2011 NHSCA Volleyball Coach of the Year Fred Rakers on Sunday's Sports Hour

by Jeff Fisher
Host, NHSCA Sports Hour

Fred Rakers' 35-year career as the girls' volleyball coach at Mater Dei High School in Breese, Illinois came to a close at the end of this past season, ending what was one of the most incredible runs in Illinois' high school sports history.

Tomorrow, Rakers, who was named the National High School Coaches Association's 2011 Volleyball Coach of the Year, will join Trish Hoffman and myself on the NHSCA Sports Hour to talk about his career that included six championships and an overall record of 1,046-200-7.

Rakers ranks second on the state's all-time wins list behind Peg Kopec of Wheaton St. Francis School.  Kopec was the NHSCA's 2008 Coach of the Year.

Mater Dei, who will be coached next season by Fred's son Chad, who's been an assistant for the Knights, sent its longtime coach out on a high note when the Knights beat Joliet Catholic for state's 3A state title.  Mater Dei finished 41-1 and ranked #26 nationally by PrepVolleyball.com.

Here's a look back at past NHSCA Volleyball Coaches of the Year...

2010 - Laurie LaRusso - Darien HS, Darien, CT
2009 - Jan Stanley - West Henderson, Hendersonville, NC
2008 - Peg Kopec - St. Francis School, Wheaton, IL
2007 - Steve Shondell - Burris Laboratory School, Muncie, IN
2006 - Louise Crocco - Cardinal Gibbons HS, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
2005 - Brenda LeBlanc - St. Joseph's Academy, Baton Rouge, LA
2004 - Lee Grisham - Wimberley HS, Wimberly, TX
2003 - Amie Meyer - Ursuline Academy, Cincinnati, OH
2002 - Jan Barker - Amarillo HS, Amarillo, TX
2001 - John Knuth - Marysville HS, Marysville, MI
2000 - Larry Trupe - Torrey Pines HS, Encinitas, CA

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