Nearly two years after we met (USA Nationals Las Vegas), great convo with Wisconsin HC Kelly Sheffield, sends me some random dm on X asking me to give him a call earlier this week, and at first it scared me a little bit, but when we finally connected, it led to a great 2+ hour conversation.

This podcast is a recap of a good portion of the conversation because we just talked volleyball for 145 minutes, and for me, it was very, very cool.  We agreed, disagreed, and respected each other's opinions on several topics.  I appreciated Sheff because he was one of the few coaches with whom I could disagree, and he could keep talking with me and not get mad and instantly dislike me forever.

We found that we agree on so many topics and ended up talking about rivalries, crowd involvement, building fan bases, pulling in outside viewership and revenue, and many other topics. In fact, many more than the few things like favorite players and colors that we disagreed on (he was very biased and was not being open-minded at all:) 

We talked about the future with this NIL and Portal Era and how much change there will be, and I point-blank asked him what he thought of some of the things that were being said about him or his program.  Listen, I've had many coaches "be less than honest with me" in my time doing this, but I will say I haven't had many National Championship HC's take a couple hours out of their busy lives and genuinely take time and honestly show respect for my opinion and what I know and do in the world of recruiting.  Coach Sheff and I talked about this.... his simply respecting my work as a recruiting evaluator and how well I understand the recruiting process meant a lot.  **In year 1-2 Coaches used to call me like he did quite often and then when word got around that I asked real questions about real topics that most didn't want to address, well those phone calls stopped coming lol so I appreciated this and learned so much from one of the best.

The pod probably didn't turn out that clean because the original was lost last night, trying to load it and record it the 2nd time, I didn't do as well in editing.

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We talk about the upcoming Nebraska vs. Texas match set for Las Vegas in August and how great it is to have college volleyball's most heated rivalry back on again.  I also tell you about my personal journey trying to bring the rivalry back to reality and how months of work and hundreds of hours ended up in an L, but it was a crazy story for this cookie-dough salesman, that's for sure.

Then I break down the last matchup between the two teams and why things are pretty heated between the fanbases.  Even more reason why you'd better be in Vegas on August 29th and 30th.  There is no other ticket for a volleyball fan, sorry.

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In this episode we address the soon to be voted on "5 for 5" legislation and how it will change things recruits this class and going forward.  We talk about what parents and athletes need to do in the next 6 weeks to prepare the best they can and how it may change strategies.

We also address the Volleyball Recruiting Calendar and maybe this ruling will finally force a change in that timeline ASAP if the Coaches Association cares about the athlete's best interest at all.

Finally the pod wraps up with a couple of '29 athletes doing it right and some other random thoughts on Programs with smoke heading to camp season and some fun news on our Summer.

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Connect with VB Adrenaline:

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A deep dive into the complex and stressful topic that is College Select Camps.  Which ones do you pick?  How many do you attend?  How do you know when to start deciding and more.

Plus a guide for '29s and '30s how should you attack your Summer Camps this year?

Then we take a look at what will be a June like no other in the world of D1 Setter recruiting and we can't wait.  More top teams than ever needing a setter and more top talent than ever before means one crazy and historic battle of the big dogs come summer time.

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Connect with VB Adrenaline:

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Season 3 starts with a three topic pod focusing on 

1. How do injuries impact an athlete's recruiting journey?

2. Have a plan and be prepared for the negativity that is Social Media when entering the recruiting world.

3. How our PPV formula is meant to simply help show you an idea of your worth in the recruiting craziness to help you get an idea of where you might fit in.

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Connect with VB Adrenaline:

• Check out the website
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In town for Kentucky vs. Texas and decided to record at one of UT's biggest tailgate spots.  It's been a while, so I'm just getting caught up on '27 recruiting topics, '28 Class Preview, and what we learned doing the America's 200 Project.  Plus College Volleyball: what we learned.

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We talk about the basics of recruiting for future classes after watching some of the top recruits in the Class of 2025 start their college careers.....on the bench this past month.  We reflect back on talking with them during their recruiting processes and their stories.

1. Did they take their time?  2. Did they do their research?

3. What can prospects start to learn when watching college vb now?  

4. What questions should you be asking and what research should you be doing if you are a 27, 28 or a 29 prospect?

5. Why it isn't the coach's fault when you don't play early.

6. We tell some stories of some perfect culture fits that weren't highly ranked recruits and how they are thriving because they picked culture over anything else.

7. Plus our college thoughts and early POTY rankings.

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Connect with VB Adrenaline:

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Thoughts on First Serve in Lincoln and on to Nashville.  Talk Vandy VB and more opening thoughts.  Plus Class of 2027 recruiting notes and some recruiting prospect updates.

On your radar, athletes, some staff shout and show shouts to some coaches, making some great presser comments, and more.

Support the show

Connect with VB Adrenaline:

• Check out the website
• Connect with Darren on Instagram @vbadrenaline.com

PS- Do you love this podcast? We would appreciate it if you could leave a rating and review for the show.  This will help us continue to grow and spread the word about all the amazing things that are happening in the world of college volleyball.  

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I get back on my kick of trying to make college volleyball more exciting again.  Pumping up the need for better rivalries and more exciting coaching characters in the sport.

I point how colorful HC's in other revenue sports fuel rivalries and get "edge spectators" to tune in and spend $ on tickets, apparel and draw additional interest to a program or contest that normally they would not.  Still going back to my main point that eventually volleyball is going to need to draw my "Buffalo Wild Wings Crowd" to truly grow and survive and thrive if they want to catch basketball as a revenue sport (at the college level).  Also, it's just boring listening to the same old press conference where every coach and every athlete says the same boring rehearsed line time after time.

Plus we get into staff shouts from the latest recruiting weeks and who has been crushing it at the end of the Select Camp Circuit before we head into Prep VB season.

Lots of fun banter as the college "fan" in me comes out and I draw up some potential trash talking rivalries that might be fun to see for VB Fans:)

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Connect with VB Adrenaline:

• Check out the website
• Connect with Darren on Instagram @vbadrenaline.com

PS- Do you love this podcast? We would appreciate it if you could leave a rating and review for the show.  This will help us continue to grow and spread the word about all the amazing things that are happening in the world of college volleyball.  

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I talk with Louisville Associate HC Todd Chamberlain about many topics in his career at Louisville from: Talent evaluating, to building their culture, treating people the right way, locking down hometown recruits from Day 1, all coaches having valuable say and knowing who they could get and who they couldn't.

He talks about the early years of building to get a step better and how they struggled to fill their 1000 seat arena in the first year, but they invited anyone who wanted to be a Louisville fan to do so.

One of the great guys in the sport who has been a part of the recruiting and talent evaluating for the past 8 years.  One of the people I have been fortunate enough to meet and know in this sport.

Support the show

Connect with VB Adrenaline:

• Check out the website
• Connect with Darren on Instagram @vbadrenaline.com

PS- Do you love this podcast? We would appreciate it if you could leave a rating and review for the show.  This will help us continue to grow and spread the word about all the amazing things that are happening in the world of college volleyball.  

Don't forget to FOLLOW the podcast so you don't miss a single episode.