Geoff Mott
Sports Scene
ST. LOUIS – Gary Stanglewicz ranks third among active Michigan high school volleyball coaches in all-time wins, amassing a 1,200-428-112 record in 29 years as the varsity volleyball coach at St. Louis.
The 55-year-old enters his 30th season with a pair of state championships in 1999 and 2001 and a runner-up finish in 2010. The Sharks have reached the semifinals five times under Stanglewicz and have won 10 regional titles, 23 district crowns, and 20 league championships between the Central State Activities Association and the Tri-Valley West.
Even with that long list of accomplishments, the 2005 Michigan Interscholastic Volleyball Coaches Association Hall of Fame inductee feels there could be more accomplishments on the list. But that’s not why he coaches.
“I think if I was a little bit better of a coach, we would have won four state championships,” he said. “Those titles are certainly highlights, and there’s lots of high points there, but there are other things too. I get great pleasure out of watching these girls develop and grow as young women.”
Stanglewicz really enjoys when former players remain committed to the game. One of his best players, Monica Paul, continues a beach volleyball career in Florida while she is in her 30s. Former players Sara Bissell and Bonnie Girard serve as the eighth grade and junior varsity coaches, respectively, at St. Louis, while former player Kristi Herrington (Lippert) is a successful coach at Mount Pleasant High School.
“She was a phenomenal player and an even better coach,” said Stanglewicz of Lippert, whose teams have already split decisions this year. “I definitely can’t take credit for that. I’ve run across players coaching at different schools and playing in leagues. Monica Paul is still playing and is in great shape. I always like it when players stay involved in volleyball. Somehow it makes me feel like I didn’t ruin them for life.”
Returning all-stater Bri Alspaugh has started for three seasons at St. Louis. When the momentum is lost and the team is struggling in the heat of the moment, Alspaugh says that Stanglewicz takes a direct approach to remedy the situation.
“He doesn’t sugarcoat anything, and that’s a good thing,” Alspaugh said. “He gives us key advice, tells us what the problem is and how to fix it. Then we can go out and win games. Most of the time he’s really positive, but he’ll let us know when things are going wrong.”
With the program’s high expectations, varsity players train in volleyball nearly year round. But Stanglewicz keeps practices competitive, and it relates to play on the court according to Alspaugh.
“We play lots of games in practice,” Alspaugh said. “We have six-on-six, middle hitter versus middle hitter, and ‘All-goes’. He keeps track of wins, and at the end of the year somebody wins the Competitive Cauldron Cup. You get your name on a plaque that’s displayed in the trophy case.
“He makes volleyball fun.”
Brooke Tubbs learned the game on the fly as a freshman on varsity during the Sharks’ run to a Class C state runner-up finish in 2010. Stanglewicz gives responsibility to his veteran players to help prepare younger teammates.
“I like the fact that he pushes us hard,” Tubbs said. “He pushes us every day to improve. It was nerve-racking to play as a freshman on varsity, but the girls really helped me learn the ropes. Now we have a freshman [Jaelin Block], and we are teaching her now. We try and help her know what coach expects of us and what we have to do to get better.”
Stanglewicz has found that steady improvement of a team is key once the postseason pressure arrives. “Our expectations are that we continue to improve, because if you aren’t getting better, those other schools are, and they are looking to beat you. We’re ranked high, and teams are excited for that chance. You have to play at a high level at all times.”
Stanglewicz said expectations in girls’ athletics have changed drastically since he started coaching.
“Expectations weren’t high back then, because you didn’t have girls playing volleyball when they were four or five years old,” Stanglewicz said. “The girls are more athletic now. I have to work hard to stay ahead of these kids.
“You want the girls to work hard and you never want them to outwork you. If they work hard for two hours, I have to work hard for three hours.”
Stanglewicz has taught at St. Louis Public Schools and retired last spring before returning to teaching this year. He’ll continue coaching as long as he has something to contribute to the program.
“I love to coach, and I’d love to continue coaching,” Stanglewicz said. “I still feel I have something to offer, and as long as I continue to give the girls a positive experience, I want to be here.”