Mishawaka High School volleyball coach retires after 44 years

MISHAWAKA, Ind. --After 44 years of coaching, Mishawaka varsity volleyball coach Steve Anderson is hanging up the whistle.

“There’s a bittersweet side of it and I’m on the sweet side. I'm on the sweet side of it,” Anderson said.

In 1979, the young 20-year-old was hired as coach by the former principal of Mishawaka high school, Robert Smith, who, according to Anderson, saw him as someone who had a lot of enthusiasm and passion for the game. And well, the rest is history.

Anderson finishes with an overall record of 913 wins and 262 losses during his 34 years at Mishawaka.

His lengthy resume includes three state championships and four state runner-up finishes, 16 state finals appearances, 19 sectional titles, 18 regional titles and 12 semi-state championships.

On top of that, he was named Northern Indiana Conference Coach of the Year ten times, was inducted into Mishawaka's hall of fame in 1995 and Indiana's hall of fame in 2011.

“You surround yourself with successful people and I think that success rubs off on people and the desire to be successful. I hope that is what I instilled in kids from the day they step in the gym till the day they graduate,” Anderson said.

And one of those players he instilled those lessons to is Sherry Keyser, who is now the Assistant Athletic Director at Mishawaka High School. She describes Anderson as a tough but loving coach.

“Steve was definitely a tough coach especially back in the 80s, there was a lot of success. I feel like he not only taught us how to play volleyball but also taught us grit, which has helped me tremendously in my life. His coaching teaches you life lessons and I’m grateful to have had that experience with him,” Keyser said.

Anderson considers Keyser as a dear friend and gives her credit for helping him succeed as a coach. Keyser says she still applies his philosophy and lessons he taught as a coach in her life today.

“The biggest lesson Steve has taught me and many of his other players is to never give up. Just always give your best, work your hardest, don’t give up no matter what. You can succeed and I think that is something he has instilled in a lot of his former players,” Keyser said.

Coach Anderson said the next chapter is to continue to support current and future Cavemen kids by providing camps and club opportunities.