Spiked with passion

Tuesday, 4/15/97 Spiked with passion Enthusiasm for game keeps
assistant coach coming back

By Jennifer Kollenborn Daily Bruin Contributor As the assistant
coach for the UCLA men’s volleyball team, Brian Rofer is accustomed
to head coach Al Scates getting all the glory. However, the
spotlight is of little importance to Rofer. Rofer continues
coaching into his seventh year because he loves it. "I love it,"
Rofer said. "I will coach as long as I enjoy doing it. I thrive on
the competition of playing other teams and (coaching) the players –
helping them and as a team getting better and winning." The source
of Rofer’s enthusiasm is his experience playing volleyball. From
1978-1980, Rofer lettered for Scates as a middle blocker. In 1979,
the Bruins swept to the NCAA title. His success at UCLA prompted
Edison High School to offer Rofer his first head coaching position
as the coach of the boys’ volleyball team in 1990. That year, Rofer
led the Chargers to a runner-up finish in the CIF 4A championship.
He was named Orange County Coach of the Year. "We had a good year,"
Rofer said. "I was a player here and worked with Al at camps and
clinics. You don’t realize how much you know after coming out of
this program unless you do something with it." However, Rofer never
dreamed that "something" would be coaching at UCLA. In 1991, when
Scates asked Rofer to be the UCLA men’s volleyball assistant coach,
the offer came as a surprise. "When I was playing (at UCLA),
coaching here was never even a thought in my head," he said. "I
thought that at some point I would be coaching volleyball, but that
it would be doing clinics, camps and teaching because that is the
fun part." Regardless of what enticed Rofer’s interest to accept
the assistant coaching position for the Bruins, his inspiring
leadership drives players to excel to their full potential. Members
of the team praise him for his endless devotion, knowledge and
passion for volleyball. "(Rofer) is always there to help," junior
Tom Stillwell said. "He’s stayed after practice a numerous amount
of times. Last year, he would stay after a half hour with me every
day." What separates Rofer from other coaches is his keen player
insight into the game. "He can really understand what’s going on on
the court from a player’s point of view," senior captain Paul
Nihipali said. "He’s got a good eye and he recognizes a lot of
things other coaches don’t. He knows the game inside and out.
Whatever passes in the game, he knows it; he understands it, he can
do it and he’ll just keep coming until you get the skill right."
All coaching aside, players consider Rofer a friend who is always
there when needed. "Ever since I came to UCLA, Rofer has become an
amazing coach to me and a really good friend," Nihipali said. "He’s
there for you when you need him." GENEVIEVE LIANG/Daily Bruin
Players consider men’s volleyball assistant coach Brian Rofer
devoted to the team and understanding of what goes on around the
court.