The Coaches Group Chat

Author: Matthew Houlihan, Arielle Houlihan, Chad Gordon

Grab a drink and a seat at the table with hosts Matt Houlihan, Arielle Houlihan and Chad Gordon as we chat about the world of volleyball, coaching, business, and whatever else Arielle feels like!
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Language: en-us

Genres: Comedy, Sports, Volleyball

Contact email: Get it

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S4E14: NCAA Championship Recap, Tourney Expansion, Transfer Portal
Episode 14
Friday, 15 May, 2026

We come back from the NCAA men’s volleyball national championship trip fired up about the crowd, the chaos, and how good the event felt in person. We also get honest about what still holds the sport back on TV, plus the portal and replay issues that keep stealing oxygen from the volleyball. • getting media passes and roaming the arena like it’s normal • why the building sounded full but the broadcast looked empty • ticket pricing and camera-side seating as a fixable problem • why tournament expansion and two weekends build better storylines • making replay challenges faster, clearer, and more fun for fans • sponsor-funded challenge systems as a realistic path forward • transfer portal timing, tampering, and the mental load on coaches • Hawaii’s traveling fans and why that atmosphere matters • end-of-year awards, bench energy, and our season shout outs