Nov. 6, 2007

by Jeff Smith
Contributor, BigTen.org

Looking back on his career as head coach of the Ohio State women's volleyball team, Jim Stone has experienced several changes to the sport that has helped make up most of his life. Some of those changes, such as attendance and method of travel, have been good for the sport, but changes in the recruiting process have not. On July 31, 2008, Stone will officially retire from coaching after 26 years, which will undoubtedly give Buckeye volleyball its most significant change yet.

When he first arrived to Columbus in 1982, volleyball was beginning its first official season under the NCAA umbrella, one year prior to the Big Ten sponsoring the sport. The program at Ohio State was yet to be fully funded and the team practiced and competed in a nearby recreational gym, often booted from the court for an intramural basketball game. Men's and women's sports were not viewed equally then, and perhaps they still aren't. But with the help of Title IX legislation and an increase in participation, women's sports started to gain support from not only athletics administrators but from the community as well.

"Mindsets were changing," said Stone. "Sometimes you would see the addition of a scholarship, or more equipment, or even more time on the practice court. Ohio State moved us to St. John Arena early on, where they had control over practice times and availability."

The overall growth of women's sports and volleyball in particular is what Stone points to as one of the great changes he has experienced over the last quarter-century. He admits that life is much easier now hopping on a charter plane and flying to matches across Big Ten country, rather than piling 15 players and coaches into vans as they did in the early years. Stone is quick to point out the influx in attendance figures and how much better the game is played in front of the average 3,000 to 5,000 fans in conference play compared to the 50-75 diehards that used to attend the matches in the 1980s.

Throughout his career, Stone has enjoyed a number of successful seasons and has coached several national standouts. To date, his record at Ohio State is 535-290 (.648) overall and is 196-172 (.533) in Big Ten play. His 1989, 1991 and 1994 squads earned conference championships, while the latter two teams advanced to the NCAA national semifinals as well. In the last 18 NCAA Championships, the Buckeyes have been a participant 15 times.

Laura Davis and Stacey Gordon were AVCA National Players of the Year, in addition to being two of Stone's 22 All-Americans. In the Big Ten, Stone has seen his kids win six Player of the Year awards, six Freshman of the Year honors and a total of 59 All-conference accolades.

A four-time Big Ten Coach of the Year, Stone was also named the Asics/Volleyball Monthly National Coach of the Year in 1991 and has earned regional distinctions four times as well.

"One team that was really special to me was our first Big Ten Championship team in 1989, because of the year before when those same kids finished seventh in the league," Stone said. "They took a challenge, they changed things and their behavior, and worked hard. To go from seventh to first was very satisfying to me and memorable to those players."

The Buckeyes were 8-10 in conference play and 14-16 overall in 1989, but rebounded to finish 16-2 in the Big Ten with a 27-7 overall mark. A similar occurrence happened more recently when OSU's 11-17 team from 2003 responded with a 30-4 record the following year.

With every long-tenured coach comes the proverbial peaks and valleys. For Stone, who is the third-longest tenured coach at Ohio State behind men's golf coach Jim Brown and diving coach Vince Panzano, he too has had to deal with the low points.

The Buckeyes' nine-year streak of 20 wins or more ended in 1998 with a 17-14 record, which was then followed by two seasons of vacated records due to violations. Stone's overall winning percentage of 65 percent is a little skewed seeing that the forfeited mark of the 1999 and 2000 teams was a combined 1-56.

"It takes the support of the administration when you are in a valley," Stone said. "We have had our valleys and they have always shown faith in me that we can turn it around. Ohio State allowed me to work through the rough spots over the 26 years and I am truly indebted to them."

Recruiting has become part of the job that Stone does not enjoy as much. The process of luring a high school senior used to be fun for him. The talented prospect would come in for a visit as a senior and if she enjoyed her stay, a scholarship was offered. Today, the recruiting game is far different. Just recently the method of recruiting was via text messaging. Now several coaches are "myspacing" potential recruits for background or lifestyle checks and using the medium to communicate with the kids in a way that is comfortable and convenient for them.

"(The process) has changed dramatically and now in our sport, you have to offer scholarships to ninth and tenth graders. I'm not sure that it is a positive," Stone said. "You are almost forced to go through high school or club coaches now instead of the recruit or her parents. That process right now, I don't enjoy at all."

But don't judge Stone as one who does not care about his recruits. In fact, he made his retirement announcement on Sept. 10 - well before the national signing day in November. The timing was everything for the Battle Creek, Mich., native, who chose to announce his retirement early so potential recruits would have time to decide whether or not they still wanted to commit.

As it turned out, of the two talented Buckeye verbal commitments, one still chose to sign with the school, while the other pursued another direction.

"That was the reason I timed it when I did," he said. "Probably for my own team, it would have been better to not saying anything until the season was over, but it wouldn't have been professional on my part."

Stone says that throughout the years his core system for how the team operates has been intact, yet he admits that any good coach has to adapt to the current team.

"You have to change your message, without changing your system."

And for Stone, that system has never been completely focused on volleyball. He understands that there is life off the court for his student-athletes and he tries to become involved in those lives as well. He admits that there is a place and time to delve into a player's life outside the sport, but he has also been around long enough to know when to stay away.

Staying away is not something Stone is prepared to do when it comes to volleyball. An avid golfer and jazz enthusiast, Stone admits that his golf game is not a "worthwhile venture" following retirement. He plans to stay close to the sport and work on volleyball-related projects. As of right now, he is trying hard not to put those future plans in the forefront of his thoughts.

But last Saturday at the home football game against Wisconsin, Stone was surrounded by 105,449 fans in Ohio Stadium, who applauded him during a halftime celebration. He was presented a plaque recognizing his achievements over the last quarter-century, which left the 55-year-old coach humbled.

"The presentation was very classy and professional and I could not be more appreciative of allowing me to be honored in that venue," Stone said.

Currently, the Buckeyes are 12-11 overall and 6-8 in conference play. Stone is focused on earning his team more wins down the stretch and possibly obtaining another NCAA Tournament bid.

Throughout his career, most of the changes that Stone has experienced have been for the better. His teams have historically been one of the top squads on campus, they have been playing in front of larger crowds, and even arriving to road matches much faster...and in style.

Yet another significant change is expected to have an effect on Ohio State and the sport of volleyball next July when Stone leaves his post after 26 years.

Some will say Stone's retirement presents the Buckeyes with yet another change for the better.

Then again, others will argue that in fact, all good things must come to an end.