When Barry Brobeck saw there was an opening for the head volleyball coaching job at Austin High School, he didn’t hesitate to go and get it.

Brobeck, who will coach the Packers this fall, grew up in Southern California where beach volleyball is huge and he’s always had a love for the sport.

“I’ve had a volleyball in my hands since I was about seven years old,” he said. “I don’t think there’s a better game. It has everything you could ever hope for, from speed to tons of strategy. It’s a really intelligent game, it’s fast paced and it sneaks up on you. It’s just fun.”

Brobeck began his coaching career in 1991 at Lancaster, Minn. and he coached Southland for two years before coming to Austin to coach the ‘B’ squad.

After taking eight years off to watch his daughter play volleyball at the middle school level all the way through college, he’s ready to guide the Packers.

Brobeck’s motto is pride, passion and fun and he plans on incorporating them all with Austin.

“I have a huge amount of pride in Austin High School and think this place is the best place ever,” he said. “I not only my team to do well, but I want all of our teams to do well.”

Austin’s players have taken an early liking to their new coach’s style as captains Babaye Oja and Haley Underwood offered their stamp of approval.

“He’s really easy to get along with and understand. He understands everything,” Underwood said.

Oja has already to learned to respect Brobeck’s words.

“We can definitely tell that he knows what he’s talking about,” she said.

Austin opens its season at Farmington Aug. 30 at 7 p.m.