Metro Coach Of The Year

Metro Coach of the Year

Greenhill's Friedlander guides his 'fanatics'

By Don Chase

NEWS SPORTS REPORTER

Listening to Greenhills volleyball coach Tom Friedlander, one would have trouble determining just who is being honored.

“The players themselves are pretty fanatical about it (volleyball),” Friedlander said. “The players don’t play volleyball just because it is the only sport available. Most of them concentrate on volleyball because it is their favorite sport.”

The Greenhills coach is quite fanatical about the game himself, and one only has to look at his four-year rein at the helm of the Gryphons’ program for overwhelming proof. Friedlander’s four-year report card displays an impressive 70-28 overall record and four Class D district championships.

As a result of his success at Greenhills — including this year’s 21-5 slate and yet another district crown - Friedlander has been named the Ann Arbor News Metro Coach of the Year. “I have to attribute my success here to the quality group of players that have come out for the team,” Friedlander said. “What more can you ask for than an an enthusiastic group of players that play their hearts out.”

Friedlander, who will take his squad into the regionals today at Adrian Madison, has turned the Greenhills program around during his short tenure as coach of the Ann Arbor school.

The year prior to Friedlander’s taking over the squad, Greenhills finished the season with a disastrous 0-16 record. The following year — Friedlander’s first — the Gryphons finished 16-8, won the district title, and was runner-up in the Class D state tournament.

The Friedlander era had begun at Greenhills.

“When I was in high school, I had a lot of authoritarian coaches who would swear and kick your butt. I try to be positive and supportive and neutral when things aren’t going so well,” the Greenhills mentor said. “We work to eliminate the fear of making mistakes. We have taken the attitude that if a player comes out and works hard, they are going to get a chance to play.”

Coaching volleyball has become a family affair for Friedlander. While Tom coaches the varsity contingent, wife Marty busies herself with Greenhills’ junior varsity team.

“We don’t have a few stars, we have a team of 12 players,” Friedlander explained, emphasizing that the 12th player temporarily sitting on the bench is just as important as the starter who collects most of the print.

The 32-year-old Greenhills biology, algebra, and natural history teacher clearly loves his job.

“I do it (coach) because I really love it and I love the game. So in that sense, it isn’t like a job because I really look forward to it,” Friedlander said. “I think if I could only do one thing here, I think I would still coach. To me it is one of the most emotionally satisfying experiences and I wouldn’t give it up.”

Greenhills' Coach Tom Friedlander has some volleyball "fanatics" on his squad, and that as helped the Gryphons stay on top.  But he's not the authoritarian one might expect. "I try to be positive and supportive.  We work to eliminate the fear of mistakes."