Feb. 8, 2008
By Caity Hohman, Penn State Athletic Communications Student Assistant
For some, getting up for work in the morning is about as appealing as getting a tooth pulled at the dentist. For assistant volleyball coach Salima Rockwell, having the opportunity to come to work at her alma mater is a pleasure...as long as her keys aren't locked in her husband's car. Barreling into the office after what some would consider a terrible start to the day, Coach Rockwell is dressed in a smile and eager to start the day.
"Phew!" she lets out a sigh of accomplishment as she puts down her bags and greets her co-workers. After borrowing a set of keys to enter her office, she smiles at the coffee that awaits her and plops down behind her big wooden desk.
"Ok," she says taking a deep breath, "I'm ready."
Despite the obstacles of that morning, Coach Rockwell seems unaffected. She is confident and eager as she meets the challenges of the day. Perhaps these are the precise characteristics which enabled her to succeed in the early 1990's when she followed older brother Hollis to Penn State and forged her way onto the volleyball scene.
Formerly Salima Davidson, the three-time All-American setter had an outstanding run as a Nittany Lion from 1991-94 which she accredits to the "blue collar work ethic" of the squad.
"That picture you're looking at on the wall," said Rockwell, beaming and pointing at a framed shot of her former teammates in a celebratory embrace, "was our first Big Ten title."
Salima Davidson Rockwell during her All-American playing days at Penn State. |
Vividly explaining the ambiance at the '92 title match Rockwell continued, "We were playing Illinois at home. The place was packed. We went five games with Illinois. They were fourth in the country and we were maybe 16, so it was a huge upset."
The team went on to compete in two National Championship games but, unfortunately, was unable to secure the national title.
Post-graduation, Rockwell went on to play for the U.S. National Team from1995-99, where she served as a two-time team captain. It was at this point in time that she began to reevaluate her career as a professional athlete.
"I was just getting burnt out," admits the former athlete. "There were times when I was thinking, `Why am I doing this?' I wasn't enjoying it like I used to. I loved playing. I loved competing. That's what kept me in it. And once I started losing that I just wanted to take a step back and say, `What else is out there?'"
Salima's questions were soon answered as she set out in the "real world." Accepting a job in pharmaceutical sales, the focused, competitive woman accredits much of her professional success to the attributes she gained as an athlete.
"When I was looking at the pharmaceutical industry and jobs, they were blown away by me," explains the coach candidly. "I had no biology or chemistry background. I was a speech communication major, and an English minor. Not that I'm extraordinary, but when you are used to being disciplined, being on time, working hard, and trying to be the best--getting those opportunities was [a result of] my attitude. They knew I was going to try to be the best sales person ever because that is just in my blood, just in my nature."
Rockwell was an All-American during her Nittany Lion career. |
Her willingness to explore new territory and take on challenges is a testament to the self-confidence instilled in her by her parents, and while she maintains that she did not feel pressured to do anything against her will, she admits that certain things were just expected. "It wasn't, `Are you going to college?' It was, `Where are you going to college?'" Rockwell explained.
"It was kind of just that environment at home. My parents taught us to be confident and that you can do anything you want to do. It doesn't matter what you are or who you are--if you keep trying, you can do it." Her powerful, confident voice began to quiet as she remembered the great impact her father had on her attitude towards life.
"My dad grew up in a time where he had to overcome a lot of adversity. He always talked about the schools and the colored water fountains and the whites-only water fountains. It is so foreign to me, but to hear everything he overcame to get his PhD and to be a captain in the Air Force--things that at that time weren't easy to do--he was an inspiration."
Unfortunately, her beloved father became ill during the beginning stages of her pharmaceutical career. She promptly returned home to help her mother through the difficult period and tragically, was forced to watch the man who inspired her weaken and eventually pass.
Although the loss of her father was heart-breaking, Rockwell found a new love to help ease her pain. She married fellow volleyball player, Jeff Rockwell, and the couple had a beautiful baby boy, Logan. That same year, 2005, Rockwell decided to return to volleyball under her former National Team coach, Terry Liskevych, at Oregon State.
However, after only a year, Rockwell was contacted about an opening in the volleyball office at Penn State. With a little coaxing from her former coach, Russ Rose, she accepted the position and became the Director of Volleyball Operations. The Rockwell's said goodbye to the west coast and made the cross-country journey home.
