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Change agent: Michigan City’s TR Harlan is the 2018 Post-Tribune Girls Volleyball Coach of the Year

Major events can dramatically alter the direction a person’s life takes.

Michigan City coach TR Harlan has a good understanding of how major changes in his life in 2017 helped him prioritize things.

For starters, the longtime bachelor decided to get married.

Then a little over six months ago, Harlan’s wife Lauren gave birth to Kamryn Rose, the couple’s first child.

The baby’s arrival resulted in a noticeable change in the demeanor of Harlan, who had been known as a demanding and hard-nosed coach.

He still is. But …

“This year was a little different,” said Harlan, the 2018 Post-Tribune Girls Volleyball Coach of the Year. “I thought I was a little more relaxed and laid-back in practice,

“Things are much different now. In my first 22 years coaching, my focus was on volleyball. It was always most important. Now, I have other things more important in my life.”

Besides the major life change, Harlan faced on-the-court challenges as well.

His biggest was being without senior middle hitter Hannah Noveroske. The Xaiver basketball recruit didn’t play until Sept. 15 while rehabbing a torn ACL.

Somehow, Harlan conquered adversity and made all the right moves.

He guided Michigan City (30-8) to the Class 4A Hobart Sectional title. A victory over Warsaw in the LaPorte Regional followed before the Wolves lost to Penn in the title match.

“It wasn’t easy at the beginning of the year starting four sophomores,” Harlan said. “I moved Emily Kinney, normally our setter, to the middle for the first time in her life.”

It turned out to be a brilliant move.

“Last year, I played one game in the middle and said to myself, ‘I’m never going to do something like that again,’” Kinney laughed. “Our motto this year was, ‘Whatever it takes.’

“I knew I was the best fit out of everybody. Everyone was comfortable where they were, so I didn’t want them to move. Coach asked me to make the move. He encouraged me and told me I could make a really good middle.”

Kinney, a Ferris State recruit, made Harlan’s decision pay dividends.

“I didn’t ever have any doubts,” Kinney said. “I was just a little stressed out and concerned at first, but I also thought it made the most sense.

“I was pretty surprised. As time went on, I was learning things and Hannah helped with my timing and blocking.”

Harlan was surprised when the Wolves won their first 11 matches.

“We had a bunch of kids doing things they had never done before,” he said. “They learned a lot in winning, gained confidence and learned what we’re doing works.”

Talented junior Reece Shirley, always a setter, ended up being an offensive leader. She led Michigan City with 319 kills and 329 digs.

“Coach did a really good job figuring out what to do with everyone,” Shirley said. “He had a really good vision for the team and for me, too.

“With Hannah out, I had to take more control of the offense. I became more versatile. I’d help out in the back row and with setting.”

Shirley said Harlan always seemed to know the direction he wanted to take.

“He always figured out what was best for us and it was usually right,” she said. “There was always a method to his madness. He did a good job of moving us around, dealing with difficulties and getting our team to the next level.”

John O’Malley is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.