For Washington Academy Coach Corey Schwinn, volleyball is a year-round sport. He is a winning coach with four state championships and one large school championship in eight years. His commitment to performance and his players knows no season. For these reasons, he has been selected as the Portland Press Herald 2022 Volleyball Coach of the Year.
Coach Schwinn began coaching volleyball at WA in 2015 and won his first state championship. His current assistant varsity and JV coach Kalyn Otto Stevens '16 was a member of the 2015 championship team. It started out as two teams that have grown into a program in eight short years. Fall tryouts have doubled in numbers, and two teams have now grown into three, with a JV First Team added to the program this year.
Off-season and pre-season team-building activities, competitions, and skills workshops have helped Coach Schwinn gain interest in his teams. This summer, Raider Volleyball participated in the Wildcat Weekend Downeast event held at the University of Maine at Machias with collegiate players from the Kentucky Wildcats. Volleyball teams from Mount Desert High School, Falmouth High School, Yarmouth Academy, and Hampden Academy also attended the invitational event. The weekend provided skills training and competition opportunities. The Raiders and Coach Schwinn went into the pre-season playing and winning the Falmouth Tournament, beating southern Maine teams. The 2022 undefeated season ended with a Class C state championship.
Like Stevens, many of Schwinn's players have been associated with him for years. His 2022 team consisted of sixteen seniors who have played for him at previous junior high summer camps. The Raider family atmosphere each year generates success. The graduating seniors enjoyed a 58-4 record for their entire high school career. Coach Schwinn relates his team philosophy, "We can be outplayed, but we better not be out-hustled. We care a lot about how we play the game; A real enjoyment of the sport translates from having a positive attitude, encouraging teammates, and complimenting opponents."
Coach Schwinn has a goal for his players of gaining state-wide credibility beyond winning championships. His goal is being accomplished with four Raiders being recognized as Portland Press All-State players in four years. Those players include Brecken Barker '19 in 2018, Morgan Schwinn '21 in ‘2020, Rachel Vose '23 in 2021, and Chloe Dinsmore '23 this fall.
The 2022 season may be over for Coach Schwinn and the Raiders, but the 2023 season is close in sight. An overall coaching record of 105 wins and 24 losses, a strong team foundation, and a sense of family all translate into another season full of excitement and competitive volleyball for Coach Schwinn.
