For student athletes, coaching at the same school they played for during their college career is an opportunity that most of them will never get to see.

For Mary Montagnola, she got that opportunity this summer to be the assistant coach for Oswego State volleyball just after finishing her senior season with the team and graduating in May.

J.J. O’Connell, head coach of the volleyball team at Oswego State, presented Montagnola with the opportunity after he discovered she was staying home in Oswego until the spring.

“I knew she was living in Oswego and she let me know that she wasn’t going to start nursing school until the following year,” O’Connell said. “So I told her that we had an open coaching position if she wanted to make some money.”

Montagnola did not hesitate to reunite with her former head coach.

“J.J. came to me because he knew I was staying around for another year,” Montagnola said. “When he asked me if I wanted the job, I took it without too much thought.”

The fact that Montagnola lives in Oswego was not the only thing that persuaded O’Connell to offer her the job as his assistant, but her knowledge of his style from her playing days as well.

“She already knew our system, offense and defense, and she knew the girls,” O’Connell said. “So it made for an easy transition. That was very attractive to me.”

During her playing career, Montagnola primarily served as the starting defensive specialist for the Lakers. She played in 162 sets in her two years as a player, compiling 273 digs, and 28 aces.

Now, after a successful career on the court, she has eased her way into the transition of being a leader on the sidelines.

“I’m really enjoying the transition,” Montagnola said. “It’s very different being on the other side of things, but it’s good that I know a lot of the girls because it has made the transition a lot easier.”

Having played with many of the girls she is now coaching has made for a comfortable atmosphere in the locker room, says senior middle blocker Megan Russell.

“It’s definitely different, but in a good way,” Russell said. “I know her and a lot of us played with her, so that relationship is nice to have.”

Russell also touched on seeing her former teammate’s transition from player to coach and how Montagnola’s experience as a player has helped.

“It’s been really interesting to see the transition,” Russell said. “She knows a lot about everything from playing for [O’Connell] and has really helped with work outs and getting us into shape.”

O’Connell praised Montagnola for the job she has done so far as assistant, saying that she picks up the slack in areas that need improvement.

“She brings good energy,” O’Connell said. “She’s upbeat and she’s tough on the girls, which is what you need. She brings a lot of strengths in areas where I have weaknesses, which is exactly what you want if you’re a head coach.”

Receiving this much praise from your team is great for any new coach.

But for Montagnola, coaching is nothing new.

Montagnola actually has a lengthy history of coaching experience. She spent the summers following her junior and senior years as a volunteer coach at the Oswego Volleyball Camp. In addition to that, she served as a coach at softball camps with Oswego High School.

The former defensive specialist said while that past coaching experience has certainly helped her in her new position with Oswego State, she believes it’s her values that make her a better coach.

“[Having coaching experience] definitely helped, but I think it’s more my attitude and demeanor on and off the court,” Montagnola said. “I always focus on being a responsible leader and I think that’s what will gain you respect as a coach.”

Although she is clearly built for a career of coaching, Montagnola will begin pursuing her dream of becoming a nurse in the spring, when she begins nursing school.

However, the Lakers’ assistant head coach did say she would welcome the opportunity to coach again down the road.

“I do see a future in coaching,” Montagnola said. “I would love to be a coach of a high school team someday.”

For now, Montagnola will make the best of her time she has reunited with her team and help lead them to victory. This time, from the sidelines.