Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2008

Wuller steps down as Althoff volleyball coach

Informed players during meeting at school Monday

BELLEVILLE -- A torturous decision nearly a year in the making became a realization Monday for Kathy Wuller.

Wuller, 43, announced her resignation as varsity girls volleyball coach at perennial state power Althoff High School. After 13 wildly successful seasons -- which included five Final Four appearances at the state tournament -- Wuller said the stress of the position had beaten her down.

"I'm tired," Wuller said. "You do this job correctly and it's a full-time job. That's what it's been for me. When it gets to a point where you feel like you're not real excited to go to practice anymore -- which is where I got to be --it's time to go.

"I still did it and I still had fun, but it's just hard to go to practice six days a week and all the travel that we do. It gets harder and harder every year. I feel like it's a good time for me to leave because the program is in such good shape that whoever comes in is inheriting great teams. That was an important thing for me. I didn't want to leave the cupboard bare."

Wuller informed her players of her decision in a team meeting Monday morning. Althoff Principal Dave Harris and Athletic Director Al Foppe also were present.

"There were tears. Shock," Wuller said. "It was real quiet. It was hard and emotional for them and for me. It was one of the hardest things I've ever done."

But it was something she felt needed to be done for the health of the program and her own mental well-being.

"I debated on whether or not to come back this year," Wuller said. "I did it because I just wasn't 100 percent sure. I don't think I came off in practice feeling tired. The girls had no idea. In fact, I think they're shocked.

"In my heart I knew I was finished. They need to find somebody that is 100 percent motivated to take over a program like this. These kids have so much to offer and this program has so much to offer."

A 1983 graduate of Althoff --where she earned All-State honors as a senior -- Wuller compiled a 394-101 record in 13 seasons with the Crusaders, who made a six trips to the state tournament under Wuller. Althoff finished second in 1999, third in 2001, fourth in 2003 (all in Class AA), third in 2004 (in Class A) and fourth in 2007 (Class 3A). Althoff lost in the quarterfinals of the 2006 Class AA tournament.

Under Wuller, the Crusaders have won 11 straight regional titles dating back to 1998, and seven sectional championships. Twenty-three players under Wuller went on to play college volleyball.

"These are going to be hard shoes to fill," Harris said. "When you start looking at the best Southern Illinois volleyball coaches, you're looking at Charlie Rodman, Fred Rakers and Kathy Wuller. We think we're losing one of the best in the state."

This year, the Crusaders -- who began the season ranked No. 46 nationally by www.prepvolleyball.com --finished 33-4 after a loss to Mater Dei in the semifinals of the Class 3A Salem Sectional.

Wuller said the loss to Mater Dei, a team Althoff had beaten twice during the regular season, had nothing to do with her decision to resign.

Instead, it had everything to do with being on the verge of burnout, plus the desire to see her grandchildren grow up. Wuller is married to Thomas Wuller and has two stepchildren, Sean and Lauren. She has one granddaughter and a grandson due to Sean (who lives in Omaha, Neb.) and his wife, Amanda, in January.

"I've never been able to have kids and these girls have always been my kids," Wuller said. "Now I'm fortunate enough to have my stepchildren having grandkids for me right now. I want to be part of their life.

"My family is very important to me. It feel that I'm starting a new phase in my life and it's time. I don't want to look back at it and say 'I wish I would have been around when my grandkids were 1 and 2 years old.'"

Wuller reiterated how important it was for her to leave the program on the upswing. The Crusaders will again be loaded next year with the return of junior setter/outside hitter Carly Thomas, Wuller's niece; sophomore setter Hillary Keltner and sophomore middle blocker Me'Ashah Nicholson.

Harris said Wuller's replacement will be culled from an exhaustive search for the best possible candidate.

"The thing we need to do is look and see who is the best person to keep this program going in the direction Kathy has it," Harris said. "My goal is to put in the best coach for the position. If that's in-house, it's in-house. If it's out-of-house, it's out-of-house."

Wuller wasn't sure if any of her talented assistant coaches -- Steve Mueth, Matt Biegler, Christy Gundlach and Stacy Larkin -- would be interested in the position.

"I think they're all quite happen being assistants," Wuller said. "I'm confident the school will be very sure of finding somebody who is very capable of taking over this role."

Contact reporter Rod Kloeckner at rkloeckner@bnd.com or 239-2663.