Rutgers-Newark Athletics

By Jim Hague

When former Rutgers-Newark men’s volleyball coach Karl France left the program over the summer for New York University, it left the remaining members of the Scarlet Raiders roster in a state of flux.

“I was pretty disappointed,” senior right side hitter Austin Pappas said. “It caught us all off guard.”

Pappas didn’t know what to expect from the program, but when he found out that Pedro Trevino was hired as the new men’s volleyball coach, he was pleased.

“I knew it was going to be fine,” Pappas said.

Trevino knew that he had to almost instantly form a bond with senior leader Pappas.

“He’s been with the program for four years and knows all the ins and outs,” Trevino said. “Being a first-year head coach, having someone like Austin on board is huge. It makes my job easier.”

Trevino said that he was familiar with Pappas, a native of Trabuco Canyon, California, before he took the job at R-N.

“I saw his stats and saw him on film and I knew he was a solid player,” Trevino said. “I also knew he was going to have a career year this year. I was going to expect a lot from him.”

It’s hard to have a better year than what Pappas enjoyed as a junior a year ago. He earned All-East second team honors and led the entire nation in service aces per set (.57). He led the Scarlet Raiders in points (416), point average (4.25), kills (328), kills average (3.35), service aces (56) and aces average (.57). It was definitely a year to remember.

“His attitude is so positive and upbeat,” Trevino said. “Any time you come into a new program and you have someone like Austin in place, it’s a huge plus. A lot of guys might be set in their ways, but Austin has one goal in mind. He wants to win. And the other guys on the team respect him and look to him. I just knew he was going to deliver, both on and off the court.”

In fact, Trevino has grown to appreciate Pappas even more during the time they’ve spent together.

“He’s definitely a lot better than I expected,” Trevino said. “And he’s especially better as a blocker. I knew he brought an invaluable powerful jump serve and was a good hitter. But right now, he’s been really big at the net. His blocking has impressed me the most. It definitely helps us.”

Pappas feels that he has improved as a defensive player.

“I have been working on my blocking with our coaches and it’s helped,” Pappas said. “My blocking wasn’t as strong. That was my goal, to get better with my blocking. I don’t know if I’m a better player than I was last year. I’m waiting to see how it all turns out.”

Pappas was impressed with Trevino’s approach.

“He gave us a lot of respect from the beginning,” Pappas said. “He didn’t talk down to us and treated us like peers. He talked to us right away and I think it was important for me as a senior and as a leader to be on board, because we all want to win. We all want to be on the same page.”

Pappas knows that his role is important as a senior on a young team.

“I think I have the opportunity to help the younger guys realize what they have to look forward to in the future,” Pappas said. “I also think I can give them someone to look up to.”

“He’s really buying into that leadership role,” Trevino said. “He’s more of a quiet leader, but you’re seeing more of that emotion coming out of him. When he needs to led someone know how he feels, he’s going to do it. It makes things a lot easier. Bottom line is that we’re both on the same page. I respect his attitude and his play. I respect what he’s doing for the program. He’s a tremendously important part of what we have.”

Trevino said that there’s no price tag for Pappas’ experience.

“He’s been here for four years and that experience is invaluable,” Trevino said. “I think we’ve developed a fine coach/player relationship. We understand each other and it’s at the point now where he knows what I’m going to say.”

Pappas will graduate in May with a degree in marketing. He doesn’t know what the future holds, but he would like to pursue something in sports marketing, either locally or back in his native California.

Four years ago, Pappas didn’t know what it was going to be like for a California guy settling in downtown Newark, but he’s glad now he made the decision to come east.

“I’m glad I came here,” Pappas said. “Being here in Newark has been totally different than what I was used to in California. But it’s been a great time and hopefully we can make this year a winning one.”