BROOKLYN, N.Y. (BVM) — Those who are graduating college might find searching for a job to be harder than they expected. On the other hand, it’s been easier for someone like Sean Salomons who has transitioned from student-athlete to head coach of the men’s volleyball team at St. Joseph’s College. 

While Salomons has been very active in volleyball throughout his life, he’s also had some experience playing basketball in his youth and even with the Bears. Thanks to the help of his father being there as a coach, it’s had a direct impact on his intentions for the future.

“My dad has coached me in basketball for the majority of my life up through high school,” Salomons said. “Those experiences with him drove me to want to follow in his footsteps.”

Being a multi-sport athlete has developed Salomons into the person he is today. As a result, the former Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) President has been able to use what he’s learned in these different sports and apply it to his life.

“Every sport that I’ve played has definitely played a role in who I am,” Salomons said. “Volleyball is the main thing and all the volleyball knowledge I’ve learned up to this point is extremely valuable, but there’s things you can take from other sports.”

Along with the two seasons he spent on the men’s volleyball team at St. Joseph’s, Salomons also has previous coaching experience. Most recently, he’s spent time as the assistant varsity coach of the boys and girls basketball and volleyball teams at The Packer Collegiate Institute. Since this previous coaching experience extends to multiple age groups, it has helped him ready for the task at hand.

“The main thing I can get from my prior experience is really the importance of knowing your players,” Salomons said. “I think that through the years, dealing with a lot of these different types of players have prepared me for the level of college athlete that I’ll be dealing with for the foreseeable future.”

Between the two seasons he spent with the team, his previous coaching background and the information gathered from various sports, the 2019 graduate was an ideal choice for the job. On Sept. 29, Salomons was named head coach of the men’s volleyball team at St. Joseph’s College.

“I’m honored to be given the opportunity to return to my alma mater and coach the great student-athletes of St. Joseph’s College,” Salomons mentioned in a press release. “As a proud alum, I’m excited to continue to build upon the success we’ve started to see in the Skyline and I look forward to developing young men.”

Unlike other coaches in the Skyline Conference, Salomons brings something unique to the table that they don’t have. As a result of his time at the school and within the conference, the Staten Island native is able to provide a different outlook than others.

“I think I definitely have a huge advantage being from the conference and the school,” Salomons said. “It helps me that I’ve played these teams that we’ll be facing, so I’m familiar with a lot of the coaching ranks that are there and I’m familiar with a lot of the strategies that are there.”

During his senior season, Salomons and his Bears team reached the Skyline Conference Championship tournament for the first time in their history. Despite falling in the semifinal, the newly appointed coach believes this can be used to grow and develop his team for the future.

“It’s a perfect example of taking a look at that season and using it as a blueprint of what’s possible and what needs to be done for you to get to a certain spot,” Salomons said. “Being a part of that process where we achieved a great goal helps me a lot to say this is the next goal that I want the program to achieve.”

Earlier this month, St. Joseph’s College announced their suspension of all winter 2021 athletic competition due to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic. However, Salomons is hopeful that his team will be able to compete in the spring.

“It’s definitely a heartbreaking occurrence,” Salomons said. “We have some chatter going around the Skyline Conference in terms of what the outlook might be for the spring, so there’s hopefully a little brighter things on the horizon for us.”