Steel Valley volleyball coach adapts on the run
(CORRECTION - This story incorrectly listed that Erik Jabs, Steel Valley's boys and girls volleyball coach, had stepped down unexpectedly one week before the season. Jabs submitted his resignation May 9th, three months before the season began, to spend more time with his family.)
There's no truth to the rumor that Gary Goga has given up basketball coaching to become a volleyball coach.
"Basketball is still my favorite sport," said Goga, who has been head boys basketball coach at Peters Township the past six years. "I've enjoyed coaching volleyball for a season, but this will most likely be my swan song."
Goga, a 12th grade English teacher at Steel Valley High School, made his volleyball coaching debut this fall ... quite unexpectedly.
"I was having a small party for some of the teachers before we started the school year and I called [Steel Valley athletic director] Shawn McCallister to invite him," Goga said. "He called me later that night and told me of a problem he had."
The high school girls volleyball season was only one week away and McCallister had yet to find a replacement for Erik Jabs, who stepped down on May 9 to spend more time with his family.
McCallister asked Goga to coach the Steel Valley girls team for the 2011 season. Goga accepted the job despite having no previous experience with volleyball.
"I had a casual knowledge of volleyball," Goga said. "I took a crash course trying to learn as much as I could. I met with the girls and explained the situation. I told them that we would have to help each other along the way. Fortunately, I have a good group of kids. They have been very receptive to the situation."
Goga was also fortunate to have Julie Miller, last year's assistant coach, return to the team.
"Julie is one of the teachers who got laid off [due to cutbacks in the state budget]," Goga said. "It was great that she came back to help coach the girls. She is familiar with all the girls, which made my job a lot easier."
Coincidentally, Goga had actually coached a few of the players previously.
"I knew a few of the kids, because I coached their powder puff football team," Goga said. "Fortunately, the transition went well."
Jabs had led Steel Valley to a pair of WPIAL playoff berths in the past three seasons.
"When I saw the talent we had coming back, I thought we would be pretty good," Goga said. "I truly thought we had a chance to qualify for the WPIAL playoffs."
That's just what the Ironmen did. Steel Valley placed third in Section 5-AA with a 6-4 record.
"We were the only team in the section to beat Elizabeth Forward," said Goga, referring to the Section 5-AA champion. "That was clearly our best match of the season."
Steel Valley was one of 21 teams that qualified for the WPIAL Class AA bracket.
The Ironmen lost to Central Valley, 3-0, Tuesday in one of five preliminary-round matches.
Goga built his squad around three players who plan to continue their career in college: 5-foot-11 senior middle hitter Breanna Gardner, 5-6 senior setter Vicky Danko and 5-8 senior right-side hitter Krystal Waller.
"Breanna has accepted a scholarship to Edinboro University," Goga said. "Vicky has committed to La Roche. Krystal wants to walk on at Tennessee State.
"Breanna is our best player. She is very explosive and strong in every phase of the game."
Others in Goga's 10-player rotation are 5-7 senior outside hitter Meghan Wolf, 5-10 junior outside hitter Kaylee Rush, 5-11 junior middle hitter Sydney Smith, 5-7 junior libero Paige Mitrik, 5-7 senior right-side hitter Jenna Kostelnik, 5-9 junior outside hitter Melissa Cerda and 5-0 sophomore backup setter Lexi Lucas.
"Erik prepared the girls well, which made my job a lot easier," Goga said. "The girls and their parents were also great. It was the perfect storm. I really enjoyed my season as a volleyball coach."
There's no truth to the rumor that Gary Goga has given up basketball coaching to become a volleyball coach.
"Basketball is still my favorite sport," said Goga, who has been head boys basketball coach at Peters Township the past six years. "I've enjoyed coaching volleyball for a season, but this will most likely be my swan song."
Goga, a 12th grade English teacher at Steel Valley High School, made his volleyball coaching debut this fall ... quite unexpectedly.
"I was having a small party for some of the teachers before we started the school year and I called [Steel Valley athletic director] Shawn McCallister to invite him," Goga said. "He called me later that night and told me of a problem he had."
The high school girls volleyball season was only one week away and McCallister had yet to find a replacement for Erik Jabs, who stepped down on May 9 to spend more time with his family.
McCallister asked Goga to coach the Steel Valley girls team for the 2011 season. Goga accepted the job despite having no previous experience with volleyball.
"I had a casual knowledge of volleyball," Goga said. "I took a crash course trying to learn as much as I could. I met with the girls and explained the situation. I told them that we would have to help each other along the way. Fortunately, I have a good group of kids. They have been very receptive to the situation."
Goga was also fortunate to have Julie Miller, last year's assistant coach, return to the team.
"Julie is one of the teachers who got laid off [due to cutbacks in the state budget]," Goga said. "It was great that she came back to help coach the girls. She is familiar with all the girls, which made my job a lot easier."
Coincidentally, Goga had actually coached a few of the players previously.
"I knew a few of the kids, because I coached their powder puff football team," Goga said. "Fortunately, the transition went well."
Jabs had led Steel Valley to a pair of WPIAL playoff berths in the past three seasons.
"When I saw the talent we had coming back, I thought we would be pretty good," Goga said. "I truly thought we had a chance to qualify for the WPIAL playoffs."
That's just what the Ironmen did. Steel Valley placed third in Section 5-AA with a 6-4 record.
"We were the only team in the section to beat Elizabeth Forward," said Goga, referring to the Section 5-AA champion. "That was clearly our best match of the season."
Steel Valley was one of 21 teams that qualified for the WPIAL Class AA bracket.
The Ironmen lost to Central Valley, 3-0, Tuesday in one of five preliminary-round matches.
Goga built his squad around three players who plan to continue their career in college: 5-foot-11 senior middle hitter Breanna Gardner, 5-6 senior setter Vicky Danko and 5-8 senior right-side hitter Krystal Waller.
"Breanna has accepted a scholarship to Edinboro University," Goga said. "Vicky has committed to La Roche. Krystal wants to walk on at Tennessee State.
"Breanna is our best player. She is very explosive and strong in every phase of the game."
Others in Goga's 10-player rotation are 5-7 senior outside hitter Meghan Wolf, 5-10 junior outside hitter Kaylee Rush, 5-11 junior middle hitter Sydney Smith, 5-7 junior libero Paige Mitrik, 5-7 senior right-side hitter Jenna Kostelnik, 5-9 junior outside hitter Melissa Cerda and 5-0 sophomore backup setter Lexi Lucas.
"Erik prepared the girls well, which made my job a lot easier," Goga said. "The girls and their parents were also great. It was the perfect storm. I really enjoyed my season as a volleyball coach."
volleyball