A woman with chin-length blonde hair appeared on the screen in front of the U.S. women’s volleyball team.
She talked in analogies. She commanded a room, even a virtual one, like no one else. She was a real spitfire, star outside hitter Jordan Larson thought.
“Who is this woman?” the four-time Olympian wondered. turned into U.S.
women’s volleyball’s secret weapon. The softball legend joined the national volleyball team as a culture consultant in advance of the and helped set the foundation for the team to win its . Now in Paris, Enquist is instilling her leadership philosophies to help the United States chase another Olympic title.
Much of the team remains intact from three years ago, but Enquist’s coaching has helped enforce the mindset that these Games, 17 days long with three pool matches followed by as many as three knockout stages, are not a championship “defense.” It’s not about being better than any opponent. It’s only being “bigger than the moment,” Enquist said.
“It has been the biggest asset,” Larson said of Enquist’s influence. After going 2-1 in pool play, the United States begins the quarterfinals on Tuesday against Poland. Enquist knows about national team success.
She was part of the coaching staff that prepared the U.S. softball team to win gold in 1996 during the sport’s inaugural Olympic tournament.
But her five international gold medals as a player and three as a coach seem like a footnote compared to her illustrious career in.