April 30, 2025 • 13 mins
Danijela Tomić is the Head Coach of the UC Volleyball program. She joined us on ESPN1530.
Podcasts of The Mo Egger Radio Show are a service of Longnecks Sports Grill.
Listen to the show live weekday afternoons 3:00 - 6:00 on ESPN1530.
Listen Live: ESPN1530.com/listen
Get more: https://linktr.ee/MoEgger
Follow on X: @MoEgger
Instagram too: @MoEgger
Podcasts of The Mo Egger Radio Show are a service of Longnecks Sports Grill.
Listen to the show live weekday afternoons 3:00 - 6:00 on ESPN1530.
Listen Live: ESPN1530.com/listen
Get more: https://linktr.ee/MoEgger
Follow on X: @MoEgger
Instagram too: @MoEgger
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
I enjoyed my first conversation with Daniellotomic. She is the
new volleyball coach at the University of Cincinnati, and we
had a chance to talk with her back when she
first got the job in early January. She actually accepted
the job right before Christmas and then was formally introduced
in early January. The volleyball schedule in the Big Twelve
is out for this coming season. They are ticketing volleyball
(00:22):
for the first time ever. You see, you can buy
a season ticket for seventy five dollars GA and a
court side seat for one to twenty five. That ain't bad.
Daniello Tomich is with us now. I thought it'd be
fun to catch up with her. It's good to have you.
It's been a while. It's been a few months. What
had the last four months been.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Like a Rolman as you can imagine. Besides you know,
life moving my stuff and living for a couple of
months in an empty apartment. Recruiting started right away, and
then of course training with a team, and it was
important that we have a great spring. Then you know,
I say, there is no off season, they're just investment season.
(01:04):
So I wanted us to invest a lot in training
and establishing the foundation of our team culture and developed
skills and hiring the staff. So a lot has happened,
but I feel we're in a good spot now, just
waiting for the girls to finish strong in the classroom.
They have finals this week and we're expecting good grades.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
Give us an idea because you talked about on the
court training, how much of that are you allowed.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
Well, we started with having only four hours a week
that the NCAA rules for like a month or so,
so we saw the girls every day, but just a
shorter period of time, and they had four hours of
strength and conditioning a week, and then we transitioned to
what we do in the fall, having twenty hours of
athletically related activities, so it was more like what we
(01:54):
will do in the fall. So I think we've squeezed
a lot out of the time, just focusing on a
lot of fundamentals and kind of you know, putting the system,
explaining to our players what our system is going to
be like offensively, defensively.
Speaker 1 (02:11):
But that was.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
Our training, and then we also in the spring, we
have four opportunities that we can play different opponents. But
unfortunately we didn't have two medals. We were short on
middle blockers, so we only used one opportunity and we
had a training session in Columbus with Pittsburgh. And people
(02:33):
who follow volleyball, they know that the last three final fours,
pitt was in the final four and year they played
in semi finals. So that was great learning opportunity for us,
and it felt good after spending a couple of hours
two and a half hours in the gym with a
really really great team and great coaching staff.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
Your team this coming fall will have four returning starters
from last year, eleven letter winners overall. Well, what has
the process been like getting to know those players? I
guess first of all, convincing them to stay because you're
always recruiting. You got to recruit your own players. But
then once they've made the documitment, getting to know them.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Yeah, that's that's a reality right now, not only recruiting
new players, but we have to continue recruiting our current players.
That's been probably the most fun part getting to know
our team and UH and our young women here. They're
they're wonderful, they're they're very open to the changes that
(03:35):
we brought. We just finished last actually a week. We
had individual meetings at the end of the school year,
and then we had a team meeting on Friday. And
now the first question that we ask in those meetings is,
you know, do you plan to come back? And everybody
said yes. So that was a good sign, and we're
excited from the feedback we got from them, they felt
(03:58):
they got better, that we take pride in developing players.
They like again the changes when it comes to our
team culture and what the standards and values that we're establishing,
and also our investment into developing them as people, not
just as volleyball players. That's very important to me. And
(04:22):
we get a positive feedback about that too. So I'm
excited about all of them coming back. And you know
when you hear like this was the best sprint for me,
and you know, I got better. I'm excited about volleyball.
