PREP VOLLEYBALL: Mr. 1,000

FORT SMITH -- Steve Haaser's reaction to his 1,000 career volleyball coaching victory wasn't any different from the other 999 wins.

He cracked a smile, applauded his team's performance and got up out of his chair on the bench to greet his Fort Smith Southside team.

His Mavericks players and fans gathered around afterward to congratulate the longtime coach on his accomplishment, but Haaser more focused on his team.

The Mavericks won the Volley in the Valley tournament over the weekend in Russellville, notching his milestone win in the finals and followed that with a three-set sweep against Little Rock Central on Tuesday in 7A-Central play.

"I'm glad to achieve it, glad it's come," Haaser said. "It was kinda the elephant in the room for a while. Now, I'm glad we can focus on this season and end up doing the best we can this season.

"It's not something I've been dwelling on or trying to achieve. These girls and this team this year is what it's all about."

It hasn't seemed to have any negative effect on his team as the Mavericks improved to 17-2 with Tuesday's win and ran their winning streak to 14 straight matches.

Lindsey Biocic, a Southside graduate who played for Haaser and is now head volleyball coach at Rogers Heritage, said that calm demeanor is something she remembers about her former coach.

"As a player, it's kind of comforting," Biocic said. "No matter what the score or the situation you know it's going to be the same kind of environment. I really think it rubs off on his players and helps keep them calm. It's something I strive for one day."

Haaser, who has guided teams to 17 state titles including eight in volleyball, said he's only calm on the outside.

"I'm not calm on the inside, I can promise you that," Haaser said. "It's a great job. We've been blessed with great girls, great families and parents. The girls, by the time we get them, they're pretty serious about volleyball and you don't have to do a lot of coaching or motivating."

Natalie Throneberry, another of Haaser's former players, sees a different side of Haaser as she's now in her ninth season as his assistant coach.

"He likes to do a lot of hard work, but he doesn't like recognition," Throneberry said. "He's a players' coach. You know from the day you start, you're one of his girls. And no matter if you're the first person off the bench or the last person off the bench, he's gonna love you and take care of you."

Haaser admits he had thoughts of being a football coach when he took a job coaching girls basketball, volleyball and track at Southside in 1979. He even volunteered with the football program for a couple of years, but he was passed over when a football coaching spot came open.

Instead, former longtime Fort Smith athletic director Jim Rowland hired Barry Lunney, who went on to win more than 200 games and eight state titles.

"I thought 'Hmm, I see where this is going," Haaser said with laugh. "Years later I didn't feel too bad losing out to Barry Lunney."

It's still worked out well for Haaser. He's guided teams to state titles in volleyball (8), basketball (3) and track (4), as well as winning a pair of Overall state basketball titles. Haaser also coached baseball, the sport in which he excelled in school, helping St. Anne's Academy in Fort Smith to a pair of state baseball titles in 1967 and '68, and also played at Arkansas.

Volleyball has been the one constant throughout his career at Southside. His overall record of 1,001-238 ranks first in Arkansas in number of wins, long surpassing the 783 by Glenda Patterson of Jonesboro Westside according to the Arkansas Activities Association record book.

Reaching 1,000 wins is something that's pretty rare nationally, too, according to Brad Wilson of the American Volleyball Coaches' Association. The National Federation of High Schools web site showed 17 coaches with 1,000 or more wins, but Wilson said there are definitely more that have reached that plateau that aren't listed. He thought the figure was less than 40 though.

Haaser said the sport of volleyball has changed like other sports with the increase in the athleticism of the players.

"It was a simple game you rotated along the line like in P.E," Haaser said. "But today the game is so fast. It's a great spectator sport. A lot of my enjoyment comes from watching the girls and the passion and the fun they have playing the game."

Throneberry's still not sure exactly what's made Haaser so successful, but making sure the players have ownership is one key, Throneberry said.

"I think the kids respect him and don't want to let him down," Throneberry said. "When you have a relationship with a coach, you play way outside your abilities some time."

Haaser will turn 67 before this season's over, but he's not ready to call it quits. At least not right now.

"I still love what I'm doing," Haaser said. "I'm not burned out or anything like that. For at least a couple years now, we've been looking forward to getting this group of sophomores. We also have four who are three-year starters and two others who played some as sophomores. It's a good mix of talent."

Haaser will, for now, concentrate on helping his Mavericks try to make a run at another state title.

Sports on 09/20/2018