"I hadn't intended on leaving Oregon State," rationalizes Rockwell, "but I knew it was the right move because of where I was at with my family, with my life, and knowing that at that point I wanted to stay in volleyball and where else would I want to do it but here?"
While Salima admits that she was unsure at that time whether the position would evolve into a coaching one, she was accepting of the change of scenery and grateful to have some down time with her family.
The relaxation period lasted only a year. When the assistant coaching position opened up, Head Coach Russ Rose knew exactly who to call. "I always felt that this is the place that she could make the greatest impact," explains Rose of his former student.
"She loves Penn State," explained Rose in an admiral tone. "She would be successful wherever she is and whatever she does because of the energy she gives to other people and how she just has a smile and a hug. She was like that as a young person and then as a player. She had great impact on our team because of her energy and spirit in addition to being talented. She impacted people like no other player has impacted players before."
Rockwell, however, had certain restrictions now that she had a family. She feared that these might interfere with the success of the program, and she was unwilling to compromise that solely to obtain the coveted position.
"Because I want what's best for the program and because I have a family, it makes it a lot harder to balance everything. Russ and I had a long talk and I said look, there are a couple things that I need. I need to be able to have breakfast with my son in the morning, because we are in here all the time. All day, all night, we're recruiting. After the matches we're here till 11 p.m., so there is little time. We had a long talk and I said look, if this can't work, that's fine. I'll stay in the operations position. He said, `This is what I want, even if that means you come in a little later than everyone else.' It was what he wanted. It was what I wanted, and we came to a good compromise."
And while some may assume that the transition from student to co-worker is difficult, Rockwell contests that her situation with Rose has been the exact opposite.
"I think he and I have always had a pretty special bond," explained the assistant coach. "There has always been a mutual respect. I feel fortunate that I can tell him my opinion and he can just do with it what he will. If he wants to take it, fine, if he wants to implement it--but I think he always listens. We have that kind of relationship."
Rose, too, is grateful for this shared camaraderie between not only he and Rockwell, but the rest of the Penn State coaching staff as well. He believes that as these types of relationships grow, "the whole coaching process evolves."
Rockwell is certainly an example of this process. While she remains her energetic, out-spoken self, she is able to acknowledge that only time and experience will yield the maturity and patience required to excel as a coach.
"You understand, as a former player, what is happening on the court, but to put the whole program together and to be able to manage all the arms that are involved--it's difficult and it's challenging. There is so much more involved than you could ever imagine or expect. I think I still have a lot of weaknesses. I know the game well, I can motivate the girls, skill-wise I'm pretty good, but there are times when he'll make a decision and I'll be like, `I don't know if I would have done that,' and it's usually dead on."
This level of maturity and this courage to admit her weaknesses, ask questions and learn from her mistakes is what separates Rockwell from the proud and places her into a category of excellence that transcends her profession and flows into her life as a mother and a wife. "I'm so fortunate that I have a husband who played Division I sports (Jeff played volleyball at George Mason). He gets it. He understands, and he knows how much I enjoy it. He's so supportive it's ridiculous."
With Jeff's help, Rockwell is positive that they will be able to instill the same level of confidence within their now three-year-old son that her parents instilled in her growing up. "We'll support anything that he does. I just want him to be happy and successful--happy for the most part," explained Rockwell with maternal compassion.
And while it may seem that, with two Division I volleyball players for parents Logan may have big shoes to fill in the future, Rockwell promises that she and her husband will not push anything. She cannot help from proudly exclaim, however, "He likes volleyball! He loves the games. He knows how to sprawl and pass and spike. He's very athletic and extremely coordinated."
Although it may be several years before Logan realizes his potential as an athlete, one cannot help but reflect on the achievements of his mother, Salima Rockwell, and all that she has achieved in her young life. It is confidence that she speaks of the most, and it is infectious. It has led her to succeed in all aspects of her life thus far and will continue to guide her in the future.
"She just comes in and gets everybody to feel good about the challenge at hand," Coach Rose explains. "She's been that way since I first saw her when she was 15," and, if the past is any indication of the future, she always will be.