The call came on a Tuesday, three weeks after the state championship, and Leo almost didn't answer.
He was sitting in his office, Marcus's notebook open on his desk, a stack of recruiting forms in front of him. The new season was months away, but the work never stopped. There were players to scout, schedules to plan, parents to meet.
His phone buzzed. An unknown number. He let it go to voicemail.
It buzzed again. Same number.
He answered. “Coach Cruz.”
“Coach Cruz, this is Athletic Director Patricia Holloway from Crestmont University.”
Leo's heart stopped. Crestmont. His alma mater. The place where he'd won two national championships.
“I'm calling to discuss a potential opportunity,” Holloway continued. “Our head men's volleyball coach is retiring after twenty-three seasons. We're l
