Being “the guy” in high school feels great until you land in a gym where you’re suddenly the third shortest player and everyone is faster, stronger, and more polished. That’s where this conversation with Kyle Mars, the men’s volleyball coach at Baldwin Wallace University and a former Penn State D1 player, gets real fast.

We talk about Kyle’s path from Rochester, New York to the Big Ten, why he chose Penn State, and what it’s like to embrace a program knowing you may not start right away. The bigger theme is the mindset shift every athlete faces at the next level: learning humility, earning reps, and letting great teammates and coaches push you instead of protecting your ego. If you care about college athletics, athlete development, or the recruiting process for men’s volleyball, you’ll hear practical advice on outreach emails, highlight tapes, and why coaches notice far more than raw talent.

The conversation also takes a fun turn into stand-up comedy and performance, connecting open mics to practice reps, “bombing” to learning, and the overlooked business side of building a career. We close with a surprisingly deep breakdown of indoor vs beach volleyball, plus what it takes to balance coaching travel with marriage and real life.

Kyle also shares how to catch men’s volleyball, including a simple invite to come watch BW play and a nudge to check out the NCAA men’s Final Four on ESPN+. If you like the show, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review. What’s a moment that humbled you and made you better?

All music brought to you by former guest of the show Speedo

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