What else can we ask? I think we are on
a good, good path of developing something special, and that's
(04:44):
why I came to Cincinnati to develop a championship program.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
What has recruiting been like from the outside, both via
you know, the portal transfers, but obviously also at the
high school level as well.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
Yeah, we get a mix We have a two two
transfers so currently signed and I'm thinking now one is
if I can, if I can announce it publicly, but
she she's been everything is okay. We have a liberal
from Middle Tennessee. This would be her fifth year, Mackenzie Johnson.
We are excited about her. And we have Andy Spies
(05:18):
who is a freshman of the Year and Conference USA.
She's a setter. She will be a sophomore that we
have a nice mix of freshman high school freshmen. We
are looking at transfer portal opens for US for volleyball
on May first through the fifteenth, and we are hoping
to pick up a couple more players, at least one
(05:39):
we need. We are still looking for a middle blocker,
so that's a priority for us. But it's going to
be a nice mix of returners and new players. Will
have almost half of the team is going to be new,
so we will see. It's going to be a test
of the work that we've done this spring when it
comes to our culture and you know, are no negotiables
(06:02):
and how the team is gonna just merge. I guess
the new new players. It's it's a big influx of
new teammates. But I feel good about it. I think
we have players who have a good understanding what we
are about and what our team identity is going to be.
And we're going to just continue where we stopped at
(06:23):
the end of April, and once we get in the
gym with our new team in the in August, we're
going to just continue getting better.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
Danielletomach as with us, the new volleyball coach at the
University of Cincinnati. You mentioned playing against Pittsburgh and pitt
being a final four program, and it's it's got to
be so exciting to be in this sport right now.
And I think I might have mentioned this to you
when I when I chatted with you when you were
formally introduced. I never thought I would be at a
(06:52):
restaurant and see the Final four in women's volleyball on
national television on every TV in the place. It feels
like the sport is growing, it feels like it is
catching on. It feels like some of the most high
profile players in the sport are becoming really, really well known.
It has to be as a volleyball lifer, knowing how
(07:12):
much you love this sport, you've made a living in,
and it's got to be such an exciting time to
be involved in this sport.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
It is. I think you're absolutely right the excitement around
our sport, and like you said, seeing the viewership, you're
just breaking records every year when it comes to Final four,
colleges are breaking records. I think your past of that
like we are catching up. But the momentum of our
(07:39):
sport is unbelievable and I think the best is yet
to come. You know, we have a two professional leagues
right now. Our players don't have to go overseas to
play volleyball after they're done with college. They can stay
here and play and professionally in the United States. It's
just very excited to be a part of this sport
(08:03):
and I think it's just going to continue growing. Volleyball.
For those who maybe don't know, volleyball is the number
one women's sports girls sport at a high school level
when it comes to participation numbers, it's ahead of basketball,
and it's just and this is also it's even more
remarkable because we don't have a male counterpart that drives
(08:27):
our sports. We are kind of like, you know what
men's basketball is, for women's basketball, that's that women's volleyball
is much ahead of men's volleyball, and men's volleyball is
actually the fastest growing sport in the country right now,
So it's exciting. That's why I was. I'm so thrilled
and grateful for our administration to support the initiative of
(08:50):
ticketing volleyball. And this is also to catch up actually
with the rest of the Big Twelve. Every program in
the Big Twelve tickets volleyball, and I was always excited
to hear that the first day we sold ten court
side tickets and I actually I'm going to check today
(09:12):
after we're done to see where we are with numbers.
And I want to encourage people who love volleyball and
maybe those who just want to check just come, come
and and and check us out. Like I always say,
my job as a coach and my staff is to
put to put a great program on the floor, make
it entertaining. And I know, you know everybody people love
(09:32):
to see winners, and that's what we're going to do.
And I believe in that, you know, saying, if you
build it, they will come. And and this is what
I'm also going to say. If you come and you
don't love it, my email is on the website. Just
email me and I'm going to refund you. If you
don't love what you see, you don't have a great experience,
just email me. But I I saw. I believe so
(09:56):
much in what we're building and what our team is
going to be about that you will come and you're
going to be hooked. And we want to build a
community around the Cincinnati Volleyball and once you meet our
amazing players, you're gonna love volleyball even more. And if
you've only still seen you know high school or middle school,
college volleyball is nothing like that. It's powerful, it's athletic,
(10:18):
it's fast paced, it's a true team sport. You cannot
win with just one player. So I just hope that
our Cincinnati Volleyball and a Bearcat in a nation, is
going to support us and create a great environment for
our team to play and make Cincinnati one of the
(10:40):
highest places for the visiting teams to come and play.
