Birmingham Marian volleyball coach Irick Gardner (above) announced he will not be back with the Mustangs in 2013. (The Oakland Press file photo)
Birmingham Marian volleyball coach Irick Gardner says he will not return to the Mustangs next season. Gardner contacted The Oakland Press Sunday, saying he plans to step down and wanted ?to officially explain myself as to why I no longer plan on returning.??The first season I took the head job at Marian, I called around to get some information on the program and most of the people I spoke with warned me about the parents,? Gardner wrote in an email. ?Well, nothing could have been further from the truth. The parents were terrific and very supportive. So parents have never really been that big an issue. The issue is how the system has changed, how not understanding and remembering that success comes with a price, the price of good, old-fashioned hard work and discipline and remembering that the demand for this has to be supported.
?Anytime kids ask for permission to have a ?player?s captains practice? (without the coach) and are told they can, without checking with the coach, we?re definitely not on the same page. I will not compromise with what I know is right and what has been successful. I?m a P.E. major with a coaching minor, this is what I do, with the club I run and in high school, I take it serious.
?I have very high standards and will challenge players to achieve their very best, but everyone must want the same thing. There has been some incredible people at Marian over the years and the school has allowed me to use the gift God has given me to bring out the gifts of their student athletes, and for that I am very appreciative.?
Marian athletic director David Feldman said late Sunday night, ?As far as I know, he?s the coach.?
Feldman also complimented Gardner, calling him, ?the best volleyball coach in the state.
?Tremendous human being, demanding coach, but a great coach,? Feldman said. ?Great role model.?
Gardner has coached the Mustangs for nine seasons, winning two state championships. During Gardner?s tenure, Marian reached the semifinals five times and won seven regional titles.
The Mustangs were eliminated from the state tournament Saturday, falling to Birmingham Seaholm, 3-2, in a district final. Marian finished the season 48-13.
?We have had lots of success, winning two state titles, playing in five semifinals, seven quarters and regionals all within nine seasons,? Gardner wrote. ?Our most recent loss to Seaholm has absolutely nothing to do with moving on. It happens. We lost to a better team that day. We?ve played them before this season and had beaten them, but they?ve been tough most of the season, they are a very good team! So although I plan to move on, next season I plan to re-start someplace new, a place where there?s time for a challenge and it?s welcomed.?
Last Updated: 11/4/2012 10:11:50 PM EST
Source: http://miprepzone.com/oakland/results.asp?ID=8342
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