In 1998, Fran Flory became the LSU volleyball head coach. 20 years later, that hasn’t changed. But right before she became the Tigers’ head coach, she became a mother, on a night she’d never forget.
“I was coaching at Kentucky. It was UK-University of Louisville, which is the biggest match of the year of course,” Fran Flory said. “Right before the match I knew I started labor. I thought well, I could probably make it through the match. So, we made it through the match and we were ok and she arrived healthy.”
Fast forward 20 years, and she’s a little more than healthy. Lindsay Flory is six-feet tall, a junior in college and an important part of the LSU volleyball team, being coached by none other than her own mom.
“You can’t really tell like we are mom and daughter,” Lindsay said. “When we’re in here, in the gym, in the office, it’s always ‘coach.’ Unless I’m leaving the office. Then I’m like ‘ok I’ll go call grandma.’” 
But going from mother and daughter to becoming player and coach wasn’t an easy transition.
“Coming in I was really nervous about how the team would like react to it,” Lindsay said. “I didn’t want them to be like, ‘oh, she’s only on the team because of her mom.’ I didn’t know how they’d react.” 
“I think I probably at times, especially her freshman year, went crazy the other way,” Fran said. “I was probably harder on her. I probably demanded a little more, I was harsher with my words and my emotion.”
But now Lindsay has established herself as a key piece of this LSU volleyball team. But that’s not the only reason her mom – or coach, rather – is proud of her. 
“I see a super independent woman,” Fran said. “She turned 21 this week. I can’t imagine that I have a 21-year old child. Where did the time go for me?”