Wolf spikers react to the hiring of their new coach. (John Fisken photo)
Cory Whitmore
“Volleyball is organized chaos – the team that organizes or minimizes the chaos the most, wins.”
It’s that unpredictability which drew Cory Whitmore to the sport.
After a high school career in Ritzville where he played football, basketball and track, he veered off to the world of club volleyball while attending Washington State University and has never looked back.
Now, his new sport has carried him through assistant coaching jobs at Colfax and Oak Harbor, before depositing him in Coupeville, where he accepted the head coaching position Friday.
Whitmore, who still needs to gain school board approval, replaces Breanne Smedley, who left after two seasons to accept a job in her hometown with 3A Columbia River.
The duo worked together this year, coaching club ball with the Whidbey Fury, and Smedley speaks highly of her successor.
“I know Cory very well and couldn’t be happier that he is taking over the CHS volleyball program,” she said. “He is enthusiastic, organized, and will not be outworked.
“Corey’s knowledge and the work ethic of the CHS volleyball players makes me confident that program will continue to head in the right direction.”
Whitmore, who teaches 9th grade English and American Literature at Oak Harbor High School, was the Wildcat C-Team coach the past two years and assisted with the varsity squad, which made strong postseason runs.
He also helped develop an off-season jump training program while at OHHS.
“Leaving the Wildcat program was not an easy decision,” Whitmore said. “I have had an incredibly positive experience and will miss being a part of the daily routine with the coaching staff and girls at OHHS.
“I’m glad that I will still be in the area and so can support them in any way I can.”
The ‘Cat varsity missed state by a single match both of his seasons, but it was in-season matches where Oak Harbor fought to the final point which really stand out for Whitmore.
“Highlights from my time with the OHHS volleyball program would include any number of five-set matches in which the 2015 team earned wins,” he said. “During those games the fans and student section created this incredible energy that you could feel.
“The scrappy play and refusal to go down without a fight was impressive to see and made me proud to be a part of.”
Prior to his stint at Oak Harbor, Whitmore was on the staff at Colfax during a remarkable three-year run (two state titles and a second-place finish), while also working as a volunteer assistant at Wazzu.
“It quickly became a calling,” Whitmore said. “Volleyball has this interesting vibe that is unique to all athletics. That challenge draws me to the sport.”
He also likes how the sport rewards strategy almost as much as raw talent.
“Another aspect of volleyball that I enjoy is the fact that height and power are not everything,” Whitmore said. “That a strong mental game and a handle on the basics can trump the tallest of teams.”
When debating whether or not to make the jump from OHHS, his discussions with Smedley helped tip the balance in favor of joining Wolf Nation.
“Bre spoke with so much pride and enthusiasm about what the girls and the volleyball program had accomplished,” Whitmore said. “She talked of the amazing support system through leadership, parents and community members and that is truly something special.”
Coming from a small town himself — the town of Ritzville trailed Coupeville by 170 bodies in the most recent census — having a chance to work in that environment intrigued Whitmore.
“I grew up (K-12) in a small town and my first experience coaching was in a small town,” he said. “I’ve seen and been a part of successful programs that I believe were successful because of the small town culture.
“There’s something unique about the way a small community can rally around the school and athletics programs creating this amazing culture and tradition of success.”
He inherits a Wolf program which went two matches deep into the playoffs last season — its best showing in a decade — and returns all but two players.
While he will tailor his game plan to his player’s strengths, Whitmore already knows where he wants to take Coupeville.
“I have some very specific goals for the program in mind,” he said. “First and foremost, I hope to transition into the program as smoothly as possible – hit the ground running.
“I am excited to take the work that Bre has done for the program and build upon it.”
Whitmore plans to continue Smedley’s work of connecting the high school spikers with their younger counterparts at the elementary and middle school level.
He also wants to put a consistent focus, and expectation, on off-season training.
When it all comes together, there’s no ceiling on how high the Wolves can fly.
“In a few years, I hope to be WIAA State Academic Finalists and make deep runs at the state tournament with some Olympic League championships to the program’s name,” Whitmore said. “Very excited to get working on these goals.”
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