Coach Ann Rush brings a passion for developing young athletes both on and off the volleyball court. A former middle hitter who played through high school, Ann has spent the past five years coaching developmental youth volleyball in Lakota and is entering her third season coaching with Cincy Elite, where she serves as an assistant coach for 13 Black.
For Ann, coaching is about much more than wins and losses. She genuinely cares about each of her players and strives to support them with the same care she would give her own sons—while still holding them accountable for their effort, attitude, choices, and growth. Her goal is to help young athletes see potential in themselves that is greater than they imagined, then give them the confidence, fundamentals, volleyball IQ, and work ethic to keep pursuing that potential long after the season ends.
Ann believes that learning to be a good teammate on the court helps prepare boys to become good “team members” in life. She considers a season successful when players walk away not only as stronger volleyball players, but also as more resilient, responsible, and confident young men. Developing grit and learning how to respond to challenges and adversity are every bit as important to her as the team’s win-loss record.
