“I don’t know if words can really describe the feeling,” Pohlman said of being named the Trappers’ newest head coach. “Any coach is excited by the prospects of a new position, and that certainly applies to me.”
The move also gets Pohlman closer to family in Idaho. He earned his associate’s degree from the College of Southern Idaho and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in educational interpreting in sign language from Idaho State University.
While at Idaho State University, he served as president of the men’s volleyball club, earning second-team all-conference honors as a setter.
Northwest College athletic director Andy Ward called Pohlman a good fit for Northwest.
“He’s got lots of energy and the emphasis he places on academics is outstanding,” Ward said.
While at Dodge City, Pohlman’s team was one of just nine two-year schools to earn a national team academic award from the American Volleyball Coaches’ Association in 2008. In 2009, Dodge City was one of just eight schools so recognized.
Pohlman was a co-Coach of the Year in the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference in 2008 and oversaw the transformation of a program from Division II to Division I competition. His 2010 squad finished with a 27-10 mark.
Pohlman inherits a Trapper team that went 22-18 during an injury-plagued 2010 campaign. The Trappers have made appearances in the NJCAA top 25 rankings in each of the past two seasons, including a national tournament appearance during the 2009 season.
“I’m more of a process over outcomes sort of person,” Pohlman said of his coaching style. “Our focus is going to be on preparing ourselves and taking care of the things we can control. Fans can expect an exciting display of volleyball. We’ll be hard-working with a good, solid team effort. If we can do that, it should provide great entertainment on game nights and the wins and losses will take care of themselves.”