Jack Coberly's legacy shall live on

photo by Amy Babin

Jack Coberly, men's volleyball coach, is saying farewell to the University of La Verne. This was his last season coaching here. He is going to continue his career as a personal trainer, and he may coach high school volleyball in the future.

by Antonette Manabat
Staff Writer

His office was filled with articles, pictures, volleyballs and videotapes. Only two items stood out. One was a framed picture in the center of the far wall: a picture of a proud volleyball team with big letters that shouted out, "ULV 1999 Div. III Men's National Volleyball Champions."

The other was a volleyball sitting on the desk signed with appreciation by University of La Verne men's volleyball alumni. The two represented Jack Coberly's accomplishments in the six years of coaching men's volleyball at ULV: success and respect.

Two other things also stood out in the room: the past and the future of men's volleyball. Both faces, though, seem to look similar. Coberly talks about the past as his son, Morgan Coberly, walks around the room representing the future.

As Coberly ends his ULV coaching career, Morgan Coberly is beginning his as he repeatedly asks his dad to help him with his résumé.

One thing is certain: the future of men's volleyball is not blurry, as Coberly's vision and coaching style has inspired others to continue, even if it has to be without him.

Coberly has been coaching since 1970. He has coached at the elementary, junior high, high school and college levels. Although he decided to end his coaching career at ULV, he has no desire to retire from coaching.

"I love coaching, it's been a part of my life for a long time," Coberly said. "I've seen a lot of the world because of volleyball."

Coberly's decision was due to a combination of time commitment and money.

"La Verne doesn't pay an adequate salary for as long as our season is," Coberly said.

Coberly recently got married last year and values the time spent with his wife. He said that he is keeping his ears open for a coaching job that pays well but has less time commitment.

"I still feel physically and emotionally ready to continue coaching," Coberly said.

Coberly originally came to ULV to coach Morgan Coberly's last year of volleyball. Coberly said that he walked away from his job in Colorado, where he had a business called Boulder's Sports Massage.

"When I first got here, I wasn't planning to coach for six years. I honestly didn't know how long I would be coaching here," Coberly said.

The year before Coberly arrived to coach, the men's volleyball team had a record of 3-23. In 1998, Coberly's first year of coaching, the Leopards were selected to participate in the Division III National Championships, where they finished second.

In Coberly's second year, the Leopards were again invited to the National Championships, as they won the first ever men's volleyball championship and the fifth in ULV school history.

In his last year as head coach, the Leopards finished 12-17 on the season. In Coberly's final match, ULV defeated Stevens Institute of Technology in the consolation match of the Molten Div. III Championship. The Leopards finished third in the tournament.

The ULV men's volleyball program has developed into a well-respected Division III team. Their schedule has Division I opponents such as USC, UC Santa Barbara, Pepperdine, Loyola Marymount and the University of the Pacific. It wasn't always like that, though; ULV had to earn respect.

Coberly explained that in the beginning, the referees treated them differently than the Division I teams.

"They would call things on us that they wouldn't call on them just because they thought we couldn't do high-skilled moves like a Division I team can," Coberly said. That all changed and ULV got its recognition.

"Most Division I schools see us as their equals; we simply have a lot of respect at the national level," Coberly said. "If you ask any men's volleyball team in the country about a Division III team, and they will mention La Verne."

He feels they are very successful in developing the talent that they get. Coberly has definitely built a program and a family since he took over as head coach.

"There was no assistant coach when I got here, but after that year, players started coming back and becoming my assistant coach," Coberly said. "That is what's really gratifying in this job."

One of those players that came back was Morgan Coberly.

Morgan Coberly started off as an assistant coach his first four years and became associate head coach this year. He is now the main candidate for head coach to replace his dad.

"It's sad for me and the program to see him leave, he's done so much for the program, more than what you could put on paper, in such a short amount of time," Morgan Coberly said. "Hopefully it will continue to be in good hands."

Morgan Coberly has been able to coach with his dad for five years, and it is a lot different from the days his dad was coaching him.

"[Coberly] has such a wealth of knowledge of the game; to sit there for five years soaking that up was a great experience that I never got as a player," Morgan Coberly said.

Morgan Coberly realizes the shoes he has to fill but isn't worried, considering a lot of his goals and visions of the game are the same as his dad's.

"My dad was never just about X's and O's. He wasn't just about coaching," Morgan Coberly said. "He gave us the chance to learn life lessons through volleyball."

"He's always been a great coach, teacher and friend," said Nate Silva, who ended his four-year career at ULV under Coberly this year.

Morgan Coberly explained that Coberly would read different quotes from various books before each game.

He pulled a copy of "The Lost Art of War" and said that Coberly would read quotes from the book and make connections to volleyball and life.

Coberly would also read quotes from books written by different coaches from all different sports.

"To me the best part of coaching is to see the kids play and love the sport," Coberly said.

Coberly saw a lot of that in his teams throughout his coaching career.

"We've developed a sense of tradition and we've always had a team that is very close on and off the court," Coberly said. "I'll miss seeing the guys hang out."

As Coberly admits to what he misses the most, Morgan Coberly sits in front of the TV watching one out of a stack of volleyball tapes, as he gets ready for next season.

"The thing I'll miss the most is coaching with my son. It's been a gift that most dads don't have," Coberly said. "I feel very blessed."

As Coberly's season was ending, he was exposed to what was really important throughout his volleyball coaching career. At senior night, the seniors were not the only ones honored.

The volleyball that sat on his desk was signed that day by the alumni; all of them also came to the middle of the court to give Coberly a hug of respect and admiration.

"It is important as a coach to know he's thought of," Coberly said. "It was very meaningful."

Although Coberly is leaving, he is not turning his back to the school. He looks back at it with fondness and great memories.

"I'll miss the whole small school atmosphere," Coberly said. "I truly like La Verne."

He also looks into the future with bright hopes for the volleyball team.

"I would love to see our school and athletic department, without hesitation, support the men's volleyball team," Coberly said.

Coberly said that the men's team should not be set apart from the other sports because it is not in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and that he hopes the President of La Verne and the new athletic director will back the team up 110 percent.

And, of course, Coberly has a message for the returning and new players.

"To the guys coming back to the program, continue to work hard for the new coach," Coberly said.

"Jack is leaving the program in very capable hands," Silva said. "It should be a seamless transition."

Coberly also added that he hopes when Division III volleyball has a National Collegiate Athletic Association Championship, La Verne will be there.

As the interview ended with Coberly, he stood up from his chair, said thank you and the past walked out of the room. Morgan then sat on his chair; it is now his turn.