Begor back as Mt. Lebanon volleyball coach
Mt. Lebanon has plenty of new faces heading up some of its fall sports programs, but one of them is familiar. Brian Begor is back. He returns as the new girls volleyball coach this season.
“Yes, I’m back,” Begor said. “I’m excited to be at Mt. Lebanon.”
Begor’s daughter, Kate, played for the Blue Devils and his wife, Dawn, served as head coach there for 15 years. When his wife was pregnant, Begor coached Mt. Lebanon for that season. During that campaign, the Blue Devils finished third in the state. Begor also coached four years at West Allegheny. Under his tutelage, the Indians finished second in the PIAA, twice.
Begor also serves as the director of the Renaissance Volleyball Club. The organization had three teams finish in the Top 10 in the country at nationals this summer. The club has also produced every Gatorade Pennsylvania Player of the Year winner, which also came out of the WPIAL.
Considered one of the top junior coaches in the country, Begor has produced all-state, collegiate all-Americans as well as Olympians during his more than 20 years of coaching experience. According to Russ Rose, head coach at Penn State, Begor’s ability to teach and develop technical skill has helped young players develop into top performers at all levels.
Development will be part of the process at Mt. Lebanon.
“We don’t really talk much about winning or losing,” Begor said. “We do spend a ton of energy talking about the importance of the process, developing winning habits, creating a great culture.”
During the summer months, the Blue Devils did just that. According to Begor, the team focused on building relationships and the importance of ‘connecting.’ The goal was to build strong bonds based on trust.
“We feel like if we win those battles, we win whether we win or lose,” he explained. “We want to develop a great work ethic, create great memories, and lasting relationships. The rest takes care of itself.”
During these weeks of fall training camp, the technical aspects of playing the game are taking place. The Blue Devils look to improve upon last year’s WPIAL Class AAA final four showing. After finishing runner-up in Section 5 to Baldwin with a 10-2 slate, Lebo lost to North Allegheny, 3-0, in the district semifinals and to Seneca Valley, 3-2, in the consolation contest to determine the PIAA qualifier.
Baldwin won the WPIAL title, edging North Allegheny, 3-2. The Highlanders reached the PIAA semifinals.
“I’m not really sure what the expectations are yet for this group,” Begor said of the 2015 club. “We have talent but we are pretty young and inexperienced at the highest levels.”
The Blue Devils do have a ‘nice core’ of juniors, added Begor. Molly Boehner, Maggie Rimmel and Katherine Peters all played roles on last year’s varsity squad. However, the season will be a challenge.
“We obviously have a tough section with defending champion Baldwin as well as a very good Bethel Park team,” Begor added of the Lady Hawks, who finished third in the division and qualified for the playoffs with a 7-5 slate. “We also have what is probably the toughest schedule in the WPIAL.”
In addition to non-league matches with North Allegheny and Seneca Valley, the Lebo ladies will face rivals Upper St. Clair and Peters Township. The Panthers, who feature Duke recruit Samantha Amos, won the Section 2 title with a 12-0 mark. PT finished second in Section 2 with a 10-2 slate.
On another note, Yoko Nagao, Begor’s former assistant at West Allegheny, is now the new head coach for the Indians. Prior to going to West-A, Nagao served as head coach at Peters Township and Upper St. Clair.
In addition to Begor, Lebo welcomes: Cara Senger as its new women’s soccer coach; Julie Buschman as new field hockey skipper and Nicolette Bendick as new cheerleading moderator. Also, the district hired two athletic coordinators. Bre Tongel and Larkin Hogel will assist John Grogan in his athletics director duties. Tongel was a standout softball player for the Blue Devils while Hogel recently served as athletics director at Seton-La Salle High School.