VB : Grad assistant Ochmanek brings fresh perspective to Syracuse sideline
Five months ago, Mary Ochmanek proudly completed her graduate degree in accounting at Central Michigan. Now, just a few months removed from graduation, she has found herself in the heat of a fiery battle in Big East volleyball.
Ochmanek, the newest addition to the SU volleyball coaching staff, has fully embraced her role as the team’s graduate assistant coach. She brings youthful insight and a unique perspective to the coaching staff, and attributes all her volleyball knowledge to her experiences at Central Michigan. 
Syracuse (11-9, 2-3) will host a pair of matches at the Women’s Building this weekend, playing DePaul (5-13, 1-4) on Friday at 7 p.m. and Notre Dame (7-8, 3-2) on Sunday at 2 p.m.
During her tenure at CMU, Ochmanek garnered four letters as a four-year starter, a team MVP honor in 2006 and became the program’s first-ever NCAA Strength and Conditioning All-American.
Still, even with the glowing resume, Ochmanek took a quick route to coaching – all of five months. Ochmanek admitted that her passion for volleyball played a tremendous role in her decision to coach at SU.
‘I love volleyball and being around the sport,’ Ochmanek said. ‘I missed it after I stopped playing, so I wanted to stay around the sport in some way. It was a last-minute decision because my mom always encouraged me to get my master’s while I’m young, but I also wanted to get a job straight out of college. In the end, Syracuse gave me the opportunity to coach volleyball and further my education at the same time.’
In the beginning of the season, Ochmanek struggled with the transition because she feared that the players would not respect her because of her youth.
‘I’m basically the same age as some of the seniors,’ Ochmanek said. ‘So the respect factor definitely scared me because I wanted them to see me as a coach.’
However, Ochmanek quickly turned her youth factor into a strength instead of a weakness. Being only a few years removed from her volleyball days, Ochmanek played some of the teams that the Orange play this season, and remembered their playing systems.
‘She (Ochmanek) brings extra insight to the team because she played some of the teams we play now,’ SU freshman Hayley Todd said. ‘Before the game, she gives us hints on how to approach a specific team that she played before.’
Along with the youthful insight, Ochmanek also brings a different coaching philosophy to the team because she never played under SU head coach Jing Pu. Assistant coach Carol LaMarche, who played under Pu, also noticed Ochmanek’s different coaching style, but she encouraged the diversity.
‘She has different fundamental perspectives compared to our system, but that’s what makes coaching with her great,’ LaMarche said.
Perhaps the biggest asset Ochmanek has as a coach is her ability to motivate her players and instill confidence. The motivational approach compliments Ochmanek’s youth because it simultaneously allows players to relate to her while still respecting her authoritative power as a coach. Ultimately, she thinks it proves that coaches do not need to rely on the ‘in-your-face criticism’ approach to convey their message, but can achieve success through encouragement.
‘She tells us straight up what we are doing wrong, but she tells us in a good way,’ said SU sophomore Shanetha McLaurin. ‘She doesn’t criticize us harshly. Instead, she motivates me and gives me confidence.’
The freshmen have responded relatively well to Ochmanek, and it can be attributed to the special bond they share. For Ochmanek and the freshmen, it is their first experience at a new place in a new volleyball system, and the only difference is the authoritative role.
‘She is very uplifting and keeps things lighthearted,’ Todd said. ‘She keeps us pumped when we need to be and reminds us to work on the little things. It is almost like she is the little voice inside of me that reminds me to give it my all.’
While Ochmanek is still young, the Orange staff and players are happy to have someone who loves to coach.
‘It motivates me to see the girls improve,’ Ochmanek said. ‘The greatest part about coaching is seeing somebody do something you told them to do over and over again, and seeing that huge smile on their face afterwards.’
