Former University of Nebraska volleyball coach Terry Pettit will give the keynote at the Opening Business Meeting, Wednesday, December 3.

Pettit, who built one of the most successful athletic teams in NCAA history and led the Cornhuskers to the NCAA national volleyball title in 1995, retired from coaching in 2000. He immediately became Coach Advocate, Director of Coaching Enhancement for the Nebraska Athletic Department.

During his years of coaching and in his role of coach advocate, Pettit identified the patterns that separate exceptional coaching and leadership. He’ll present these characteristics with illustrations in his keynote address.

Under Pettit’s leadership, Nebraska won 21 Big 8 and Big 12 conference championships while leading the nation in both All-American and Academic-All American selections. He directed the Nebraska volleyball team to 43 NCAA tournament victories and the school’s first national championship in women’s volleyball in 1995. He earned national coach of the year honors in 1986, 1994 and 1996 before moving to the coachadvocate position in 2000. Just this summer, Pettit left the university and started Terry Pettit Coaching Enhancement, based out of Fort Collins, Colorado.

"We’ve had the pleasure of working with Terry for several years, and he has a way of helping coaches become the best they can be," said Lori Sippel, Nebraska softball associate head coach. "I can’t say enough about Terry’s ability to inspire coaches to reach their highest level."

One of the most highly regarded female strength and conditioning coaches in the nation, Raychelle Ellsworth serves as the assistant strength and conditioning coach at Texas A&M University. Before returning to her alma mater, where she was a standout on the volleyball team as a student, she was the assistant strength and conditioning coach at the University of Washington from 1995-96.

Many of Ellsworth’s athletes have been recognized nationally for their accomplishments in the weight room, including 11 National Strength & Conditioning Association All-Americans in the sports of softball, volleyball and basketball. Ellsworth was voted the 1999-2000 Texas A&M Coach of the Year by the student-athletes, and with the award, she became the first non-head coach to receive the honor. Presented by Raychelle Ellsworth Strength and Conditioning Coach Certified (S.C.C.C.) Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (C.S.C.S.)

Learn how to develop a sound strength & conditioning program for your softball athletes, including:

• Lifting: What exercises; where they fit into a program; sets, reps, intensities, & rest intervals.
• Running: How much to do; what kind of conditioning is appropriate; developing speed, agility.
• Plyometrics and medicine balls: Where do these tools fit in?
• Core work: The most important link that is often neglected.
• Injury prevention: How to help prevent injuries in the weight room.
• Developing a year-round plan to help meet goals.
• Testing: When and why.
• Athlete profile: Individual records every testing period; goal setting.
• Holding your athletes accountable: Make it VITAL that they follow the plan.