BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
A sport that meant so much to Chelsea LeMire is now once again a part of her life as she is the new head coach of the Bradford High School varsity volleyball team.
“I’m super, super excited,” LeMire said. “I’ve always wanted to be a coach or a head coach. Volleyball’s my passion. I really can’t wait for this upcoming season.”
She played the sport at Keystone Heights High School as a setter, helping the team go a combined 48-7 her junior and senior seasons. LeMire was named the team’s MVP following her senior season, which saw her record 782 assists, 236 digs and 71 service aces. She had 571 assists, 187 digs and 59 aces her junior season.
After graduating in 2012, LeMire played two years at St. Johns River State College.
LeMire was also a standout softball player at KHHS. During her freshman through senior seasons, the Indians had a record of 84-29 and three district championships. A 1-0 loss to Florida High prevented Keystone from playing for the Class 4A state championship during LeMire’s senior season.
Her career path first took her to nursing school and six years working in the medical field. However, she had a change of heart, which eventually led her to Starke Elementary School.
“It wasn’t my true calling,” LeMire said of nursing. “It wasn’t a passion of mine anymore. Finally, it hit me after talking to my parents (Bruce and Kim Harvin) — teaching and coaching is what I wanted to do.
LeMire worked as a paraprofessional at Starke Elementary the past two years. She returned to college to earn her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education through Saint Leo University. She graduated May 13 and will be a third-grade teacher at Starke Elementary.
“It’s definitely the right career change for me,” LeMire said.
And one that better accommodates her desire to coach — something she decided she wanted to do within the past five years.
“Teaching, I feel, is one of the few jobs you can have when you’re a coach,” LeMire said, adding, “I love athletics. I want to help young athletes.”
LeMire said as soon as the BHS position became available, people told her she needed to apply for it. It appealed to her, of course, but she admitted she was hesitant about applying at first since she’ll be a first-year teacher. However, it was a chance she couldn’t let slip by.
“Once it came down to it, I knew this is what I wanted to do,” she said.
LeMire was an assistant coach on the Bradford Middle School softball team the past two years. She believes the experience of working with student-athletes who didn’t necessarily know all the fundamentals of their sport will help her as she transitions to working with high school student-athletes.
“It gave me a new perspective on coaching,” LeMire said.
Her involvement with the BMS softball team also had her working alongside Coach Belinda Phillips, who was her volleyball coach at KHHS. Phillips also coaches volleyball at BMS.
“I definitely plan to lean on her and use her as a resource as much as possible, especially during my first year of coaching,” LeMire said. “She’s someone I truly look up to. She’s like a big sister. She’s definitely a role model for me as a coach.”
LeMire describes herself as a coach who expects hard work, but who also likes to have fun. Basically, she’s just like the coaches she played for.
“I’ve just been telling (BHS players) to expect super-exciting, fun things, a positive attitude, hard work and a motivation to excel,” LeMire said.
When her players are on the court during a match, she wants to see maximum effort each play, regardless of whether they’re in the lead or trailing.
“I want them to play each point like it’s their last,” LeMire said.
She wants her players to have the goal of winning, but not just for the sake of victory. She wants them to strive to win because they have a love of the game and they’re having fun playing it.
“If you enjoy the game first, those wins will come,” LeMire said.
LeMire didn’t attend a single BHS volleyball match last year, so she goes into the job not knowing how well any of the returning players performed in 2022. Therefore, it’s a clean slate, with the players having to make an impression on their new coach in practices.
“I want the girls to prove to me that they deserve to be on the floor, whether they’re a freshman or a senior,” LeMire said. “Age is just a number in my books.”
She likes what she’s seen so far from this summer’s open-gym sessions. LeMire said she’s told the players over and over, ‘You guys are a great group. You all have done amazing.”
“The energy is very positive and uplifting,” LeMire said. “They’re talking all the time. I like that. I told them that’s something we need to do. I don’t want that to end.”
Communication is one part of creating the strong bond that LeMire wants her team to have. Another part is the new coach making herself approachable and willing to do whatever she can to assist her players.
“I want them to know that I’m here for them,” LeMire said. “I’ve said that over and over and over. ‘I’m here for you guys. If you need anything, please let me know. However I can help you, I’m on your side.’
“I just really want us to connect as a team.”
Though she didn’t have the chance to do it this summer because of the timing of her hire, LeMire said in the future she wants to offer camps run by college coaches, which is something she was able to experience as a player at KHHS.
“It’s a different perspective that the girls get,” LeMire said.
LeMire said she’d also like to take players to the summer camp offered by the University of Florida volleyball program, which was another experience she had as a player. She’s also like to offer camps for younger children.
Coaching her first-ever match at BHS is something she thinks about nightly, but it’s also a prospect that makes her nervous, which is nothing new. LeMire said as a player, her first and final matches in a season were always nerve-wracking.
“I definitely know there are going to be some butterflies in my stomach,” she said, “but I’m super excited. I’m super ready for the first game every night when I go to sleep.”
