In 2003, Georgia Tech’s volleyball team rode a fast-paced, unique offense into the NCAA Regional Finals.
Florida coach Mary Wise compared the Yellow Jackets to the fast-break Loyola Marymount basketball teams of the late 1980s that implemented a rule requiring players to shoot within seven seconds of a possession.
Helping lead the charge strategically for that Georgia Tech squad was assistant coach Sally Polhamus, a former Xavier standout. On Friday, she will begin a new era of her career when she takes the bench for the first time as a Florida assistant.
“We wanted to be unique in defense and we want to be unique in offense,” Wise said. “That’s why we asked Sally to come on board, and we’re thrilled. We have a great staff here.”
For the past four years, Polhamus was the head coach at Winthrop. In that time, she became the third-winningest head coach in program history with a record of 64-59. But she resigned from Winthrop in March to take the job as offensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator at Florida.
“I have incredible respect for coach Wise and the tradition and family she has created at the University of Florida,” Polhamus said in an official statement. “I am looking forward to becoming a part of this tremendous staff and assisting in the recruitment, training and guidance of elite current and future Gator student-athletes.”
The idea of bringing in a coach to change offensive schemes might be puzzling to some who follow Florida volleyball. After all, the Gators had one of the strongest offenses in the Southeastern Conference in 2010 and were weaker on backcourt defense than anything else.
But junior setter Sundai Weston said Polhamus’ offensive philosophy will be refreshing for the Gators and will only make the team’s attack stronger.
“She’s a lot like [assistant coach] Dave [Boos],” she said. “Dave’s a defensive schemer and she’s an offensive schemer. People are going to be excited to see not only the power but the thought process behind what we’re doing with all that strength.”
Wise hopes Florida’s offense can be as cutting-edge as the ones Georgia Tech touted during Polhamus’ tenure there.
The Gators haven’t reached a Regional Final since 2005, but with the talent level up front, Florida could capitalize on adding a new mindset to an already quick and powerful offense.