You mentioned, I'm going to just tell you this, Pittsburgh.
I was when I was doing research about the tickets,
just kind of to see what other teams are doing.
Louisville and Pittsburgh. Pitt was both of those teams for
several years ago on the bottom all the acc and
now they're powerhouses. They're in the final four. Right, Both
(11:04):
programs have a waiting list for season tickets. Oh wow,
it's the outest ticket in town. Yeah, there's a wait
list waiting list for Louisville and for Pittsburgh. And we
all know Nebraska sells out their facility every year. They're
break you know, they're breaking all kind of records. So
that's kind of if you wanna, that's that's that's my
(11:24):
you know, dream big vision that we create that type
of a program here at Cincinnati and the teammate everybody,
our city and are great university, proud.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
One more we need everybody's had no doubt about it. Yes,
and you can't beat that deal. By the way, seventy
five dollars general emission court side seating season tickets available
for one to twenty five. I was at Bearcats at
the ballpark night and you delivered the game ball and
Elie Dela Cruz had a grand slam in the reds one.
I don't think that's a coincidence.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
I don't you know, I don't think so. By the way, Ell,
you lived in my building and I cannot wait to
meet him and to tell him why he hit. I
just put a good modjo in that ball. And you know,
I didn't even know that I did a good job.
I got a few comments they said, hey, coach, nice
job delivering the game ball. It didn't roll down from
the mound, and I didn't know. I was like, well,
(12:18):
I think that's what I'm supposed to do. So yeah,
it was such a great experience and I'm hooked. I'm
the Red fan and I will be going to more games.
It was. It was a wonderful experience for me. And
what tells him into to see him in Grand Slam
on a bubblehead night. It was awesome.
Speaker 1 (12:38):
It was awesome. We gotta tell Eli to come to
a game. That's what you gotta do. You came to
come to a game.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
You know you might break attendance record if that happens,
that's a great idea.
Speaker 1 (12:49):
Okay, well make sure you give me credit for it.
We'll do this as the season gets closer. It's been
fun having you on enjoy your off season. I know
you have a lot of recruiting to do and and
uh we'll talk soon. Thanks so much, coach, Thank
Speaker 2 (13:02):
You so much to go bear kids,
I enjoyed my first conversation with Daniellotomic. She is the
new volleyball coach at the University of Cincinnati, and we
had a chance to talk with her back when she
first got the job in early January. She actually accepted
the job right before Christmas and then was formally introduced
in early January. The volleyball schedule in the Big Twelve
is out for this coming season. They are ticketing volleyball
(00:22):
for the first time ever. You see, you can buy
a season ticket for seventy five dollars GA and a
court side seat for one to twenty five. That ain't bad.
Daniello Tomich is with us now. I thought it'd be
fun to catch up with her. It's good to have you.
It's been a while. It's been a few months. What
had the last four months been.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Like a Rolman as you can imagine. Besides you know,
life moving my stuff and living for a couple of
months in an empty apartment. Recruiting started right away, and
then of course training with a team, and it was
important that we have a great spring. Then you know,
I say, there is no off season, they're just investment season.
(01:04):
So I wanted us to invest a lot in training
and establishing the foundation of our team culture and developed
skills and hiring the staff. So a lot has happened,
but I feel we're in a good spot now, just
waiting for the girls to finish strong in the classroom.
They have finals this week and we're expecting good grades.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
Give us an idea because you talked about on the
court training, how much of that are you allowed.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
Well, we started with having only four hours a week
that the NCAA rules for like a month or so,
so we saw the girls every day, but just a
shorter period of time, and they had four hours of
strength and conditioning a week, and then we transitioned to
what we do in the fall, having twenty hours of
athletically related activities, so it was more like what we
(01:54):
will do in the fall. So I think we've squeezed
a lot out of the time, just focusing on a
lot of fundamentals and kind of you know, putting the system,
explaining to our players what our system is going to
be like offensively, defensively.
