As further proof that I'm a deep thinker, here are a couple of conundrums I've been pondering recently: How do you know when you run out of invisible ink? And what's the speed of dark? I would ask Dipen Patel, UWRF women's volleyball coach, to help me out, but he's a busy man. 

Coach Patel played soccer and volleyball (some called that double Dipen) growing up, he said. He received all conference honors while playing on the high school varsity team for three years. He then played men's volleyball at Diablo Valley College (California), a two-year school, and played NCAA Club Division 2 for San Francisco State University. He was hired at UWRF in February 2022.

Coach Patel began coaching in 2011. He started as a high school coach, then worked his way into coaching club volleyball at Pacific Rim Volleyball Academy (VBA) in Pleasant Hill, Calif. It was there that he learned coaching can be a profession. He continued to challenge himself, pursuing greater coaching opportunities. During his time at Pacific Rim VBA, he served on staff and developed the club team into becoming a regional/national contender earning two national championships. Coach Patel entered NCAA coaching as the Volunteer Assistant/Technical Coordinator for San Francisco State U. (Div. 2). In 2017 he moved from California to Illinois to coach Eastern Illinois U (D1) for two years. While in Illinois he also coached girls' volleyball at Matoon High School and club volleyball. His 2018 Matoon team finished 28-9 while winning three tournament titles. He also has had coaching stints with USA Volleyball, 2013-2018. Patel helped lead the number 2 ranked team in the country to back-to-back national championships in USA's open division in 2014 and 2015.

A California native, Patel graduated from San Francisco State in 2017. He earned a master's degree in kinesiology and sports studies at Eastern Illinois in 2019.

In 2019, he moved to UW-La Crosse to serve as the assistant coach and as the local club volleyball coach. UWRF was his most recent move to serve as head volleyball coach.

Coach Patel is assisted by Beth Raebel, Dylan Krosch, and Issac Farrey. In 2022, Coach Raebel helped the Falcons achieve a 22-12 record, upset a nationally ranked opponent, and gain a conference tournament appearance. She has been an integral part of the Falcons' blocking system, Patel says.

Dylan joined the Falcon volleyball program, previously coaching for Bemidji State U. (D2) in Fall 2022. He is a student coach who has been with the Falcon program for the last three years. He will be staying on staff as a part-time assistant coach next fall and will graduate this spring. 
"I am extremely excited to keep Issac with us," Coach Patel said. “He has grown a lot as a coach and does a great job among the staff and with the team. He is a true student of the game and helps prepare our serve/receive strategies from game to game."

Discussing how recruiting has gone in his first year, Patel responded, "Really well. We have committed eight first-year athletes and one Division 2 transfer from Southwest Minnesota State for Fall 2023."

He added that social media is very important in recruiting. He said he spent five years of graduate school in communication studies. While much of that was to prepare him to be a better coach, he had the opportunity to learn and study the evolution of communication over generations and trends.

"We use social media primarily as a marketing tool for the program," Patel said. "Our women achieve amazing things on the court, in the classroom, or in the community. It's great for fans, alumni, recruits and their families to see through social media how our student athletes represent the program, and how they are promoted, appreciated, and recognized." 

Who are the best WIAC teams this fall?

"I'd love to say UWRF, but we are still growing and will have a very young team. We will be senior heavy but with many freshmen."

He said that the support he gets from other coaches and from administrators is "fantastic. I've been in college coaching eight years and UWRF is one of the best groups I have been a part of.

"Weightlifting is an integral part of our program," Patel said. "Our women are developing themselves all year-roun , preparing their bodies for the length of the fall season."

Coach Patel wants to invite the surrounding River Falls community and remind them that UWRF volleyball runs some of the largest camps in the area.

"In 2022, we ran three camps and had over 380 participants on campus. In 2023, we are offering four camps and are preparing to host 400-500 participants. Be sure to check out www.uwrfvolleyballcamps.com”

When serious topics like those mentioned in the first paragraph are discussed in this column, how could anyone say to me, as one did last week, "I want you to know I never miss reading your silly column." 

Was that a compliment?