bekka was made for this moment. How inspiring.

[Coach Tepe (Westphal) @mwestphal5]

I secretly love this. Competition is so fun. Sports are incredible. People who rise to the occasion and don’t back down. Incredible.

[Nebraska Volleyball @HuskerVB]

REBEKAHHHHH

[Coach Tepe (Westphal) @mwestphal5]

Andi Jackson… most improved blocker?? She’s always been offensive, but this is impressive

[Hudl @Hudl]

If you’re looking for your team, you’ll find it all on Hudl. 🙌🏽🎥

Find your team’s livestreams, highlights and schedules all in one spot organized by sport, team and live/on-demand status so you can jump straight into the action.

[Coach Tepe (Westphal) @mwestphal5]

It’s the most wonderful time of the year 🎄

[NCAA Women's Volleyball @NCAAVolleyball]

Here are the matches @michellachester is watching this week! 👀

#NCAAWVB

[nebpreps @THEnebpreps]

“The more you invest, the harder it is to quit when things get tough.”

Waverly secured its first football state championship in 45 years with a 42-27 win over Gretna East in the Class B title game.

#nebpreps | @RManstedt

[Coach Tepe (Westphal) @mwestphal5]

State Volleyball looks a little different this year. Always love seeing an underdog with an upset in five sets.

[Coach Tepe (Westphal) @mwestphal5]

This is powerful.

[Tony Chapman @tony_chapman76]

Heard a story about a team at state volleyball.

Team — who will play tomorrow — had a girl playing six rotations. Coach went to girl to adjust her role to just play back row. Needed more height.

After a few games, said player asked coach a question.

“Coach, do you think I’ll play front row next year?”

“Yes,” the coach said.

“Then, do you care if I play some JV in the front row so I can get some more reps.”

Kids: Be this player!

Coaches: Encourage this environment.

Parents: Parent this in your kids!

Guess what you get? Memories that last forever!

[nebpreps @THEnebpreps]

Rebekah Allick delivered her lineup ball to fellow Nebraskan Malayah Long ❤️

Allick and Long both played for club VCNebraska.

#nebpreps

[Coach Tepe (Westphal) @mwestphal5]

Ever held a hobby horse race during practice? Pics and videos to come. It’s as funny as it sounds

Congrats to the champs - Team Spider-Man (Captain Kelsey) riding Midnight in the Shadows

[Coach Tepe (Westphal) @mwestphal5]

Let the madness begin 👊🏼

[Crete Volleyball @cretevball]

📅 Mark your calendars, Cardinal Nation!
The 2025 season is HERE and we’re ready to put in the work. Who’s rolling with us? 🔴⚫️

#Kaizen #CreteVolleyball