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A Coaching Legacy

Jasmina Meyer/Highlands Today

From left: Kim Crawford was recruited by Terry Quarles along with Stephanie Devlin and they played on the same 1991-92 Panther teams that finished with a combined record of 74-21 and the 1992 squad was ranked No. 6 in the nation. Devlin now coaches at Avon Park High School, Quarles is the Athletic Director at Sebring High School and Crawford now coaches for the same school she played at, South Florida Community College.

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By CHRIS HOFFMAN

Highlands Today

Published: November 16, 2008

AVON PARK - A binder still sits on Kim Crawford's desk that's filled with what seems like a lifetime ago of memories and life lessons passed down from her former coach at South Florida Community College.

That coach, current Sebring athletic director Terry Quarles, has made a lasting impact on Crawford, who is taking those lessons and passing them on to her Panther volleyball team.

With Stephanie Devlin taking over the Avon Park volleyball team this season, Quarles has seen her coaching tree that spawned from her early days at SFCC into the coaches of today that continue to hand down her teachings to the next generation.

"That binder has every note and play that Coach Quarles gave to us when I played for her," Crawford said. "That way I can always refer back to it when I need any guidance. It's like having Coach Quarles right with me."

Quarles, who coached the SFCC volleyball team from 1987-95, helped shape the landscape of volleyball in the Heartland in starting the Panther volleyball team and working with the Sebring volleyball teams in the past.

"I kept calling SFCC to urge them to start women's athletics," Quarles said. "There were no women's sports there and I suddenly was told that volleyball and basketball were being added.

"I loved every minute of coaching volleyball at SFCC. Volleyball has always been my first love and I guess it's a logical progression that now I am a referee at volleyball games. I can't stay away from the game for too long. I have to be around the action."

Two of her former stand-outs at SFCC - Crawford and current Avon Park head coach Stephanie Devlin - are the first in a long line of former Quarles proteges to move on to the coaching ranks that is much like a family tree.

"Coach Quarles was the best coach I've ever had," Crawford said. "What's unique about her is that she's tough but you have the utmost respect for her and she has no problem delivering her message to you.

"She makes you want to go out and please her and not let her down."

Building A Team

Crawford and Devlin were recruited by Quarles, who graduated from Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, and played on the same 1991-92 Panther teams that finished with a combined record of 74-21 and the 1992 squad was ranked No. 6 in the nation.

"Kim and Stephanie were great athletes," Quarles said. "But it was just luck that Kim ever became a volleyball player."

Crawford was originally recruited to play basketball at another college, but a back injury forced her to enroll at SFCC, which opened the door for Quarles to mold her into a volleyball player.

"Coach Quarles remembered me from basketball when she coached against me when I played for Hardee," Crawford said. "Basketball had ended and I was working out with her to get ready for the next season of basketball, but one day she asked me if I'd like to try volleyball.

"After a few practices I was hooked. Coach Quarles literally had to teach me everything about volleyball. I didn't know how to rotate or position. I knew nothing, but she has a knack of breaking everything down and making it easy to understand."

Making An All-American

Quarles, who had a 219-87 career record as a coach at SFCC, says that she saw something in Crawford and knew she would become a solid volleyball player, but she never imagined that she'd become an All-American.

"Kim was a sponge and always wanted to learn more and more. You never had to question Kim's work ethic and that kind of attitude was infectious on our team. The one thing I stressed is that you always ran in my gym, never walked. Kim set the example for that squad and they responded.

"For the first year, all I had Kim do was block and play defense," Quarles said. "She did an amazing job and set a record that stands to this day."

Crawford holds the SFCC record for blocks (25) in a match and the next season, she set the record for kills (552) in a season.

"I never dreamt that I would become a volleyball player, but Coach Quarles never let me falter," Crawford said. "She knew how to push me and taught me everything, not just about volleyball, but about life. She taught me how to deal with life situations. If I ever have to deal with a tough situation, I'll always think back and how could Coach Quarles handle this.

"I went from a basketball player to a NJCAA All-American to playing professional volleyball in the U.S. and Europe. It was all because of Coach Quarles."

