Meet Tina Seals: Inspirational Coach and Leader

Inspirational Women Series created by Tracey S. Yang Article #1 with Tina Seals

Tina Seals is a prominent and influential coach and the owner of Level Elite Sports, LLC. She founded Level Elite Sports in 2009 with the help of Brian Smith. Level Elite Sports is a sports volleyball elite training opportunity and program that is designed for the purpose of mentoring young athletes. Not only does she have a desire to help promote mentoring opportunities to improve the lives of young ladies off the court, but she also works to develop scholarship opportunities for them. During Tina Seals’s overall coaching career, she has helped over 70 of her players achieve a college scholarship.

Not only has she been successful in her ownership of Level Elite Sports, but she has also succeeded as a college coach as well. For 12 years, she coached at NWSCC in Muscle Shoals, AL when during this time, her teams claimed 7 state titles and also appeared in seven national tournaments. Besides coaching at NWSCC, she also coached at Mississippi State University as a head coach during the years 2004 until 2008. For those years, she helped bring her teams to have the third-most wins in State history. One of her most recent accomplishments was being inducted into the Mississippi State University Athletic Hall of Fame in September of 2019.

1.) What have you learned in the past that you would now tell your younger self?

Don’t be intimidated by others so much. There will always be those that make you feel that way. Believe in yourself, work hard, and trust God to take care of the rest. Remember who you are in Christ.

2.) You were inducted into the Hall of Fame at Mississippi State University in September of 2019. Tell me more about your experience on this day of induction?

I was surprised by the induction because there are so many other well-deserving athletes. The day was amazing and one I will always remember. The best thing of all to me was being able to share it with family and friends. God definitely blessed my effort and hard work with this Hall of Fame honor.

3.) I see that you have an engineering degree. Why did you choose the career choice of coaching instead of engineering?

I began working as a Civil Engineer immediately after graduating from Mississippi State University. I was working at a nuclear power plant dealing with the various modification of structures needed to restart the reactors. Even though I felt highly successful and was making great money, I didn’t feel like I was making an impact in the world. It was at that time when I decided I would rather spend my time working with young people instead of modifying structures.

4.) Do you have any other pieces of advice that you would like to give other coaches that are just starting out in their career?

Support is crucial. Don’t be afraid to reach out in order to find mentors that will give you wisdom on and off the court. Always remember that your worth doesn’t come from your success or failures as a coach, but rather from a relationship with Christ.

5.) Others tell me that you are such a great person. I also hear others bragging about how much you have helped their children in life. How does this make you feel?

There have been so many people who have invested in me. They encouraged, mentored, provided needed funds, taught me skills, and most importantly, prayed for me. It is because of them that I am where I am today. I learned first hand what a difference a person can make in the life of others. It’s important to me to use the abilities, resources, and knowledge that God has given me to make a difference in the lives of others.

6.) You are the Founder of Level Elite Sports. Tell me more about your company.

Level Elite Sports has two locations with one being in Columbus, MS area and the other in the Florence, AL area. We primarily focus on volleyball, but we have also worked with softball and baseball in the past. We have been blessed to have a great coaching staff throughout the years, and this season has been no exception. We had twenty volleyball teams between the two locations while also having tournaments scheduled to play in four states throughout the season.

7.) Many kids through Level Elite Sports have received scholarships while under your leadership. How does this make you feel?

I grew up in a family with six children. I was the first to be able to get a college degree, and I would not have been able to do so without the blessing of a volleyball scholarship to Mississippi State. Not only did the scholarship provide the funds for an engineering degree, but it provided an environment where I was nurtured and pushed to excel. Therefore, I am overjoyed to see athletes receive college scholarships. Not only do I feel overjoyed for them to receive money, but I also love seeing them obtain the supervision, friendships, and discipline that comes along with being a part of a collegiate team.

8.) What motivates you as a coach?

I’m deeply passionate about coaching, and coaching is something that I feel God has called me to do.

9.) Do you think volleyball can improve life skills? If so, why do you think that is?

I think any sport teaches valuable life skills as long as you allow it to. It can teach teamwork, problem-solving, communication skills, how to push through adversity, discipline, time management, how to work hard, as well as many other valuable life skills. Volleyball teaches life skills because you must learn how to do these things in order to be successful.

10.) Do you have any pieces of advice for players who have just started playing volleyball?

Volleyball is a great sport! It has the ability to help you meet and make lifelong friends as well as take you places you have never dreamed of. As my husband always says, “If you work hard enough and long enough, something good will come out of it.” So, my advice is, work hard, learn the life lessons it will bring your way, be a team player, and see where this sport will take you.

This article is a part of a series that is created and written by Tracey S. Yang called the Inspirational Women Series. This series is used to highlight and showcase inspirational women across the globe. Tracey S. Yang’s inspiration for this series came from the book Power Up, Super Women: Stories of Courage and Empowerment where she, in the book, is also one of the women coauthors.

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