Speaker 1 (02:11):
But that was.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
Our training, and then we also in the spring, we
have four opportunities that we can play different opponents. But
unfortunately we didn't have two medals. We were short on
middle blockers, so we only used one opportunity and we
had a training session in Columbus with Pittsburgh. And people
(02:33):
who follow volleyball, they know that the last three final fours,
pitt was in the final four and year they played
in semi finals. So that was great learning opportunity for us,
and it felt good after spending a couple of hours
two and a half hours in the gym with a
really really great team and great coaching staff.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
Your team this coming fall will have four returning starters
from last year, eleven letter winners overall. Well, what has
the process been like getting to know those players? I
guess first of all, convincing them to stay because you're
always recruiting. You got to recruit your own players. But
then once they've made the documitment, getting to know them.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Yeah, that's that's a reality right now, not only recruiting
new players, but we have to continue recruiting our current players.
That's been probably the most fun part getting to know
our team and UH and our young women here. They're
they're wonderful, they're they're very open to the changes that
(03:35):
we brought. We just finished last actually a week. We
had individual meetings at the end of the school year,
and then we had a team meeting on Friday. And
now the first question that we ask in those meetings is,
you know, do you plan to come back? And everybody
said yes. So that was a good sign, and we're
excited from the feedback we got from them, they felt
(03:58):
they got better, that we take pride in developing players.
They like again the changes when it comes to our
team culture and what the standards and values that we're establishing,
and also our investment into developing them as people, not
just as volleyball players. That's very important to me. And
(04:22):
we get a positive feedback about that too. So I'm
excited about all of them coming back. And you know
when you hear like this was the best sprint for me,
and you know, I got better. I'm excited about volleyball.
What else can we ask? I think we are on
a good, good path of developing something special, and that's
(04:44):
why I came to Cincinnati to develop a championship program.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
What has recruiting been like from the outside, both via
you know, the portal transfers, but obviously also at the
high school level as well.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
Yeah, we get a mix We have a two two
transfers so currently signed and I'm thinking now one is
if I can, if I can announce it publicly, but
she she's been everything is okay. We have a liberal
from Middle Tennessee. This would be her fifth year, Mackenzie Johnson.
We are excited about her. And we have Andy Spies
(05:18):
who is a freshman of the Year and Conference USA.
She's a setter. She will be a sophomore that we
have a nice mix of freshman high school freshmen. We
are looking at transfer portal opens for US for volleyball
on May first through the fifteenth, and we are hoping
to pick up a couple more players, at least one
(05:39):
we need. We are still looking for a middle blocker,
so that's a priority for us. But it's going to
be a nice mix of returners and new players. Will
have almost half of the team is going to be new,
so we will see. It's going to be a test
of the work that we've done this spring when it
comes to our culture and you know, are no negotiables
(06:02):
and how the team is gonna just merge. I guess
the new new players. It's it's a big influx of
new teammates. But I feel good about it. I think
we have players who have a good understanding what we
are about and what our team identity is going to be.
And we're going to just continue where we stopped at
(06:23):
the end of April, and once we get in the
gym with our new team in the in August, we're
going to just continue getting better.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
Danielletomach as with us, the new volleyball coach at the
University of Cincinnati. You mentioned playing against Pittsburgh and pitt
being a final four program, and it's it's got to
be so exciting to be in this sport right now.
And I think I might have mentioned this to you
when I when I chatted with you when you were
formally introduced. I never thought I would be at a
(06:52):
restaurant and see the Final four in women's volleyball on
national television on every TV in the place. It feels
like the sport is growing, it feels like it is
catching on. It feels like some of the most high
profile players in the sport are becoming really, really well known.
It has to be as a volleyball lifer, knowing how
(07:12):
much you love this sport, you've made a living in,
and it's got to be such an exciting time to
be involved in this sport.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
It is. I think you're absolutely right the excitement around
our sport, and like you said, seeing the viewership, you're
just breaking records every year when it comes to Final four,
colleges are breaking records. I think your past of that
like we are catching up. But the momentum of our
(07:39):
sport is unbelievable and I think the best is yet
to come. You know, we have a two professional leagues
right now. Our players don't have to go overseas to
play volleyball after they're done with college. They can stay
here and play and professionally in the United States. It's
just very excited to be a part of this sport
(08:03):
and I think it's just going to continue growing. Volleyball.
