10 things you don’t know about me… Cliff Hastings

We asked the owner of Prime Time Volleyball and the Parkland Head Volleyball Coach to tell us 10 interesting facts about himself! Get to know Cliff Hastings!

1. What is something you always carry with you? my phone – although fun fact, I never talk on it — just a ton of email and texts all the time.

2. Where is your favorite place to travel to? My favorite experience was Israel from a religious experience perspective. But my favorite place I visit often is Tokyo.

3. What is the best advice you have ever received? Under-promise, over-deliver.

4. What is your most valuable (to you) possession? When I was a kid, I had a stuffed Clifford the Big Red Dog animal. I kept it all these years, and when I see it, it constantly brings back memories from when I was a kid. I remember taking him with me to get my tonsils out — and I remember taking him on the bus for my first day of kindergarten. It’s a priceless reminder of memories of hugs from my mom or the love I felt from that stuffed animal when things were tough, etc.

5. What is a movie or tv show you have watched again and again? Law & Order SVU — one would think I’d know who did what, but I never remember and love it every time.

6. What do you enjoy about your job? I probably love most that I have so many jobs and they really fulfill me in totality — software company gives me adult, stimulating conversation; Parkland volleyball gives me great opportunities to mentor young women finding themselves; Prime Time Volleyball gives me the chance to run a large organization of coaches, parents and kids.

7. What is the most unique thing you have ever dealt with your job? Around my fifth year of coaching at Parkland, I realized that we weren’t stopping to use the restroom on long trips like past teams did. I made a statement like “I’m amazed at your bladders.” A girl responded with “oh no, we just use our drink cups.” It may have been the first time in my life that I was speechless.

8. What is your favorite childhood memory? My parents and I took a water tank trailer into town to get water for our pool. It got a flat tire, and my dad was changing the tire. He asked me to help. Five minutes later, he called out for me and asked why I wasn’t helping. I told him I was. I was on top of the water tank trailer waving at the cars driving by. I truly thought that was me helping. He didn’t find it overly funny at the time, but we have a good laugh about it now.

9. What is a talent or hobby you have that may surprise people? While I used my athletic gifts post-college for coaching, I actually paid for my college through my singing and musical instrument skillsets. So I would say that my signing and then my ability to play the most random instruments known to man are my secret skills.

10. What was the best gift you have ever received for your birthday? I just got a puppy for my most recent birthday – that was not my best gift. But it did remind me of my absolute favorite which was an Oscar the Grouch alarm clock when I was 8. He would pop out of the garbage can and complain at me “Ring, ring – get up there – it’s Oscar the Grouch here, and it’s time for you to get up.” I loved that clock.