Indiana University Athletics
IUVB Alum Roth Inducted into Heritage High School Hall of Fame
3/1/2017 10:18:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Coming out of college, Indiana volleyball alum Lindsay Roth (Enterline) had little desire to get into coaching.
Now, after three years coaching volleyball at Blackhawk Christian, she owns an 84-18 record and this past fall guided the Braves to the Class 1A State Championship.
On Saturday Roth, a three-sport athlete at Heritage High School, was inducted into the school's hall of fame.
"I am ecstatic for Lindsay being inducted into the Heritage Hall of Fame," IU head coach Sherry Dunbar-Kruzan said. "I have so much respect and joy when I think about Lindsay Roth. She was such a bright light in our program in so many ways. Lindsay was a great teammate, always giving and supportive to those around her while pushing them to be the best they could be and not settling for less."
Roth, a native of Monroeville, Ind., lettered four years in volleyball, basketball and softball at Heritage. In basketball, she averaged 19 points per game and scored a career-high 35 in a game during her final season. She helped Heritage to three conference championships and earned two all-state honors. Roth was also a standout volleyball player as she set school records in kills, attack percentage, digs and blocks.
Roth came to Indiana on the basketball team, following in the footsteps of her sister Leah. After a knee injury during the preseason of her sophomore year she sat out the year then joined the volleyball team in the 2010 season.
The 2010 volleyball season would go down as the most successful in IU history as the team advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time in program history.
Little did she know at the time, her experience on the volleyball team would mold her into the coach and mentor she is today.
"My time in the volleyball program really helped shape me as a coach," Roth said. "My experience with coach Dunbar and her staff helped shape me in the volleyball world. To see Coach Dunbar's interactions with us and how we were able to respond as players, I have taken a similar approach with my players."
"Coach Dunbar rarely raised her voice at us," Roth added. "She had a calm approach. She had high expectations for us and we knew what they were and we didn't want to disappoint her, because we knew at the end of the day she cared a lot about us. We wanted to work hard for her and our teammates."
Associate Head Coach Paul Koncir also had an impact on Roth.
"Coach Paul Koncir, he is truly one of the most compassionate coaches that I have ever been around and to this day probably the most compassionate coach I've ever played for," Roth said. "Watching how he loved and cared for us, while also having an immense amount of knowledge about the game, I wanted to be able to bring that in to my coaching."
Something else Roth carried from the Sweet 16 team was a work ethic and a knowledge that talent alone can't make a team successful.
"We clicked really well together because we enjoyed spending time together," Roth said of the 2010 team. "We had fun at practice. Practice wasn't always fun, but we made it fun because we enjoyed spending time together. We didn't have the most talent, but we had a good team that worked hard. Every day at practice we would challenge each other and work hard to make each other better."
Dunbar-Kruzan could see that although Roth had personal struggles, with injuries, she remained a strong contributor.
"She was such a hard worker," Dunbar-Kruzan said. "Her injuries took a toll on her body, but not on her mind. She never allowed those injuries to keep her down. She stayed positive and focused on the team and our goals."
With little time until her graduation from Indiana, Roth, an Elementary Education major, got a call from an Athletic Director about a volleyball coaching position.
At the time Roth said no, but if it could become a teaching position she would be interested. That AD helped her get another interview for a teaching job in the same district and she would soon start coaching.
Roth said she is not as interested in the strategy of volleyball, but in her role as a mentor.
"I wouldn't consider the X's and O's to be my passion," Roth said. "My passion lies in the ministry with high school girls. I think there is a huge opportunity to shape and mentor high school girls. They are at a critical point in their lives and that is the piece I really love."
Fast forward to the start of what would be a championship season in 2016 with Blackhawk Christian.
Roth ended the previous season with no coaches and had three girls, who would have played on varsity decide to not play. In the beginning, the team struggled to meet the expectations of their head coach.
Over time, Roth was able to raise the bar and because the team respected her and knew how much she cared about them, they rose to the challenge.
The No. 7-ranked Blackhawk Christian team soared all the way to an upset over No. 1 and defending state champion Christian Academy of New Albany.
"I would love to say it was a perfect season," Roth said. "It was a perfect ending, but anything but a perfect season. We took something so imperfect and made a perfect ending out of it."
"When I knew she was going to start coaching, I honestly was overjoyed," Dunbar said. "I am always so excited for our players to continue giving back and making a difference. She is such a strong, Christian woman and a great role model for those kids. They are fortunate to have her coaching and making an impact on their daily lives."
Now, Roth has her hands full with two little ones at home with Hudson, age two and Baylon, three months. She said she has enjoyed seeing her high school team interact with them and the families.
There is no doubt Roth is having an incredible impact both on and off the court.
