While all the coaches on the Mississippi State volleyball staff are new to the school, none can be termed as inexperienced. With the recent hiring of Jozsef Forman and Jason Skoch, head coach Tina Seals has assembled a unique blend of coaching talent to aid her in her quest for an SEC crown.
Forman comes to the team after a year as an assistant for the volleyball program at Baylor University, his first coaching experience in the United States. Jozsef is a native of Bonyhad, Hungary, where he was head coach of the Hungarian Women’s National Team for four years. He has also coached the Hungarian Junior and Senior national teams with great success, including a first-place finish in the 1997 Canada Cup.
Forman works with the setters for the Lady Bulldogs and is also a critical part of international recruiting. He is a leader in the team’s practice sessions, teaching new drills and explaining proper mechanics, despite his limited English.
“I really liked Jozsef’s experience,” Seals said. “His international background is very diverse, because he’s been involved with players from Brazil, China and Japan. His English has been a slight barrier, but the girls have been very receptive to him.”
Contrasting Forman’s reserved style is Skoch, who comes to the program by way of the University of Central Oklahoma, where he served as an assistant. Skoch is a late replacement on the staff for departing assistant coach John Blackwell.
Blackwell left in August to take a job with Rice University in Texas, but recommended Skoch for the position.
“I needed someone loyal and someone who could help with recruiting,” Seals said. “Jason fit that description. I felt like this would be an upward move for him.”
Skoch, nearly 10 years younger than Forman, has a more hands-on approach in his coaching style. He is frequently participating in drills with the Lady Dawgs. He works mostly with the outside hitters on the team, but his duties extend far beyond the court.
“I coach primarily defense right now, but once the season starts I’ll be dealing more with game strategies and recruiting,” Skoch said.
Both men are starting to settle into their roles more with each practice. With the start of the season less than a week away, Seals says she feels confident in the job each is doing.
“Jozsef has been here during the summer, but Jason just came in a couple of weeks ago, and he has already eased into the system without a problem,” Seals said. “They are both so knowledgeable and eager to work. God has really blessed us.”