CENTERBURG — After many successful years, Kathy Stevens is stepping down as head coach of the Centerburg High School volleyball team. Stevens finished up her second stint as head coach of the Trojans this past season, and will now move on to become a full-time fan.
“I will take a lot of good memories with me,” Stevens said. “I shared a lot of time with the athletes who have gone through the program. I have even had player’s kids come through now. It’s been a lot of fun watching the generations come through. I think we have had some very successful teams. A lot of our kids have gone on to be coaches and are having a lot of success now. I think the thing I have enjoyed the most is watching the athletes we have had grow into quality adults.”
Stevens was at the reins of many successful Trojan volleyball teams, including a team that visited the state final four. Stevens maintains close contact with many of the players she has impacted as the coach throughout her tenure.
“I still have a lot of contact with our players,” said Stevens. “When they are getting ready for their first game or they have something that they are nervous about, I get a text message or a call from one of them, almost like they just want to hear your voice and get that reassurance. They want to make that contact and share that experience with you. That’s a really neat thing to have happen.
“It’s been a great experience for me and a lot of the kids that have gone through,” Stevens continued. “I hope other kids will have that fun and the great memories and laughs that we have had over the years. I will always be there to support the girls. It’s been great watching the program improve over the years.”
Stevens brought about a tradition in Centerburg of great volleyball teams. Her daughter was on the 2003 state champion team, and Stevens was a integral part of instilling the tradition that Centerburg brings to every one of its volleyball seasons. She now faces the translation from coach to fan, but there is no doubt she will continue to support the girls of Centerburg.
“You hope you have impacted kids through out your career,” said Stevens. “It’s funny how many times I might be thinking of a kid and all of a sudden I hear from them. I think I will always miss coaching when that time of the year comes around, I’ll always think about it. I hope the program will go to good hands and that the tradition will continue on.”
