By Jonah Rosenbaum
When he left his assistant coaching position at Pepperdine University to become the Head Coach of Wolverine girlsâ volleyball, Adam Black was hailed by Head of Athletics Audrius Barzdukas as someone who would bring âvision and enthusiasm to Harvard-Westlake volleyball.â
In his first year, Black led the girlsâ volleyball team to a Mission League title, a city championship
and the state crown.
His accomplishments did not go unnoticed by CIF, which recently named him the Co-Coach of the Year. It wasnât until a few days later when Black saw a bulletin at the Middle School that he was even made aware of his most recent accolade.
When asked who deserved the credit for the award, Black quickly responded, âthe players.â He described his team as â15 of the most hardworking girls coupled with hardworking assistants.â
After a year filled with athletic accomplishments, Black said winning CIF Co-Coach of the year could not compare with his previous volleyball feats, including winning the CIF title and the state championship, all in his first year of coaching at the school.
âAthletic accomplishments kind of roll off one way or another,â he said, although he added seconds
later, âbut it was kind of neat.â
Black said that in September he never envisioned all the success his team would go on to have.
âThose were the last things on my mind,â Black said. âWinning a championship, the awards, they werenât things I thought about. I just wanted to get to know the girls. After that whatever happens
happens.â