Evans coach emphasizes teamwork, fun
C.C. Armstrong is a throwback.
C.C. Armstrong is a math teacher and the volleyball coach at Evans High School. She stresses enjoyment, not statistics, on her volleyball court.
Photo by Jim Blaylock
In this age of sports where superstars are created through meticulous advertising campaigns, Armstrong emphasizes the team aspect of sports.
The Evans High School volleyball coach won't allow her players to follow their statistics. In fact, she doesn't keep any statistics.
"Why should I keep stats?" she asked. "So the girls can play for them? We are trying to build a team here, not create superstars."
Armstrong's team-as-a-family mentality has paid off as she is one of the more popular coaches at Evans, according to some of her players.
"Coach Armstrong is awesome," sophomore Lauren Middleton said. "She is the kind of coach you dream of having. She is like a big sister. You can tell her just about anything and she is always there for you."
Armstrong, a Detroit native, has led Evans' volleyball program for more than three seasons and serves as an assistant on the girls basketball team.
As a former volleyball player, Armstrong sees the importance of succeeding in the sport but also wants her players to have fun.
"Volleyball isn't a business," Armstrong said. "High school isn't a business. They should have fun with volleyball."
Evans doesn't have the number of year-round volleyball players that Greenbrier and Lakeside do. The Lady Knights also haven't been as successful as the other two programs.
"If my girls want to play year round, that is great," Armstrong said. "But I want them to know there are other things to enjoy in high school. I will not push a year-round sport on them."
Armstrong, who also teaches math, instead admires her players who play other sports.
"The odds of these girls getting volleyball scholarships aren't high," she said. " I want them to explore other things that will make them happy. When they leave Evans and go to college, I want them to look back at high school and hopefully they enjoyed it."