Crawford is still the only NJCAA All-American volleyball player (1992) in the program's history.

But without Devlin and her setting ability, Crawford would never have reached those heights.

The current AP head coach was said by Quarles to have "the best hands in the conference."

"Stephanie didn't start for me in 1991, but I changed offenses and I needed a taller setter against Polk and her play was amazing and from that moment on it was Stephanie's team," Quarles said. "The team really clicked better with Stephanie on the court running the show.

"Kim wouldn't have hit the ball if Stephanie hadn't set her up and they made a great duo."

Devlin had 11 kills in that game against Polk but it was a constant struggle to raise her game to the level of expectations of her coach.

"I was stunned by the intensity of practices when I first got to SFCC," Devlin said. "At first I didn't think I'd make it, but I kept working hard and I knew sooner or later I'd get my chance.

"Coach Quarles always demanded more from you than you thought you had. She had a knack of bringing out not only your best but also to get the best out of the whole team. That is tough to do as a coach."

Devlin was set to join Crawford at Florida Southern on a volleyball scholarship, but an injury ended her playing career, so she switched to coaching, which brought her first to Avon Park Middle School and now at the helm of the Red Devil varsity squad.

"I take a lot of what I learned from Coach Quarles and integrate that into my own practices," Devlin said. "Coach Quarles was a real teacher on the court and that is how I run my team. I love to teach the game of volleyball and that was passed down by the joy of learning from one of the best."

Coming To An End

Coaching was life for Quarles during her days at SFCC, but with all the positives was a huge negative that wore down the storied coach.

"I love coaching," Quarles said. "You never stop learning as a coach. The players teach you as much as you teach them and I wouldn't trade any day I spent with the Panthers.

"But recruiting was the aspect of the job that took its toll on me. It's the busiest part of the job and it's also never ending. You're always on the road going to see one player or another and trying to get them to play for you. It became so overwhelming that I had to walk away."

Crawford can attest to the recruiting grind, as several of her recruits for the 2008 season changed their minds and left her with little time to piece together a team before the start of the season.

"I know exactly how Coach Quarles felt about the rigors of recruiting. It's extremely challenging because you're in competition with so many schools and as a junior college, you only have these kids for two years at best," Crawford said. "So it becomes a non-stop recruiting war to get the best players you can to stay competitive."

The Panthers went 7-23 this season and Quarles was a referee for many of the Panthers home games and watched Crawford's struggles on the sideline.

"I feel for Kim when I see her put so much passion into the game and watch her players not play with that kind of dedication," Quarles said. "But Kim is still a solid coach and she'll turn things around."

Coach For Life
Quarles acknowledged that Crawford has consulted in the past with her former coach, but believes that the Panther head coach can stand on her own two feet.

"We've talked about drills and serve/receive rotations," Quarles said. "It's nice to know that I can help in some capacity and I'm always here for any of my former and current players when they need me."

Crawford has had Quarles come to practices on numerous occasions - an event that invokes memories of her playing days at Panther Gym.

"When Coach Quarles walks in the gym, I'm in awe of her," Crawford said. "Her energy is what is infectious and something that I and the girls respond to."

When Quarles learned that Crawford, who took over for SFCC in 2003, and now Devlin, were coaches in their own right, she had a feeling that they had come full circle.

"It all began in that gym at SFCC," Quarles said. "There were so many days that I kept pushing them and pushing them and they always responded to the challenge. When I found out they were getting into the coaching ranks, I knew they would attack that challenge with the same intensity they did on the court."

As the volleyball season winds to a close, Quarles always looks back on her coaching days at SFCC, but the Sebring assistant volleyball coach has no desire to be in the lead role on the sideline any longer.

"I'm happy right where I'm at as an assistant coach," Quarles said. "I get the same satisfaction of teaching the players, but without all the hassle. I'm like a cool aunt that takes my sister's kids and can play with them all day long, but at the end of the day I give them back to their parents.

"I like where I'm at and am happy with the program I helped start at SFCC. And I know it's in good hands."

Chris Hoffman can be reached at 863-386-5827 or choffman@highlandstoday.com

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