By Rich Palzewic
Sports Editor
SUAMICO – Bay Port High School has hired a new volleyball coach.
With former head coach Brendan Baier stepping down, the school hired Thi Barbosa to lead the squad.
Barbosa was an assistant coach this past season for the Pirates and has more than 13 years of coaching experience at various levels.
“I am really excited and grateful for the opportunity to lead the Bay Port volleyball team,” said Barbosa. “I would like to thank Bay Port High School Principal Mike Frieder and Activities Director Brian Matz for the confidence in me, and for all the support during this process. Also, I would like to thank Brendan for guiding me during this transition time. We have incredible athletes and I am excited to see what we can accomplish next season.”
Baier led the Pirates to their only-ever regional crown in 2017 before falling in the sectional semifinals.
“Brendan did a great job with the program and left it in a high standard,” Barbosa said. “To help the team reach the next level, we can continue to improve their technical game, but it will also be important to work on their teamwork, composure and consistency.”
Barbosa has the long-term goal to work with the Bay View Middle School program to help them develop the athletes.
“My coaching philosophy also includes the idea that the technical development of an athlete should be connected to their personal development,” said Barbosa. “It’s also important to me that the athletes become good citizens and can take the volleyball lessons to improve their personal lives.
Prior to his time at Bay Port, Barbosa played professionally in Europe for one year when he was 18 and also played collegiately in Brazil.
After his playing days were complete, he began his coaching career.
“I started my career as a coach in Brazil,” Barbosa noted. “When I moved to the United States, I had the opportunity to be a volunteer assistant coach at West Virginia University for three years. It was an amazing experience to coach in a big school with a great volleyball program, and to play in the Big 12 conference. Also, in 2017, I was the assistant coach at UW-Green Bay, where I helped the team reach the championship match of the Horizon League Tournament and the quarterfinal round of the National Invitational Volleyball Championship.”
Barbosa resides in Green Bay with his wife, Jana Fogaca, and their daughter Alice.