Allan Vince's final season as a professional volleyball player took him to a small European country along the Baltic Sea. He says Latvia endeared itself to him in numerous ways, few more meaningful than meeting his wife, Solveiga, there. He immersed himself in the culture and eventually purchased land.
Even as Vince returned to the United States and built a successful career as a college volleyball coach, Latvia continued to pull at his heart.
That is why, after six seasons as The Master's University's women's volleyball head coach and one season leading the school's men's volleyball team, Vince has resigned from both positions. He and his family plan to move to Latvia over the summer. "We want our four children to experience the Latvian culture," he said.
Vince, the 2018 Golden State Athletic Conference Coach of the Year, departs as the second-winningest coach in TMU women's volleyball history (117-70), leaving behind a legacy of caring for his athletes' souls more than simply their ability to bump, set, spike.
"The thing I always loved about having Allan as a coach was how personable he was," said women's volleyball senior Regan Tate. "More than anything, he wanted to make sure we were all doing well on all fronts, not just volleyball. He has always loved celebrating us in our successes and doing his best to help us through anything we struggled with."
Vince's concern centered on his athletes' relationship with Christ.
"Allan cared more about me and my personal life and spiritual growth than my athletic abilities," said junior Madi Maitland (Fay). "He taught me a lot about being a competitor not just for volleyball, but as a believer."
Tate and Maitland were key members of what Vince considers his greatest on-court accomplishment at Master's.
The Mustangs went 11-17 in 2017, the program's first losing season since 2010, and on paper they were far from favorites in the Golden State Athletic Conference the following season.
Behind the scenes, Vince had undergone a seismic shift in his approach to coaching. He resolved to release the outcomes of matches to the Lord, no longer clinging, even if subconsciously, to his own agenda. Instead, Vince set his focus on team discipleship and cultivating character by infusing that same "kingdom" mindset into his players.
"In 2018, we established that your value was not dictated by how you do in the gym. It's who you are," Vince said. "We did that really well and that made it very satisfying to achieve what we did."
The Mustangs won 29 matches, the program's most since 1996, and earned their first-ever GSAC regular season and tournament titles. TMU made its first NAIA national tournament appearance since 2013. Vince was named GSAC Coach of the Year.
"I got to watch some of the most tenacious and wonderful girls," Vince said. "It was a sweet victory because it wasn't like on paper we were supposed to do it. It was like, 'Wow, we got to do this.' The privilege of that year is something I'll hold dear to my heart."
Of course, individual wins stand out too.
On Sept. 20, 2016, Vince's Mustangs beat Biola in a thrilling, five-set contest, snapping a 46-match losing streak against the Eagles that spanned nearly 30 years. After the final point, TMU's student section rushed the floor, with Vince meeting them at midcourt and jumping up and down in excitement.
Two years later, almost to the day, Master's beat Westmont to stop the Warriors' 32-match winning streak in GSAC play.
On the bench for that groundbreaking 2018 season, was Annett Davis, Vince's assistant the last two seasons. Davis, an Olympic beach volleyball player, will now add indoor women's volleyball head coach to her duties as TMU's beach volleyball head coach. A story introducing Davis as TMU's next indoor women's volleyball head coach will be released Wednesday.
Vince, who like Davis played collegiately at UCLA, was also tasked this year with laying a strong foundation for TMU's men's volleyball program during its first season.
Sophomore Wyatt Bates says Vince was the right man for Year 1.
"He did a fantastic job at choosing the right guys and building a team that surpassed expectation," Bates said. "He was always bringing a mentality that we have to get better and that we have to be better. He was the glue that kept us all together in the hard times. I know that he means a lot to everyone on the team and he has taught us all so much about volleyball and about life. We are all going to miss him, but we're all stoked for what the Lord has for his future in Latvia."
Master's will conduct a search for a men's volleyball head coach over the summer. The new hire will be replacing a man who thoroughly enjoyed his time at TMU.
"Throughout my six years at Master's, I have had the incredible privilege of coaching some extraordinary athletes, and working alongside remarkable coworkers and students," Vince said. "I want to specifically thank my athletic directors for their sweet friendship and wise mentorship. They entrusted me to train up young athletes in sports and in daily life, and I'm humbled to look back at the fruitful years of growth, discipleship, and some unforgettable volleyball.
"My time at Master's will forever be remembered as joyful, and I pray that the Lord's favor continues to bless this place and its people."
