Former Aggie star returns as coach
Just over a year after finishing her career by leading the Utah State University women’s volleyball team to a first-round NCAA victory and No. 22 ranking, Amy Crosbie will return to the court.
From 1997 to 2000, Crosbie was a four-year starter at outside hitter for Utah State. As an Aggie she set school records in kills (1,463) and attacks (3,627).
Crosbie’s return to the team isn’t as a player though. She’ll be taking over the role of assistant coach.
The previous assistant, Crosbie’s sister Shay Clemensen, stepped down after four years on the Aggie coaching staff.
Head Coach Burt Fuller said Clemensen decided to give up her coaching position so she would have time to focus on earning her master’s degree.
“[Clemensen’s] ultimate goal was not to be an assistant volleyball coach all her life, she’s way too smart for that,” Fuller said. “When she gets her master’s she’s going to have a lot of opportunities, whether it be in coaching, whether it be out of coaching.”
Before hiring Crosbie, Fuller said he looked at other possible assistants. But in the he end chose Crosbie because of her familiarity with the program and players.
“There were a number of things involved that made Amy very attractive to us,” he said. “She knew us, she knew the program and she knew the kids. She was here locally, ready to go.”
Crosbie is taking over for Clemensen, but she said there was no awkwardness.
“We talked and she didn’t want to deny me of a wonderful experience and she was ready to move on,” Crosbie said. “The great thing is, I’ve kind of watched her and I’ve learned quite a bit and she’s a great mentor for me.”
Fuller said, “Both Amy and Shay are such quality people. They bring different things to a program, but they both just bring so much and the one thing they have as a constant is they are just great people.”
Another constant is the sisters’ looks. During a recent recruiting trip Crosbie said people mistook her for her sister.
“We look so much alike that a lot of people just thought I was her,” Crosbie said.
One benefit of having an assistant who was recently a player is Crosbie will be able to relate well to the players, Fuller said.
“She is a coaching staff member, but she’ll be able to relate to the players pretty well and give them some guidance through whatever tough times they happen to be having,” he said.
With Crosbie having played so recently she will be coaching former teammates Shauni Fluckiger, Hailey MacKay and Emily Kennedy.
“It was weird when I first found out,” MacKay said. “The last couple of weeks she has been at practice and I think she knows so much about volleyball and she worked so hard to get where she is that she has actually helped out a lot.”
Heather Olmstead, a three-year teammate of Crosbie, said, “I think it would be a little bit weird to have someone you played with turnaround and be your coach, but I don’t think the players will have a problem treating her as a coach and I think it will make the team better because she knows exactly what the girls need.”
Crosbie said because she is familiar with Utah State she feels she’ll be able to help the players.
“I’ve been through it for four years,” she said. “I know some ins and outs of what they can do, and hopefully I can be kind of a stepping stone and give them some good advice on how to be successful here.”
MacKay said, “I’ve played with her so I feel like I can confide in her, go and talk to her and know that she’d help.”
Fuller and Olmstead both said the players have a lot of respect for Crosbie as a player and person, which will help her be more successful as a coach.
“We’re just really happy to have somebody with her experience,” Fuller said. “She has a tremendous personality and is just a very likable person and all that stuff helps out so much because she’s kind of a little ambassador for Utah State. When she goes out there and she’s wearing our school colors and people are talking to her, people are going to remember her and think of us in a positive light.”