For those who maybe don't know, volleyball is the number
one women's sports girls sport at a high school level
when it comes to participation numbers, it's ahead of basketball,
and it's just and this is also it's even more
remarkable because we don't have a male counterpart that drives
(08:27):
our sports. We are kind of like, you know what
men's basketball is, for women's basketball, that's that women's volleyball
is much ahead of men's volleyball, and men's volleyball is
actually the fastest growing sport in the country right now,
So it's exciting. That's why I was. I'm so thrilled
and grateful for our administration to support the initiative of
(08:50):
ticketing volleyball. And this is also to catch up actually
with the rest of the Big Twelve. Every program in
the Big Twelve tickets volleyball, and I was always excited
to hear that the first day we sold ten court
side tickets and I actually I'm going to check today
(09:12):
after we're done to see where we are with numbers.
And I want to encourage people who love volleyball and
maybe those who just want to check just come, come
and and and check us out. Like I always say,
my job as a coach and my staff is to
put to put a great program on the floor, make
it entertaining. And I know, you know everybody people love
(09:32):
to see winners, and that's what we're going to do.
And I believe in that, you know, saying, if you
build it, they will come. And and this is what
I'm also going to say. If you come and you
don't love it, my email is on the website. Just
email me and I'm going to refund you. If you
don't love what you see, you don't have a great experience,
just email me. But I I saw. I believe so
(09:56):
much in what we're building and what our team is
going to be about that you will come and you're
going to be hooked. And we want to build a
community around the Cincinnati Volleyball and once you meet our
amazing players, you're gonna love volleyball even more. And if
you've only still seen you know high school or middle school,
college volleyball is nothing like that. It's powerful, it's athletic,
(10:18):
it's fast paced, it's a true team sport. You cannot
win with just one player. So I just hope that
our Cincinnati Volleyball and a Bearcat in a nation, is
going to support us and create a great environment for
our team to play and make Cincinnati one of the
(10:40):
highest places for the visiting teams to come and play.
You mentioned, I'm going to just tell you this, Pittsburgh.
I was when I was doing research about the tickets,
just kind of to see what other teams are doing.
Louisville and Pittsburgh. Pitt was both of those teams for
several years ago on the bottom all the acc and
now they're powerhouses. They're in the final four. Right, Both
(11:04):
programs have a waiting list for season tickets. Oh wow,
it's the outest ticket in town. Yeah, there's a wait
list waiting list for Louisville and for Pittsburgh. And we
all know Nebraska sells out their facility every year. They're
break you know, they're breaking all kind of records. So
that's kind of if you wanna, that's that's that's my
(11:24):
you know, dream big vision that we create that type
of a program here at Cincinnati and the teammate everybody,
our city and are great university, proud.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
One more we need everybody's had no doubt about it. Yes,
and you can't beat that deal. By the way, seventy
five dollars general emission court side seating season tickets available
for one to twenty five. I was at Bearcats at
the ballpark night and you delivered the game ball and
Elie Dela Cruz had a grand slam in the reds one.
I don't think that's a coincidence.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
I don't you know, I don't think so. By the way, Ell,
you lived in my building and I cannot wait to
meet him and to tell him why he hit. I
just put a good modjo in that ball. And you know,
I didn't even know that I did a good job.
I got a few comments they said, hey, coach, nice
job delivering the game ball. It didn't roll down from
the mound, and I didn't know. I was like, well,
(12:18):
I think that's what I'm supposed to do. So yeah,
it was such a great experience and I'm hooked. I'm
the Red fan and I will be going to more games.
It was. It was a wonderful experience for me. And
what tells him into to see him in Grand Slam
on a bubblehead night. It was awesome.
Speaker 1 (12:38):
It was awesome. We gotta tell Eli to come to
a game. That's what you gotta do. You came to
come to a game.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
You know you might break attendance record if that happens,
that's a great idea.
Speaker 1 (12:49):
Okay, well make sure you give me credit for it.
We'll do this as the season gets closer. It's been
fun having you on enjoy your off season. I know
you have a lot of recruiting to do and and
uh we'll talk soon. Thanks so much, coach, Thank
Speaker 2 (13:02):
You so much to go bear kids,
Mo Egger News
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!