by Shannon Nesseralla, Student Reporter
Finding your calling in life can happen by accident.
Detroit, Michigan, is known for its high rates of crime and violence. Living in this city means watching your back at all times. You never know when someone could be following you.
Being a child in the midst of the city means learning a lot at a young age. It can be a scary experience for young people. Fredrick Aubuchon, who is now the volleyball coach at Northwestern Oklahoma State University, experienced this first-hand.
“It was a little scary, for sure, growing up in Detroit,” he said.
Between the seventh and eighth grades, Aubuchon packed up his belongings and moved with his family to Richland, Michigan, a “much safer town” where academic success was high and crime rates were low. That town became Aubuchon’s new home.
Detroit may no longer be home to Aubuchon, but his extended family still lives there. Sitting in a car during a two-hour road trip from Richland to Detroit was a common occurrence for him; family was important.
“Extended family was a big part of us,” he said.
Growing up, Aubuchon had many role models. But his uncle, Gary, was the most important to him. His uncle was successful in his job, and Aubuchon had the opportunity to work by his side after high school.
“He was a big role model on the fact of, if you work hard and do things the right way, life can be pretty good,” he said.
OFF TO COLLEGE
After being encouraged by his uncle, Aubuchon attended college and pursued academics. At first, he took on classes as a part-time student. He eventually left work and pursued a degree full-time at Central Michigan University.
Aubuchon is currently the head volleyball coach at NWOSU. Getting into volleyball “was a complete accident,” he said.
Growing up, Aubuchon was always playing football and baseball for his high school teams. When he went to college, he tried out for CMU baseball. But after approximately six weeks, the coaches cut him from the team. He decided to start playing volleyball and soon realized he was “pretty good” at it. He was invited to play on the men’s volleyball team at CMU.
During his senior year, the men’s volleyball team had a huge following of supportive fans. A few girls who had watched the men play volleyball decided they wanted to start playing, too. A couple of girls approached Aubuchon, and he was asked to start a women’s college club program at CMU. Though he thought he was unqualified, Aubuchon — with the help of a teammate — decided to start the program and help coach the girls.
BECOMING THE COACH
Aubuchon soon left CMU and started graduate classes at the University of Toledo in Ohio. He again played on the men’s volleyball team, and he started another women’s college program. He coached it for two years.
His volleyball coaching career was just beginning. A group of girls from Owens Community College, a local junior college, approached him and asked him to be their coach.
“I’m not a coach,” Aubuchon said. “I just do it for fun. I have no idea what I’m doing.”
That reply didn’t stop the girls. The junior college’s athletic director contacted him, and soon enough, Owens welcomed Aubuchon as the school’s volleyball coach. He worked there for five years.
COMING TO ALVA
Aubuchon was hired at NWOSU in December, and he has only had a couple of months to prepare for next season. He mentioned that he does have a few concerns.
“I think my biggest concern, which is actually being addressed right now, is making a true ‘connection’ with these girls — to get them to know I am here for them and excited to coach them.”
Sydnee Miller is a sophomore volleyball player who is currently on Aubuchon’s team.
“Coach Aubuchon, in my opinion, is exactly what this team needs to get further in the conference tournament next season,” she said. “He has his heart invested in this team and expects the same from us as well. Every girl on this team feels lucky to have him lead us to success in future seasons.”
Aubuchon said he’s been working on getting the women to understand his vision for the team — and his love for the game. He also said he hopes they can see how much he cares about each of them not only as a player, but also as a person.
“Winning and losing are not my biggest concerns,” he said. “And if they were, I think we’d fail.”
Claire Hodges is a freshman volleyball player at NWOSU.
“Coach sees things in us that we don’t see in ourselves,” she said. “He brings out the best in each of his players. He’s taken us from being just a team, to being a family”
LEARNING FROM MISTAKES
Huge obstacles in life can sometimes involve failure.
“One of the biggest obstacles in life can be failure,” Aubuchon said. Aubuchon said he made a huge mistake by marrying at a young age. The marriage ended in divorce, and it affected his emotions so much that he stayed single for almost 18 years.
In 2007, he decided the time was right to try and love again. He married Sabrina, who had a 13-year-old daughter, Emmaly.
“My biggest obstacle in my life was learning how to come into a ‘made’ family and become a positive part of that,” he said.
After a long time of trying to win Emmaly over, Aubuchon did it. He says their relationship “couldn’t be any stronger now.”
Aubuchon’s biggest accomplishment was in 2009. He had just been named the head coach at Kansas Wesleyan University, and the program was in “bad shape.” His team finished the first season with a record of 0-35.
“I feel like my biggest accomplishment was learning from that and not giving up,” he said.
Two years later, Aubuchon coached them to a spot at the national championship, and the team finished in the top 25 in the country.
FAILURE DOESN’T DEFINE YOU
“I care very much for the players on the team, and I’m an extremely patient coach,” Aubuchon said. “I’m not somebody who would humiliate you. I coach you, but if I have to be hard on you, I’ll pull you aside and keep that to a more of a one-on-one conversation.”
Being laid back and having a lot of patience are two qualities Aubuchon said he has. He said he is someone who understands failure — and believes it doesn’t define who you are.
With an endless number of “proud” moments, some of Aubuchon’s favorite include watching his past players graduate with honors and go on to succeed in their careers. He also loves seeing past players start families.
But he is most proud of the work done by his daughter, Emmaly. She finished her undergraduate degree at Kansas Wesleyan University, and she went on to complete her master’s degree. She is working in her job field right out of college.
Liz Dwyer has been the assistant coach for both Aubuchon and the previous volleyball coach, Jeremy White.
“Coach Aubuchon has been fantastic his first semester here,” she said. “His vision for the future of Ranger Volleyball has all of the current and future Lady Rangers on board. He truly cares about each and every one of his athletes, and he wants to see them succeed in the classroom, on the court, and in life.
“After being a part of Ranger volleyball for five years, I am so excited to see what the future holds. It’s been an honor to be his assistant coach.”
In 10 years, Aubuchon will be in his early 60s. He does not believe he will still be a coach, but he said hopes to have a chance to move up to a different job at NWOSU.