The Dain Blanton Era Begins at USC
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Q&A INTERVIEWBYTOMFEUER•PHOTO:PETERBROUILLET GOLDEN HIRE The Dain Blanton era begins at USC ometimes you can get a call that can change the direc- tion of your life. Such was the case for Dain Blanton on a fateful day five years ago. USC Beach Volleyball Coach Anna Collier was on the other end of the line Sand wanted to gauge Dain’s interest in becoming an assistant coach for the Trojans. Blanton’s pedigree certainly stood out to Collier. A winner from the womb. As a sophomore at Pepperdine in 1992, he was an integral part of the Waves’ NCAA champions indoors. But it was the beach where he really stood out. A 15-year professional career on the AVP and FIVB circuits featuring 11 victories, back before players could pad their statistics by winning smaller FIVB tournaments. His first title was a big one, in Hermosa Beach, in 1997, with Canyon Ceman. They beat Jose Loiola and Kent Steffes, who had won an Olympic gold medal the previous year in Atlanta. In 1998, Dain changed partners and teamed up with Eric Fonoimoana. They decided to make an Olympic run of their own. Two years later they were on the periphery, needing a Hail Mary to make the USA team. They showed up at the last qualifying event, an FIVB tourney in Ostend, Belgium needing not only a high finish for themselves but a low finish for Karch Kiraly and Adam Johnson. Kiraly, the defending Olympic gold medalist, lived for just those moments. But it was not to be this time. An injury forced an early withdrawal from the tournament, an ignominious 33rd place and 14 points to Blanton and Fonoi’s 272 points for third place. As unlikely as it seemed, Dain and Eric had booked passage to Sydney for the Games. They were expected to be non-factors, as evidenced by their ninth seed, but a funny DAIN’S REIGN: Dain thing happened in Bondi Beach. They won their first four Blanton is ready to lead matches and found themselves inexplicably in the gold medal the Trojans. (Photo: Peter match against third-seeded and heavily favored Ze Marco and Brouillet) Ricardo of Brazil. The latter duo had won five FIVB tourna- 20 digbeachvolleyball.com | 2020 #1 ments in 2000 in the leadup to Sydney and had finished second on three other When I heard that news, my whole timeline got accelerated and I had to occasions. Ricardo was the “Wall,” the most dominant blocker on the beach. make a decision. Do I want to go for the position of head coach, and is this Ze Marco was like a Swiss Army knife. He had all the precision shots and then something that is possible where I could get hired? If I had to pick any job, it some. The final was held September 26th in the heart of Sydney’s spring, and it would have been right here at USC, not only for proximity to where I live (in was chilly, windy, and there were even some drops of rain. Blanton and Fonoi Santa Monica) but also the athletic department support and their reputation of had videotaped Ze Marco and had a line on his tendencies. It proved to be a excellence and putting a lot on academics as well as athletics. I didn’t want to big difference-maker. In a match that lasted 1:41 during the end of the sideout go to a school where athletics were second rate. era, the Americans came away with a stunning, 12-11 and 12-9 win. Let the celebration begin. What were the main aspects of coaching you learned from Anna? Dain wasn’t through with the Olympics. Four years later, he became the Anna’s pretty blunt and pretty old school and straightforward. I could see first USA player to make two Olympic beach volleyball teams. He partnered what athletes responded to different situations. (There was) no BS with her. with Jeff Nygaard – in an ironic twist, Nygaard is currently the USC men’s in- She is going to call it like it is, and sometimes that can be a little controver- door coach – but finished a disappointing 19th. Blanton played for four more sial and other times athletes respond really well to that. I saw her take a few years but, at the same time, started to branch out in his professional life. He different approaches, but probably the biggest thing was her competitive fire. was in demand as a public speaker and soon parlayed that into a flourishing She wants to win. She is very intense and that desire to win and to make things broadcast career that not only included calling men’s and women’s beach and happen was one of the biggest aspects of what I saw from her. indoor but the Los Angeles Clippers for Fox. Blanton is now head beach coach at USC following Collier’s retirement last What is the Dain Blanton coaching philosophy? June. The takeaway from interactions with him is how approachable, sincere I want students to know that if they come here their game is going to and positive he is. He always has time for people and always projects that laid- improve tremendously. But not only will their game improve, I hope they im- back Southern California vibe. prove as individuals and human beings. Our goal is not only to make you the When Blanton spoke to DiG, he was just coming back from an all-coaches best player you can be and prepare you for the next level if you desire, but also meeting with new USC Athletic Director Mike Bohn, then headed out to the to get a great education and be a great representative of the university. At the sand for practice. end of the day, I want people to say that this program is a lot of fun, it’s very competitive, and it’s a no-nonsense thing where we are trying to create DiG: How did the USC job come to the best individuals on the court fruition? and off. DB: I was on the road doing We’re trying to recruit players some broadcasting up at Stanford, of high integrity and character and I got a call from Anna Collier, that want to go to that next level, who I had known since the mid- whether that’s professional or going 1990s. She said, “Would you be after the Olympics. I like when they interested in volunteer assisting have more aspirations after school for the women’s beach volleyball because they are going to be more team here at USC?” At the time, I effective at this level. Case in point didn’t have my finger on the pulse — a Kelly Claes or a Sara Hughes, of what was really happening at the Nicolette Martin, Allie Wheeler, collegiate level for women, so I said, Sophie Bukovec, Terese Cannon. “Let me think about it, and let me They are all still playing, and I think come meet with the team to see if I that is crucial. wanted to dedicate my time to it.” At the time, Misty May was in You mentioned earlier that this was the position but was no longer going the job for you. Yet your alma mater to continue because she was having a is Pepperdine. What makes USC so baby and had some other responsi- special for you? bilities. I came to a practice and the Proximity to where I live here in girls were really classy and respectful, Santa Monica. I take the Expo line dedicated, passionate and that’s and get off right on campus. It may when I first met Sara Hughes, Kelly Claes, Allie Wheeler, Nicolette Martin, be a small thing, but I don’t have to tell you (how difficult it is to maneuver and Sophie Bukovec, all the girls that were part of that squad. around Los Angeles). Literally, I don’t drive to work. I take the train. I thought it was really cool, and I saw the courts for the first time over here I love the fact that we have courts on campus. That is something that on Figueroa Street (on USC’s campus) and then I said that I would do it. That Pepperdine does not have. They are still playing at Zuma Beach. I don’t know was in 2015. We went on to win the AVCA National Championship in Gulf whether you have to have a football team to have a really successful athletic Shores (Alabama). It wasn’t yet an NCAA sport and then (we) came back (the program or not, but I know it doesn’t hurt the funding or support you get. next year) and it was extremely important for the team to win the first ever If the SEC was huge in beach volleyball, that would be something that you NCAA championship, and we ended up doing that. Basically, going back-to- would look at as well. They take athletics very seriously. back, and then in 2017 we ended up doing it again. (But) I just love the environment, like this morning, where you had the It was funny, you would think 2017 would be a walk in the park, but it was coaches meeting and you can tell that everyone has one goal: to make their the most difficult one, the one we barely won. I continued to be the volun- athletes better and to win some championships. teer assistant in 2018, and after that season I decided four years was enough and I wanted to do more broadcasting.