BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The next coach in the Moravian College Department of Athletics & Recreation's Get to Know Coach series is Head Women's Volleyball Coach Shelley Bauder, who is in her 28th year with the Greyhounds and has guided the Greyhounds to twelve 20-win seasons, three NCAA Division III Tournament appearances and seven ECAC Tournament berths in her tenure. Coach Bauder has also served as the public address announcer for the women's basketball team.
Shelley Bauder
College: Bethel (Minn.) College '84
What is your favorite part of your sport? My favorite part of my sport is getting to spend time with my players/staff and enjoying the AC and playing in a dry arena whereas the outdoor sports don't have that luxury.
How did your experience as a student-athlete help shape you as a coach? I was an athlete all my life and I knew from an early age that I wanted to be involved in sports "when I grew up". I had a fantastic volleyball coach in college, and she was such a great role model for me then and now. Also, it was great having those close bonds with my teammates and nearly 40 years later they are still my closest friends.
What do you love most about coaching at Moravian College? I love coaching at Moravian because of the great people here; and not just the student athletes or the other coaches and athletic staff. It expands across campus to the administration, faculty and staff as a whole.
What has kept you at Moravian for 10 or more years? When I was a part time coach, this was a perfect place to raise my kids; they would hang out and sometimes travel with us and my team would play with them and we would have a great time. Since then I have had so many positive relationships with people here on campus I wouldn't want to leave.
What is your favorite place on campus and why? Well usually my favorite place on campus is Johnston Hall since that's where I spend most of my time coaching and announcing the women's basketball games. However, in the spring, I especially love Main Street and the beautiful tulips and other flowers that make the campus so pretty.
What is your most memorable moment at Moravian? Tie between my 400th win and hooding my daughter Kaysie on the stage at graduation.
Do you have any pre-event/game rituals or superstitions? No, I don't.
Sum up your coaching philosophy in one sentence? Fostering well rounded, strong, confident women by accentuating their strengths, developing their weaknesses and offering a positive environment for growth.
What do you look for in a recruit? I look for an athletic, coachable young lady who has what it takes to help us on the court and who has complete buy in to our program values.
What is the best piece of advice you've been given? What you tolerate is what you will get, and that becomes your culture. Harvey Goldberg; though I've heard similar things from other people.
Who are your role models/most influential people? My role model in coaching would have to be Cindy Book my former college coach. Close behind her is Deb Schlosser who has one of the most intricate volleyball minds I know and Alexa Keckler who shows me how to develop players/people while always wearing her positive pants. Outside of volleyball would be: my parents who taught me to love and serve God, and others, my sister Joy who has mentored me how to be an anti-racist and to recognize and respond to injustices especially toward people of color, and my brother Jon who been the spiritual leader of our family during difficult times.
Which three people, living or dead, would you like to share a meal with? Of course, my dad who recently passed away, and anyone else I know and love who wants to foot the bill.
What have you done more of since March that you wouldn't have if sports had not been postponed? I spent a lot of time with octogenarians.
If you weren't coaching, what would you be doing? Great question!
Tell us something about yourself that would surprise most people. I hope to write a book someday. Or hit the road on a speaker's tour (subject matter TBD).
Quick Hits:
Favorite Color – blue to match my eyes, every single one of my players past and present can tell you this.
Favorite Food – chocolate
Favorite Restaurant – Carrabba's
Favorite Movie – Princess Bride
Favorite TV Show – Madame Secretary
Favorite Musical Artist – I don't listen to a lot of music
Favorite Athlete – My son Caleb, or my daughter Kaysie when she used to compete
Favorite Pro Team – Minnesota Twins and Vikings
Hobbies – reading, bargain shopping
Most Prized Possession – I try to hold lightly to everything in this world.
Ideal Travel Destination – somewhere warm with a beach! Hawaii is on my bucket list.
Your Spirit Animal – after completing an online quiz for this apparently, it's the bear
Superpower you'd Like to Have – Cancer curer
