Debbie
Sokol begins her 26th year as owner and director of one of the largest
volleyball camps in the nation. She has played and coached at the collegiate, national and
international levels.
Complimenting her love for teaching
skills is her passion for coaching and directing. From 1982-1993, Sokol
served as the head coach at Rice University. From 1993-2007, Sokol
directed the
very competitive and elite junior volleyball program, Club Texas.
Currently Sokol presides over the volleyball program at The Kinkaid
School in Houston and head coaches the varsity team.
Sokol's coaching and athletic background
is long and accomplished. She began her playing career
at Bellaire High School and took her talents to the
University of Houston where she was team captain and
MVP at both institutions. After college, Sokol was honored
to become a member of the United States World University
Games Team and traveled to Mexico City for the 1979
Games. She also participated in the Olympic Sports Festival
that same year and won a bronze medal. Her next international
experience came when she was selected to the USA World
Maccabiah Games team in 1981. Her team traveled to Israel,
and again as team captain, she led her squad to a Silver
Medal finish in the finals.
Sokol
returned home to begin her coaching career at Rice University
and continued to play for several more years in the
United States Volleyball Association, achieving National
Rookie Team honors at USVBA Nationals. As the Rice Head
Coach from 1982-1993, Sokol's teams accomplished great
things, posting its first set of winning seasons and
laying the foundation for a successful program. For
her efforts, her coaching peers unanimously named her
the Southwest Conference Coach of the Year in 1986.
Sokol Volleyball has become synonymous
with success, and the numbers speak for themselves.
In the past 15 years, nearly 100% of her Club Texas athletes
have gone on to college with some type of athletic aid.
Having placed over 140 players in NCAA Division 1 and
2 schools as well as NAIA and Junior College, many of
these athletes have returned to their roots and begun
coaching and teaching careers here in Houston. Sokol's
dedication to organization and advanced training has
paid off for her staff. Many coaches trained through
her camps and club, have landed collegiate coaching
positions, and today recruit athletes from her widely
respected program.
Sokol has served professionally on
the NCAA Division 1 All-America Committee, TAIAW Board
of Directors and Club Texas Board of Directors. She
is a member of the American Volleyball Coaches Association,
and is CAP and IMPACT certified. She is also
a Regional level USAV referee for the Lone Star Region.
