“Love, Effort and Motivation” are the key components to what new Farmington High volleyball coach Kate Nelson Hawkes wants to build the Phoenix program around beginning this fall. The former Bountiful High volleyball player – who played from 2002 to 2005 – went on to be a three-year starter at Southern Virginia University and will bring years of experience to the Phoenix gym.

“Volleyball has been a huge motivator in my life,” Hawkes said. “I worked hard during my school years so I could play and now I manage my time so that I can still be a part of the volleyball world.”

“We are really excited about Kate’s enthusiasm and knowledge of volleyball,” Farmington High athletic director Kasey Walkenhurst said. “She has hit the ground running with the girls and we look forward to seeing how the team does this upcoming season and in the future.”

Following Hawkes’ collegiate career she began coaching club volleyball while also assisting on the Murray High staff. “I found that coaching the same girls in both high school and club made it difficult to be unbiased when making playtime decisions,” she said, as she transitioned to just coaching in the high school ranks.

From there, she assisted at Viewmont and Woods Cross and will now be a first-time head coach at Farmington.

“I had a great volleyball experience in both high school and club and attribute most of that to my coaches, especially Jill Asay at Bountiful,” Hawkes said. “I found friendship, confidence and a sense of belonging because of high school volleyball.”

Hawkes, who lives in Farmington, wants to inject her love of the game on her players and bring daily effort and respect to the gym which will bring them together. “I believe that any group of players can be a successful team if they are willing to work for each other,” she said. “I also want a team that never gives up. It’s really hard to beat a team that doesn’t quit.”

Her own background of playing middle blocker, outside hitter, right side hitter and defensive specialist throughout high school, club and college volleyball has given her the perspective to not limit her players to just one spot on the floor, and that’s how she said she will continue to coach. 

“I look forward to building a program at Farmington High,” she said. “I have amazing assistants [Annie Beyer, who played at Bountiful from 2006 to 2009; Jenna Firth, who played for Woods Cross from 2003 to 2006; Sarah Mcphee and Stephanie Randolfseng] that know and love the game.” λ