"I have enjoyed getting to know and building relationships with the girls and the experience that you can help create for them," Roth said. "It has been such a fun experience to grow with them."
Now, after three years coaching volleyball at Blackhawk Christian, she owns an 84-18 record and this past fall guided the Braves to the Class 1A State Championship.
On Saturday Roth, a three-sport athlete at Heritage High School, was inducted into the school's hall of fame.
"I am ecstatic for Lindsay being inducted into the Heritage Hall of Fame," IU head coach Sherry Dunbar-Kruzan said. "I have so much respect and joy when I think about Lindsay Roth. She was such a bright light in our program in so many ways. Lindsay was a great teammate, always giving and supportive to those around her while pushing them to be the best they could be and not settling for less."
Roth, a native of Monroeville, Ind., lettered four years in volleyball, basketball and softball at Heritage. In basketball, she averaged 19 points per game and scored a career-high 35 in a game during her final season. She helped Heritage to three conference championships and earned two all-state honors. Roth was also a standout volleyball player as she set school records in kills, attack percentage, digs and blocks.
Roth came to Indiana on the basketball team, following in the footsteps of her sister Leah. After a knee injury during the preseason of her sophomore year she sat out the year then joined the volleyball team in the 2010 season.
The 2010 volleyball season would go down as the most successful in IU history as the team advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time in program history.
Little did she know at the time, her experience on the volleyball team would mold her into the coach and mentor she is today.
"My time in the volleyball program really helped shape me as a coach," Roth said. "My experience with coach Dunbar and her staff helped shape me in the volleyball world. To see Coach Dunbar's interactions with us and how we were able to respond as players, I have taken a similar approach with my players."
"Coach Dunbar rarely raised her voice at us," Roth added. "She had a calm approach. She had high expectations for us and we knew what they were and we didn't want to disappoint her, because we knew at the end of the day she cared a lot about us. We wanted to work hard for her and our teammates."
Associate Head Coach Paul Koncir also had an impact on Roth.
"Coach Paul Koncir, he is truly one of the most compassionate coaches that I have ever been around and to this day probably the most compassionate coach I've ever played for," Roth said. "Watching how he loved and cared for us, while also having an immense amount of knowledge about the game, I wanted to be able to bring that in to my coaching."
Something else Roth carried from the Sweet 16 team was a work ethic and a knowledge that talent alone can't make a team successful.
"We clicked really well together because we enjoyed spending time together," Roth said of the 2010 team. "We had fun at practice. Practice wasn't always fun, but we made it fun because we enjoyed spending time together. We didn't have the most talent, but we had a good team that worked hard. Every day at practice we would challenge each other and work hard to make each other better."
Dunbar-Kruzan could see that although Roth had personal struggles, with injuries, she remained a strong contributor.
"She was such a hard worker," Dunbar-Kruzan said. "Her injuries took a toll on her body, but not on her mind. She never allowed those injuries to keep her down. She stayed positive and focused on the team and our goals."
With little time until her graduation from Indiana, Roth, an Elementary Education major, got a call from an Athletic Director about a volleyball coaching position.
At the time Roth said no, but if it could become a teaching position she would be interested. That AD helped her get another interview for a teaching job in the same district and she would soon start coaching.
Roth said she is not as interested in the strategy of volleyball, but in her role as a mentor.
"I wouldn't consider the X's and O's to be my passion," Roth said. "My passion lies in the ministry with high school girls. I think there is a huge opportunity to shape and mentor high school girls. They are at a critical point in their lives and that is the piece I really love."
Fast forward to the start of what would be a championship season in 2016 with Blackhawk Christian.
Roth ended the previous season with no coaches and had three girls, who would have played on varsity decide to not play. In the beginning, the team struggled to meet the expectations of their head coach.
Over time, Roth was able to raise the bar and because the team respected her and knew how much she cared about them, they rose to the challenge.
The No. 7-ranked Blackhawk Christian team soared all the way to an upset over No. 1 and defending state champion Christian Academy of New Albany.
"I would love to say it was a perfect season," Roth said. "It was a perfect ending, but anything but a perfect season. We took something so imperfect and made a perfect ending out of it."
"When I knew she was going to start coaching, I honestly was overjoyed," Dunbar said. "I am always so excited for our players to continue giving back and making a difference. She is such a strong, Christian woman and a great role model for those kids. They are fortunate to have her coaching and making an impact on their daily lives."
Now, Roth has her hands full with two little ones at home with Hudson, age two and Baylon, three months. She said she has enjoyed seeing her high school team interact with them and the families.
There is no doubt Roth is having an incredible impact both on and off the court.
"I have enjoyed getting to know and building relationships with the girls and the experience that you can help create for them," Roth said. "It has been such a fun experience to grow with them."
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