MUSKEGON TWP. - It’s not every day that a 22-year-old athlete who just graduated from college becomes a head coach at the varsity level, particularly at a big high school.
But Syann Fairfield was always an extraordinary student-athlete, she already has several years of coaching experience under her belt, and she grew up closely watching and learning from an extremely successful coach, who just happens to be her father.
Fairfield, who just graduated from Ferris State University a few weeks ago with a degree in elementary education, has been named the new varsity volleyball coach at Reeths-Puffer High School, replacing longtime coach Justin Birr, who resigned at the end of the season this fall.
She said she was encouraged by parents and other coaches in the area to apply for the R-P job when it was posted, and decided to do it, if for no other reason than to gain the experience of interviewing for a high school coaching position.
New R-P head volleyball coach Syann Fairfield
But the more she learned about the school and the volleyball program, the more she was excited about the job, and was thrilled when she learned she was chosen.
“I figured, why not?” she said. “Let’s go through the process and get the feel for things. But the more I talked to people and learned about the school, it just seemed like the place to be. I work hard and go all in on everything I do, and I am ready to tackle it!
"I know it’s not common for people to take a chance on someone who just graduated a few weeks ago from college, but I think they could see my passion and what my goals would be for the program for the next few years.”
Fairfield with an NCAA regional title trophy while playing for Ferris State.
Fairfield was always a great volleyball player, and experienced a lot of winning, at the high school and collegiate level.
She was a four-year varsity standout with the North Muskegon volleyball team before graduating in 2021. She earned All-State honors in her sophomore, junior and senior years and helped the Norse win two district championships and one conference title.
She was also a three-year All-Stater in soccer, and helped North Muskegon win a state championship in that sport in 2021.
Fairfield went on to play four years with the Ferris State volleyball team, and again had nothing but success. She was a three-year starter and helped the Bulldogs win two regular season championships, and two conference tournament championships, in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC).
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The Bulldogs made the NCAA Division 2 national tournament all four years of her career, advancing to the Sweet 16 round for three years and the Elite 8 round in her senior year.
Fairfield earned All-Conference honors in the GLIAC as a sophomore, junior and senior. She was also a great student, making the Dean’s List all four years of college.
She also has a lot more coaching experience than one would guess at her age.
She has been coaching young players and teams through the Muskegon-based Inside Out club volleyball program for about five years now. She has worked with girls of various ages as they sharpened their skills on their club teams, which compete after the fall school season.
Fairfield goes high for a kill at Ferris State.
Fairfield also spent this fall as the assistant volleyball coach at Muskegon Community College (as pictured at top of story).
As many local sports fans know, Fairfield is the daughter of Shane Fairfield, the wildly successful state champion football coach at Muskegon High School.
She was around the Big Red varsity squad a lot, from the time she was a very small child, and always played an enthusiastic role with the team, as a water girl, ball girl and tee-girl.
“I did anything I could to be involved,” she said. “The players were like my big brothers. I went to veer camp with the team when I was one-year old. My dad likes to tell the story about how I was run over during drills, but I got back up, and I have been around ever since!”
Fairfield said she closely watched her father coach over the years and learned a great deal from him.
“I learned how to communicate with athletes,” she said. “You should never make a coaching point without explaining the why. You have to make sure you are on the same page.
“I learned about building relationship with players, finding that time outside of the sport to have conversations with them and get to know them as people. I learned that when you commit to coaching you sacrifice a lot of your own time, but that’s what passion is all about. I also learned a lot about winning – it was fun.”
R-P Athletic Director Cliff Sandee believes that Fairfield is more than ready to dive in as a coach at the varsity level and make a real difference.
“Syann has been successful in every aspect of life, as a standout student-athlete at North Muskegon and Ferris State. More impressively, she has routinely made people around her more successful.
“Her playing experience at Ferris State and her coaching experience at Inside Out and at Muskegon Community College has prepared Syann to lead right away. She will develop champions in all areas of life.”
Now, as a young first-time varsity coach, Fairfield is eager to take over a team that’s going to have a ton of very young talent.
The Rockets struggled last season, but had a few talented freshmen on the varsity roster who will return and continue to develop. R-P ‘s junior varsity and freshmen teams were also very successful this fall, so there are a lot of good young players headed toward varsity very soon, and Fairfield can’t wait to work with them.
Fairfield with her Ferris State championship rings.
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"I am super excited,” she said. “I know (the returning varsity players) have put the time in and work hard and want to be great. Hearing about the success with the younger teams is also exciting, because it tells me they have bought in and know how to win.”
That being said, Fairfield cautions that it will take time to get the program where she wants to take it, so a degree of patience will be necessary.
“My biggest plan is just to approach every day a little different,” she said. ”I want us to get one percent better every day. I am not going to set unrealistic expectations. We don’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves. We are going to just keep setting mini goals and experiencing small victories and get better as people and volleyball players every day.
“But don’t worry, there will be some winning. I love to win.”