Following the retirement of 40 year volleyball coach Sandi Stein, Rafael Silva has been hired to take over as the varsity coach.
Silva said he hopes to bring in his own coaching culture to push the girls and create an uplifting environment.
“I’m a very competitive coach,” Silva said. “I do have a lot of patience with the kids and the game, but I also tell my team that we play to win. I am a very intense coach and I like to be involved with the team. They have to understand that we play to have fun, so it’s important to balance focus with fun.”
Junior Nora Goodman was involved in the process of recruiting Silva. She said he has incredible coaching abilities and experience that will help improve the team immensely.
“He legitimately is one of the best hitting coaches you can get in Atlanta,” Goodman said. “He runs really fun practices, and most importantly, he really wants to win and put a good team together. So, I’m super excited about his coaching style.”
Silva is originally from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and played professional volleyball for 12 years in four different countries. In 2007, he moved to the United States. In 2017, Silva started the club Rio, a youth volleyball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. In Rio’s first year, 37% of their teams earned bids to USAV Nationals. This ranks second out of all major clubs in Atlanta. Silva sold the club last year in order to spend more time with his family. He said he thinks coaching for Midtown will still allow him to partake in the sport he loves while prioritizing family.
“I had been at Rio for a long time and decided to sell it this year,” Silva said. “The decision was because I didn’t have enough time for my family. Now I have enough time for my family, and I can get more involved in high school, so I’m super excited for this year.”
In recent years, the team has made numerous playoff runs, with consistent winning seasons. Senior captain Siri Bluestone said she thinks Silva will do well maintaining the team’s success, while also adding his own coaching culture into the mix.
“I think it’s important for Coach Rafa to keep practice super positive but also to ensure that he is continuing to motivate us,” Bluestone said. “He is very serious about us developing and getting better, so I think that will help a lot this season.”
The team has started the year with a winning record. Head coach Martha Jones said the girls have a chance to take home the state title.
“The team has been good, but this year I think we are going to be phenomenal,” Jones said. “The roster is deep with players that are great at every position. The goal is to win the championship. We’re gonna win the whole thing.”
Silva said that the team needs to work cohesively if they want to make it to state.
“The girls will have to work together and help each other,” Silva said. “Volleyball is not an individual sport. They have to be together as a team, which will require a strong mentality, but they are a strong group of girls, and I believe they can do it.”
Bluestone said the team has a good connection. She said it is important to provide a welcoming spot to new teammates and create a strong bond.
“It is really important that we incorporate fun activities to help everybody get to know each other more,” Bluestone said. “For example, a big part of our practices is dressing in the same color shirts to kind of show that we are a team.”
Goodman said it is important for the team to perform well. With Silva’s support, she believes they could win state.
“I mean, we are all super competitive and really just want to give it our all, all the time,” Goodman said. “With Coach Rafa I think that we have a great chance.”
Silva said it means the world to him to continue to coach. He hopes to continue to do what he loves while bringing Midtown to the next level.
“It’s everything to me,” Silva said. “I honestly enjoy coaching more than I like playing, it’s so rewarding. I can’t wait for the girls to keep showing improvements and to see what we have in store for the season.”
