Name: Briana Walsh
Hometown: Clever, MO
Currently Resides: Republic, MO
Occupation: Head Volleyball Coach, Clever High School
All Degrees/Certificates Received: AA-General Studies, MSU-WP, 2010; BA-Sports Management, minor in Physical Education, Evangel University, 2013; MA-Secondary Education, Evangel University, 2015; MA-Sports Management, MSU, 2020
“I chose MSU-West Plains because it felt like home the second I walked on campus.”
Some call it a gut feeling, others intuition, but whatever it is, former Grizzly Volleyball standout and assistant coach Briana Walsh had it when she visited Missouri State University-West Plains (MSU-WP) during an official recruitment visit in 2008.
“When you are going on college visits, you will get a ‘feel,’ and that’s what I got when I visited here,” Briana said. “I loved the coaching staff, the players and overall atmosphere right off the bat. The community support was clear from the beginning, and I wanted to be in an environment where people were invested.”
That gut feeling proved to be spot on during her time at MSU-WP. “I walked into this place expecting to play because I was a big fish in a small pond in high school. I was humbled very quickly, which is exactly what needed to happen to me,” she said. “I am thankful for parents who didn’t let me complain and a coaching staff who held me accountable because it made me the player and teammate I turned out to be.
“I also attribute my mental toughness to that same coaching staff. They pushed me past what I thought I could do. They shattered every comfort zone I had, and I didn’t know it until I graduated. I needed this place without even knowing it,” she added.
“The friendships I created during those two years were amazing!”
Briana admitted adjusting to college life wasn’t easy. “As a freshman, I remember counting down the days until that first weekend when we got to go home. Those countdowns quickly faded as I grew closer to my teammates and made friends on campus,” she said.
Some of her best memories from MSU-WP are with her teammates. “We would make these videos called ‘Remember When,’ and I still watch those videos and laugh even now,” Briana said. “Our team made connections on campus and in the community, and those people supported us at all our games. It really felt like our team was so much bigger than the players on our roster. That doesn’t just happen anywhere.”
During Briana’s sophomore year, the Grizzlies competed for the NJCAA Division I Women’s National Volleyball Championship in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Although they fell to College of Southern Idaho, the team accomplished much more than they thought possible.
“We didn’t get to that game because we were more ‘talented’ than everyone else. We got there because our connection and love for each other was undeniable, both on and off the court,” she said. “We trusted the process of what it took to be ‘great,’ and our team bought in from start to finish that season. That team was special. I am still in touch with those teammates, and my love for them is the same now as it was when I was 19.”
MSU-WP set the foundation for Briana’s academic success
The lessons learned on the court also spilled over to Briana’s academics. The Grizzly PAWS (Promoting Academic Success With Student Athletes) Program gave her the framework for excelling academically, and the variety of student resources available to all MSU-WP students gave her that extra boost in the classroom.
“Being a student athlete on campus and having a mandatory study hall every night was huge for me. Establishing good study habits and organizational skills is so important your freshman year. Having that structure set me up to be successful as a student moving forward. There were several resources available both during the day and during study hall that I took advantage of during that time,” she said.
As a result, Briana has been able to complete two master’s degrees and achieve her goal of becoming a head coach. This past fall (2021), Briana helped guide her Springfield Central Bulldogs to their first winning season in nearly a decade and a second-place finish at districts.
“Educationally, I have worked pretty hard to earn both of my master’s. I have been fortunate to have had an opportunity to get both of those paid for. I wanted to take advantage of educational opportunities in front of me because I believe we should always be learning,” she said.
“Professionally,” she added, “this volleyball season has been pretty special. This is the first winning season Central has had since 2013. I have loved coaching this group of kids. They have made my first head coaching season pretty special, to say the least.”
A “life-changing” experience
Attending MSU-WP was a “life-changing” experience for Briana, one she treasures to this day.
“I learned more lessons during my time – both playing and coaching for six years – in this town than I can even describe,” she said. “I grew up there, in more ways than one. I had the same person mentoring me through all my life phases. She recruited me at 17 as a player and again at 24 to be her assistant. I wouldn’t be the teacher, coach or person I am right now without the influence of Paula Wiedemann.
“You want to be around people who live their life the right way and genuinely care about what they are doing. This woman saw things in me, at times, I couldn’t see in myself, and thank goodness she did because who knows where I would be if she didn’t! I am teaching and coaching because of her, and I hope I can have a lasting impact on players and students like she has had on me. It truly takes a village, and I am thankful for the village who took the time to invest in me, both as a player and as a coach.”
“Do not take this place for granted.”
As she reflected on her time at MSU-WP, Briana offered some words of advice for current and future students. “Do not take this place for granted. The faculty and staff on this campus are willing to meet you where you are, invest in you and help you grow, both academically and as a person. That is not something that happens everywhere. They will take the time to get to know you and make sure you have the resources you need to be successful. It is a conscious decision made every day to care about students, and this university CARES!
“Build bridges with your teachers and classmates because you never know when you are going to need something,” she added. “Take your headphones out when you walk into class and participate in what’s going on. Teachers are more willing to work with you when you actually give some effort.
“Also, don’t text and pretend to pay attention in Kathy Morrison’s class. She will call you out, and you won’t ever forget it!”