ROB CLINE RESIGNS AS LADY BEES COACH
HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL COACH HEADING TO KENT STATE.
By Dom DiPasqua / Staff Writer
Friday, July 23, 2010
BRECKSVILLE – Rob Cline, the highly succesful head coach of the Brecksville-Broadview Heights volleyball program, resigned last Friday morning, July 16.
Cline, who spent three propitious seasons as head coach of the Lady Bees also resigned from his position as a teacher at Cornerstone in Lake County.
He will chase his lifelong dream of being a college volleyball coach when he starts his new career at nearby Kent State University on Monday, August 2.
Cline, a Lakewood resident, has been named as an assistant coach and offensive coordinator for the Golden Flashes. He will be re-united with former Brecksville standout Meredith Paskert, who is entering her sophomore campaign at KSU.
Cline’s Bee teams went, 57-18, overall in his three autumns patrolling the sideline, clipboard in hand. His teams lost less games in each subsequent season that he was at the helm in the fabulous Bee Hive.
The highlight of Clines tenure was the 2008 season when he took an up and coming Lady Bee team to the states Final Four in Division I.
The Bees, who went 13-9 in Clines first year, and finished in the middle of the pack in the Southwestern Conference. They did a complete about face and tied for second place in 2008 before advancing all the way to Dayton on what was a magic carpet ride. In 2009 his Bees went 13-1 in the SWC and took the conference title by a landslide.
They were upset by Stow in a Division I Regional semi-final match at Hudson in what turned out to be Clines final match as head mentor of the Bees.
Cline was able to transform a program that was stuck in neutral for a few years and mold it into one of the top programs in the state. The Bees were highly ranked, spending many weeks in the top ten in Ohio the past two seasons.
“Coach Cline will be greatly missed by all. I have enjoyed playing for him the past two years since I transferred from Padua.” Said senior outside hitter Olivia “The Big O” Chrzanowski. “I fully understand his decision to go to a Division I collegiate program. We have had some great laughs over the last two years which I will never forget. Kent will be lucky to have him. He is an awesome coach.”
Chrzanowski made her own news this summer when she verbally agreed to accept a full-ride academic / volleyball scholarship to Division I Canisius College in Buffalo.
“Winning the regional championship at Hudson and watching the kids accept the trophy and then walking out onto the floor at the Nutter Center at Wright State University for the Final Four were the highlights of my three years at Brecksville.” Cline said. “The program is now in good hands. The kids are trained and I think that they will continue to work hard. A great freshmen class is also coming in.”
The trademark of Clines teams has been hard work and near perfect execution. The Lady Bees were a joy to watch and always carried themselves with class both on and off the court.
“When I first got here the talent was here. They were diamonds in the rough that just needed polishing a little bit.” Said Cline, using his favorite recitation in describing his inheritance of volleyball talent.
Cline flat out taught the Bees how to play the game at a high level and win.
“There is never a good time for a head coach to resign.” Said Bobby Johnson last week when he stepped down as head football coach at Vanderbilt University. The same can be said for Cline as the Bees regular season opener is six weeks away. But that is not on him. When opportunity presents itself you have to break the door down. Life is too short.
Cline is with the Lady Bees at Penn State University as we speak coaching the squad at the annual Lady Lions team camp. Cline is a protege of PSU head coach Russ Ross, whose teams have won the past three NCAA Division I volleyball championships.
“When I first told the kids they were a little stunned and then a little sad. But I think that they are ready to move on.” Said Cline. “I have recently received some messages from the kids and they are all very happy for me. They knew that I always wanted to make coaching my full-time career and now I have that opportunity.”
There is no word as to who will be Cline’s replacement. An e-mail to BBHHS Athletic Director Dan Kalinsky asking the million dollar question was not returned. But that is not at all uncommon given that it is the middle of the summer. Vacation time is well-earned. Cline has made it known that he would like to see junior varsity head coach Danny Irving become the next head coach of the Bees.
“I will offer any advice or support that the team needs to help them transition into the next season.” Cline said.
CLINE BY THE YEARS:
2007 13-9 overall 4th in SWC Lost in District Semi-Final to Solon.
2008 22-5 overall T 2nd in SWC Lost in State Semi-Final to Olmsted Falls.
2009 22-4 overall SWC Champs! Lost in Regional Semi-Final to Stow.
KENT STATE INFORMATION:
Head Coach Glen Conley
Conference: Mid-American Conference
2009 Record 17 – 19 overall.
Home Court: The MAC Center
First Match: August 27 vs Providence at Norfolk Tournament.
Favorite Flash Player: Meredith Paskert #2, sophomore from BBHHS.
PERSONAL NOTE:
When the e-mail came across my screen last Friday morning I was stunned, but only for a moment. As Cline has made it known he has long had a deep running desire to make college coaching his full-time career. His hard work and perserverance has certainly paid off.
Like the girl’s on the team I will miss Rob Cline. He is a clas act and a genuine good guy. He taught me more about the game of volleyball than I had ever known and unbelievably referred to me as a part of his staff, which I soaked up as a huge compliment.
It was a pleasure to work with Rob who was always one hundred percent accommodating. It was total access Lady Bees as far as he was concerned. Over the years I got to know him and his family and it was a treat. I say good for Coach Cline and God Bless.
In the meantime the naming of the Lady Bees next head is crucial for two obvious reasons. Number one – the timing and two the goal is to continue the excellent volleyball tradition that Cline has established at BBHHS.
It would be awesome to see his legacy continue and the Lady Bees battle for conference championships and go far into post-season play on a regular basis.
Whomever gets the job will be blessed with a wonderful group of young ladies. Girl’s that work hard, have a lot of athletic ability and now know how to win. The cupboard is far from bare. This team, despite Beckie Famurewa’s unfortunate knee injury, can do more than its’ fair share of damage this year.
Please stay tuned to this website for the announcement of the next head volleyball coach and the assemblage of the staff, which is going to be a bit tricky in this troubled era of pay – to – play.
The 2010 schedule will be posted soon and preview and feature stories are upcoming.
See You At The Bee Hive!
To contact: Ddipa67834@aol.com.
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