MVB - This Is How It Works

All opinions expressed in the blog are solely my own. The blog is not an official publication of any City of Melrose organization. 

Here's a quote from "Patriots Wire" about Mike Vrabel's coaching, via a division rival (Aaron Brewer): 

"He goes off how you work and what you put on tape. He's going off exactly what he's seeing. So you just got to respect him in that matter, cause It doesn't matter where you come from. It doesn’t matter how big you are, how strong you are, fast - it's all about what you can put on that tape and your mentality out there." 

There's no secret sauce, no hidden agenda, no "I didn't know that."

Coaches have several obligations:

• Put the team in a position to succeed
• Develop players to function in their system 
• Create sustainable competitive advantage

The best players make the team. 

Last season MVB finished with five sophomores and five freshmen in addition to upperclassmen. This is not a union job. There is no seniority system. 

Everyone gets opportunities. 

After tryouts, there are usually two scrimmages and the Play Day where everyone plays against six different opponents. There is often an adjustment period where players without varsity experience become accustomed to higher "game speed." 

Carpe diem (Latin for seize the day). 

Lineups aren't sent down on stone tablets. Some players will change positions, either attack or defense. Notably, Alyssa DiRaffaele moved from attack to libero in-season and helped her team get to the State Finals. Gia Vlajkovic moved from setter (junior) to outside hitter (senior) and helped her team win two Sectional Finals. Sadie Jaggers moved outside from middle for her senior season. 

Bottom Line

There’s no mystery here. Work hard. Be coachable. Care. Produce. 

No politics. No shortcuts.

Just work. Just film. Just truth.

This is how it works.

Lagniappe. MVB doesn't traffic in excuses. 

Rick Pitino said, "You're not allowed to give excuses because excuses are a sign of weakness. We give no excuses when we fail."

Most people think excuses protect them from failure.

But they're just lies you tell yourself on why something won't work. pic.twitter.com/3GXynibNKX

— Coach AJ 🎯 Mental Fitness (@coachajkings) April 14, 2026