After traveling almost 30,000 miles in five months, Jon Newman-Gonchar is finally settling into his new job at Iowa State.

ISU coach Christy Johnson-Lynch hired Newman-Gonchar as a recruiting coordinator and assistant coach in February. After spending the first part of his job recruiting across the country, Newman-Gonchar began coaching this preseason.

“He’s just brought a lot of really great ideas. I was kind of looking for that,” Johnson-Lynch said. “After awhile you get a little stale and you want someone to kind of bring in some new ideas and challenge your thinking a little bit, and I think he’s done that.”

So far this year, Newman-Gonchar has primarily been working with the middle blockers. Johnson-Lynch said she has already seen improvement from players at that position.

Newman-Gonchar wants to work with the middle blockers more on the mental part of their game this season. He said the middle blockers should be able to read and react to their opponents and make adjustments during matches.

“[The middle blockers are] going to be interpreting what they see on the other side of the net, and they’re going to be making decisions based off the information they’re reading as opposed to committing one way or the other,” Newman-Gonchar said.

Newman-Gonchar envisions one of those middle blockers, senior Tenisha Matlock, as being an important part of his new system.

So far this season, Matlock has had four solo blocks and 13 total blocks in five matches. Newman-Gonchar thinks she could be a prominent player in the Big 12 this season.

“Tenisha Matlock should be an all-Big 12 selection, or she could be pushing on the envelope of being an elite player in this country and in this conference,” Newman-Gonchar said. “A big goal of mine is how can I help her get there.”

Since Newman-Gonchar arrived at Iowa State, the Cyclones have averaged 1.6 blocks per set this season. Iowa State has 29.5 total team blocks in the first five matches.

“To me, I sense more confidence; [the middle blockers] are sure about what they’re doing,” Johnson-Lynch said. “Tenisha [Matlock is] playing as well I’ve seen her play, and I think that’s a reflection of some of the work he’s done.”

Before arriving at Iowa State, Newman-Gonchar was an assistant coach at Loyola Marymount. Since then, he has become well liked by the players he’s coaching here.

“We really like him here. He’s really helpful,” said freshman Maria Fruechte. “He’s really good with the blocking and the footwork and stuff, so I know he’s been really helpful.”