As Brian Doyon, the head coach of the Battle Mountain High School varsity women’s volleyball team takes his leave for the big league of collegiate volleyball, his impact on the program and the players will be remembered.
When Doyon first arrived at Battle Mountain the volleyball program didn’t have much to show for itself other than a slew of unsuccessful seasons resulting in standings at the bottom of the league. The team went winingless for the first two years in the league.
In six years, Doyon completely transformed the program, eventually capturing the state championship. During the 2006 season, the team boasted an amazing 30-1 record, leading to a complete sweep of the state competition. The Huskies didn’t lose a single game on their quest for Battle Mountain volleyball’s first and only state title.
While he agrees that this was one of his most impressive accomplishments, Doyon remains modest and thoughtful.
“I won’t remember the stats, but I’ll remember the kids and how hard they worked. It’s great to see [them] succeed, but it’s more important to see what [they’ve] become. The lasting memory is the kids.” He said.
Indeed, throughout his six seasons, Doyon has influenced countless players’ lives both on and off the court.
“Brian taught me to be responsible which led me to learn how to be a leader and captain for my team,” said former player and All-American Brittany Brown. Brown now plays for the Northeastern Huskies.
Looking back at his last six years, Doyon said there wasn’t anything he would have done differently.
“I wish we had won states every year,” he joked. “But I really don’t have any regrets for the program or the kids that came out of there.”
While he was offered a collegiate coaching position at the end of his 2007 season, Doyon turned it down and returned to the Huskies. Once again, Doyon found himself in the Denver Coliseum for states as his team took fifth.
Yet it wasn’t until after his 2008 season that Doyon received the offer he was waiting for. When Beth Launiere, the head coach of women’s volleyball at the University of Utah, called Doyon he was all but surprised.
I’ve known Beth for a while and she had mentioned last year that there might be a potential opening, said Doyon of his new opportunity. Doyon will serve Launiere as her right hand man and second assistant.
Rich Houghton, Director of Athletics at Battle Mountain, agrees that it Doyon is making the right decision.
“We wish him the best. It’s a good professional move, stepping into a college program,” said Houghton.
Doyon was especially excited to join such a successful program. Utah went 16-6 last year and finished their season in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA championships.
Doyon certainly isn’t looking back as he plans to continue climbing the ladder of success. He eventually wants to become a head college coach himself.
When asked if he had a dream school he’d like to work at, Doyon insisted that it wasn’t so much the school as much as the program. He aspires to work in a program that is supported by the school and students as well as the community.
As he is moves on to bigger and better things, the news of Battle Mountain’s gym no longer being Brian Doyon’s domain was bittersweet for his current players.
“I was shocked but I was proud of him for chasing his dreams and moving on,” said junior Hannah Ellison. Doyon had been Ellison’s coach since her freshman year.
“We’re all going to miss him. It’s going to be really strange not having him around.” She said.
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