Ten Minutes with Jack Kocur
JANE LEE
Sports Editor
A big hole was left to fill in July when Pepperdine water polo Head Coach Terry Schroeder decided to take a one-year leave to serve as an assistant coach for the United States National Team. Boldly stepping in to serve as interim head coach was Jack Kocur, an assistant coach for Schroeder the past four seasons.
An All-American member of Pepperdine’s 1997 national championship team, Kocur can be found on the side of the pool learning the ins and outs of leading a Division I team. Joining us in this week’s edition of “10 Minutes With …” Kocur talks about his role as a father figure both by the pool and at home.
You took over Terry Schroeder, who’s obviously highly regarded here, so did you feel a sense of pressure or high expectations on your shoulder?
I don’t feel much pressure from the Athletic Department or the school, but I put pressure on myself to try to fill in his shoes — and they’re pretty big shoes to fill. I want to try to uphold the demeanor and the character that Terry put into this program. So there’s some self pressure as to not let him down.
So how would you assess the team’s performance thus far?
You know, we’ve definitely had a slow start — it’s been a slow start in the win and loss colum, but not necessarily in the learning process. I would have to say that our learning curve is huge and we’re definitely accomplishing everything we need to. We’re learning each and every game, and so if we can come together at the end, I think November will be our time to shine and show people what we’re really made of.
Starting Friday, you guys play 10 games in 10 days. How do you prepare for such a long stretch and stay focused for each and every match?
You basically try to get the team mentally prepared. Because we’re young it’s definitely going to be a mental challenge as well as a physical challenge to have that many games in such a short time. The other great thing about it is, with so many games, it’s a great chance for the young players to learn, so that’s why we did schedule the 10 games. We have six games this weekend right before the SoCal Tournament next weekend.
You mentioned the youth of the team, so can you talk about the role the freshmen have played this season?
The freshmen have definitely come in and done a great job for us. Coming out of high school it’s obviously a different game, and I feel like they’ve transitioned well and increased their speed. And at this level, a big thing for them is getting used to the challenge of the big bodies they’re going up against. Travis Stachowski has done a great job in the cage and learning speed. Also, JP MacDonell has done a great job, especially with adjusting to the speed of the game, and is actually leading the team in goals, which is great for a freshman.
Some members of the team surprised fans with a synchronized swimming routine during halftime on Sunday. How did that come about?
We were trying to bring some fun to the routine. You know, we’ve never had that before, and, when the guys did that, you can tell it really brings the crowd more into the game. It gets the players fired up, and it also gives the redshirt freshmen a chance to enjoy what they’re doing and be part of the program. We don’t have that many people out there usually, so hopefully the crowds will be coming in to see the halftime display.
At the beginning of the season you said a NCAA Tournament appearance was probably unlikely, so how do you view the team’s goals for this year?
I think the main goal for us is to go out there every day and play like it’s our last day of playing polo. We have to accomplish everything we can, learn as much as we can, and I firmly believe that after the USC game it made us realize that we can compete with the top. We just have to play with full force together. Our main goal right now is to beat Stanford. I think, if we beat Stanford and get in the top 4, we’ve definitely accomplished a lot and you never know what’s going to happen each day.
So what would you say has been the most challenging part of serving as head coach?
The most challenging part, from going as an assistant coach to a head coach, is definitely the challenge with the relationships with the players. I think the assistant coach has the relationship with the players where they’re the inbetween guy who the players can all talk to. Now as a head coach, I’ve learned you really don’t have that one-on-one relationship like the assistant coach does. You’re more of a father figure, and the players do as you tell them to do. It’s been kind of hard for some players to get used to me as the head coach, but I think they’ve been really receptive to it so far.
As you said, you’re a father figure for the team, and you also recently became a new father to your first child with your wife. What’s it been like balancing those two roles?
Well it’s something that you can never prepare yourself for. It is more time-consuming than I ever thought. There are so many emotions — happiness, sadness, frustration, tiredness — all wrapped up in one. But really, it’s been a delight and it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me. It’s also helped me coach these guys because it becoming a father made me realize that there’s more to life than water polo. We’re here to be the best people we can be and to build character, and it’s something I think we’re definitely striving on.
10-05-2006
