Episode #185
Episode 185: How Hannah Langton Handled Coaching Changes, the Transfer Portal, and the College Volleyball Grind.
What really happens behind the highlight reels when a D1 libero enters the transfer portal and has three weeks to save her career? Episode Summary College volleyball looks a lot different when you strip away the graphics, gear, and commitment posts. Hannah Langton walks through exactly what it took to go from grinding at VC United to earning MAC all-freshman honors at Central Michigan, then getting knocked sideways by a coaching change and jumping into the transfer portal with no guarantees. Adam and Hannah get into the real side of the process: the three-week pressure cooker of the portal, coaches who talk one way on the phone and act another way on game day, what it’s like to not play after starting, and how she ended up at Colgate on a gut call. It’s straight talk on recruiting, strength training, and doing hard things, the way Oak Performance Radio actually sounds in the room You'll Learn: Why loving the idea of college volleyball isn’t enough and what it actually demands day-to-day. How a coaching change can completely flip your role, culture, and experience overnight. What the transfer portal really looks like for a libero, including the risk that nobody picks you up. The specific “hard questions” recruits should be asking coaches before committing. Why watching coaches during games matters more than what they say on recruiting calls. How to balance coaches vs. teammates when choosing a school and why both can make or break your experience. The difference between productive strength training and just lifting like a bodybuilder. How to use summers to actually get more athletic instead of just playing more tournaments. The right role for parents in recruiting: support, logistics, and honest feedback without running the process. Why ownership, no-excuses mentality, and doing hard things on purpose separate successful college athletes from everyone else. Episode Chapters 00:00 Intro & Hannah’s path from VC United to D1 03:42 Central Michigan, MAC honors, and culture that worked 08:15 Coaching change, conflict, and losing her role 12:40 Deciding to enter the transfer portal as a libero 18:05 Three-week scramble, no calls, and portal reality check 22:48 Finding Colgate, gut feel, and choosing the right staff 28:10 Teammate fit, FaceTime calls, and building new relationships 33:20 Parents’ role, spreadsheets, and athlete ownership 38:05 Strength training, summer work, and doing hard things 44:30 Advice to recruits, parents, and club coaches; closing thoughts Memorable Quotes “If you don’t absolutely love what you’re doing, don’t play college, because it’s going to test you.” “When you enter the portal, there’s a chance you won’t play college volleyball again—and you have to be okay looking that in the eye.” “Don’t blame the coaches. Even with a mediocre coach, take it on yourself to get better. If it’s anyone’s fault, start with you.” Resources Mentioned Books The Comfort Crisis – Michael Easter The Coddling of the American Mind (referenced conceptually) VC United Volleyball Central Michigan Volleyball Colgate Volleyball – Patriot League Grand Rapids Rise (pro team coached by former CMU coach Mike Gawlik) Tommy Hanson – strength coach Fred VanVleet – referenced for training/season structure Connect with the Guest Hannah Langton – Colgate Volleyball Libero Instagram: @hannah.langton_ Colgate Volleyball: @colgate_vb About the Podcast Oak Performance Radio , hosted by Adam Lane , digs into what it actually takes to perform at a high level. Training, preparation, and decision-making are explored through real athletes, coaches, and experiences—on the field, in the weight room, and in day-to-day life. Listen & Subscribe Subscribe to Oak Performance Radio and pass this episode to a player or coach who still believes talent can outrun bad training, poor recovery, and sloppy habits. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oakperformancelab Instagram: @oakperformance
