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Point Wisconsin! the Road to a National Title for Kelly Sheffield and the Wisconsin Badgers
Point Wisconsin! details Sheffield's rise through the coaching ranks, how he and his staff went about building the UW program, as well as first-hand accounts from players and coaches on the challenges the team faced during their march to the school's first-ever national championship. A must have for all Badger volleyball fans.
224 pages, Paperback
Published August 1, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 17, 2024
I would give the book Point Wisconsin by Dennis Punzel 5 stars because it was extremely well written and gave a lot of insight and background information about the Wisconsin volleyball program and how it came to be. This book told the story of Kelly Sheffield and his journey as a collegiate volleyball coach. The book also gave many different stories from many different players and coaches. Point Wisconsin provided great stories about matches played, tough practices, and many valuable lessons that many can learn from.
I loved the format of the book. More specifically, I liked learning about the path of the Wisconsin volleyball program and what it took to become an elite volleyball school, along with the path to winning the program's first ever national championship. Additionally, I liked learning about Kelly Sheffield’s journey to becoming a coach without having any exposure to the sport from a young age. I would definitely recommend this book to others, especially those who are in the volleyball world and for those who are Wisconsin volleyball fans. I would also recommend this to young coaches who want advice, or want to learn a few key points or strategies that one of the best coaches ever has done.
Furthermore, I don’t have any negative comments about this book. If I were to do anything differently, I would make it longer, providing even more detail about the players experiences while playing at Wisconsin.
I learned so much from reading this book. I learned about Kelly Sheffield's journey to becoming the coach and person that he is today, exclusive interviews with some of the key players, I also learned a lot more about the past of the Wisconsin volleyball program. Not only did I learn about the people who made up this amazing program, but I learned about the culture and how it progressed over time. I learned more about the process to becoming a college volleyball coach as well. This book gave lots of good insight that helped me learn about the struggles of being both a college athlete and coach.
I loved the format of the book. More specifically, I liked learning about the path of the Wisconsin volleyball program and what it took to become an elite volleyball school, along with the path to winning the program's first ever national championship. Additionally, I liked learning about Kelly Sheffield’s journey to becoming a coach without having any exposure to the sport from a young age. I would definitely recommend this book to others, especially those who are in the volleyball world and for those who are Wisconsin volleyball fans. I would also recommend this to young coaches who want advice, or want to learn a few key points or strategies that one of the best coaches ever has done.
Furthermore, I don’t have any negative comments about this book. If I were to do anything differently, I would make it longer, providing even more detail about the players experiences while playing at Wisconsin.
I learned so much from reading this book. I learned about Kelly Sheffield's journey to becoming the coach and person that he is today, exclusive interviews with some of the key players, I also learned a lot more about the past of the Wisconsin volleyball program. Not only did I learn about the people who made up this amazing program, but I learned about the culture and how it progressed over time. I learned more about the process to becoming a college volleyball coach as well. This book gave lots of good insight that helped me learn about the struggles of being both a college athlete and coach.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 29, 2024
This answered a naive question of mine: what is the role of a coach.
I honestly only ever thought that coaches kept the utility bill paid and did clerical stuff. You can probably tell I watch no more than a few sporting type games per year. You can call me a casual fan. For me, this was an enjoyable book. I read over half of the 224 pages.
Dennis Punzel's writing is easy to read. The events unfold in a way that seems to have written itself.
In the main arc of the book we get to meet a despondent bunch of Badgers thinking of quitting. Spoiler: most are rescued when this super coach appears and sets the program on a stratospheric trajectory. (One player, disappointed at the lack of partying, quits.)
The (more exciting) subplot shows how Kelly Sheffield kind of stumbled into coaching.
If this book is true, you and I can be as great as Kelly Sheffield if we:
1) are 100% single-minded about our vocation, like obsessive, year-on-year
2) have a growth mindset about mistakes, firings, blockers
3) (and most importantly) have well-connected famous people come along at just the right time in our career and boost us into the next-higher-orbit.
Thinking back on my own career trajectory, I realize I lacked 1 and 3. Which is bothersome.
Sour grapes aside, I suppose the exciting message for me, now that I know what I'm doing, is I can be that #3 for someone else.
So, reading this, as a 58 year old, that's the part I can incorporate in my own life.
I honestly only ever thought that coaches kept the utility bill paid and did clerical stuff. You can probably tell I watch no more than a few sporting type games per year. You can call me a casual fan. For me, this was an enjoyable book. I read over half of the 224 pages.
Dennis Punzel's writing is easy to read. The events unfold in a way that seems to have written itself.
In the main arc of the book we get to meet a despondent bunch of Badgers thinking of quitting. Spoiler: most are rescued when this super coach appears and sets the program on a stratospheric trajectory. (One player, disappointed at the lack of partying, quits.)
The (more exciting) subplot shows how Kelly Sheffield kind of stumbled into coaching.
If this book is true, you and I can be as great as Kelly Sheffield if we:
1) are 100% single-minded about our vocation, like obsessive, year-on-year
2) have a growth mindset about mistakes, firings, blockers
3) (and most importantly) have well-connected famous people come along at just the right time in our career and boost us into the next-higher-orbit.
Thinking back on my own career trajectory, I realize I lacked 1 and 3. Which is bothersome.
Sour grapes aside, I suppose the exciting message for me, now that I know what I'm doing, is I can be that #3 for someone else.
So, reading this, as a 58 year old, that's the part I can incorporate in my own life.
August 9, 2022
God I love Wisconsin Vb
March 10, 2023
Great book! It not only is an excellent book on how the Badgers have come to be the volleyball program they currently are but also great lessons on leadership.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews