IC’s Dulfer adapts to coaching remotely

It’s been quite a ride for Ithaca College’s fall athletic teams. When competition was first canceled for the remainder of 2020, teams were informed that they’d be able to hold practices in the fall. Then, Ithaca made the unexpected decision to cancel its reopening plan and commit to remote learning for the fall semester.

That puts a severe limitation on fall sport programs at IC, which will have to stay connected exclusively online for the next several months. Ithaca’s volleyball team has been outstanding in recent years, reaching the NCAA Tournament in each of the past five seasons. The chance to make that six years in a row is now at risk.

Johan Dulfer has coached the team for the last four years, and while he’s been on volleyball sidelines for nearly two decades, this year will be unlike any he’s ever seen. Dulfer said that recruiting never stops, even in a season like this. All of his players will be involved in that process, along with other activities Dulfer has planned to stay involved with his team.

“In terms of our activities, we’re finding different ways to stay active within our sport,” Dulfer said. “Right now, I’ve given them a break. They need a few weeks to get their mind straight [after IC’s decision]. They will never stop working out. They’re just doing this constantly just as a mental health thing. But the edge has been taken off. There’s no urgency with no competition.”

Without that urgency, Dulfer’s focus is keeping the athletes’ heads in the right place for however long it takes until there is volleyball in Ben Light Gymnasium again.

“We’re just 11 months until our next preseason,” Dulfer said. “Eventually, we’ll get there. We’re working on other projects. We have started this mindfulness project that we will be working on in the life-coaching area. We’ll find different ways to stay engaged with Ithaca College and with our sport even if we might not be in Ithaca or on campus.”

Given these circumstances, Dulfer will be taking on a life-coaching role with a team that is located all over the country. Last year’s roster consisted of 15 players from 13 different states, including Hawaii and California.

“I feel the older I get, it’s so much less about [winning] than it is about the life-coaching,” Dulfer said. “We’re far away from each other. My team’s from all over the country. We find the best players anywhere we can. We’re far away and we’ll hold each other through this and stay close to that. That’s quite the task. I’m hoping that we’re going to learn from this and, in the process, that we don’t lose sight of the reason that we came to Ithaca College: … We wanted to be a team.”

Dulfer detailed the first conversation he had with his players following the announcement that was undoubtedly disheartening.

“This is about the toughest thing that is going to come your way hopefully in your lifetime, certainly in your athletic career,” Dulfer told his team. “We have to find a way to be better when we come out on the other end of it, and we will. In doing so, we need to make sure that we learn some lessons that we can apply in our lives and in our careers.”

While Dulfer understands that he might not be able to see his team compete until next year, he is optimistic that something can work out to allow for volleyball in the spring.

“The thing I do with all my heart that I like the most about my sport is being with my athletes in the gym,” Dulfer said. “So yes, I hope there will be a spring season. I think it’ll be tough. I think Ithaca College will do anything it can to give its students an on-campus residential experience if it can, if it’s safe. If we get to have a spring season, we’ll take it and we’ll run with it. We’ll cherish every moment that we can on the court that we’ll have together.”

Given the success that Dulfer has experienced since coming to Ithaca College, missing out on any season hurts. He explained that this year in particular was going to be special.

“The hardest thing about this probably, for my athletes, is knowing that we had quite the group together for this year,” Dulfer said. “We definitely did have quite the recruiting class and an incredible team camaraderie. We were ready to go. You will see that energy hopefully next fall. It’s just a shame. We don’t get to have it this year, but there is no giving up on our end.”

Dulfer has elevated Ithaca College to a Division III volleyball powerhouse and has overcome challenges of all sorts. This year, though, will stand out when he looks back on his time on the South Hill.