When Maria Nolan arrived as a teacher and volleyball coach at Secaucus High School, she had no idea that she would eventually become one of the most respected high school coaches in the history of New Jersey athletics.
“Of course not,” Nolan said. “No one ever thinks that far ahead.”
No one thought Nolan was on her way to coaching excellence after her first year, in 1975, when the Patriots posted a 2-12 record.
However, no one can question where Nolan took the program – to heights never before reached in the history of New Jersey high school volleyball. During Nolan’s tenure, Secaucus won 522 matches and captured a state-record 16 NJSIAA state championships. She captured the last seven NJSIAA Group I state crowns consecutively, which was also unprecedented.
During her career, Nolan had seven teams that went through the season undefeated. Her teams captured 16 Bergen County Scholastic League championships and 15 Hudson County Volleyball Coaches Association crowns.
Over the last 10 years alone, Nolan’s teams were an amazing 238-6. Her career record was 522-69.
But in Nolan’s eyes, winning wasn’t everything. Sure, she enjoyed the success, but the burden of keeping a top-flight and state-ranked program at a pinnacle annually became a strain on her family life.
Her son Joe is a well respected punter at Hofstra University. Her daughter, Andrea, is 12 and is beginning to participate in recreation programs.
“It was rough on me when I missed some of Joe’s games,” Nolan said. “I felt there were times that I should be at football games when I was coaching. And there were times that I felt I should have been with my volleyball team when I was watching Joe. It’s been very difficult on Andrea all these years being without me. It’s always been a struggle for her.”
When Nolan realized that coaching had become somewhat of a burden, she decided that the time had come to step down.
After considering it and reconsidering it over and over for the last three months, Nolan made her decision known last week when she told Secaucus officials that she was retiring as the head volleyball coach.
“It was a very emotional week for me,” said Nolan, who is a member of the NJSIAA and Hudson County Sports Halls of Fame. “Once I made the decision, I thought it would be easy to move on. But it hasn’t been that way at all. I really have mixed emotions about it, because I love coaching volleyball. But I just knew I had to do it. I can’t turn back the clock. Wherever I was, it was so hard for me not to be at the other. I know this is the right thing to do, but it’s still so very hard.”
Secaucus athletic director Stan Fryczynski said that he knew Nolan was going through an emotional time coming to grips with what she wanted to do, so he gave her some leeway in terms of making a final decision.
“She felt it was a sound, good decision,” Fryczynski said. “It’s what she wanted to do. She’s not leaving us as a teacher, but we’re still going to miss her. We’ve had a good personal and professional relationship for 24 years. We sort of grew up together. I never wanted to see it come to an end, but good things always do.”
Added Fryczynski, “I think a little bit of her touched everyone. The younger coaches in all sports got to see what a total coach was. In terms of preparation, in terms of practice, she covered every aspect of the sport and she set a standard for other coaches to follow. It was priceless watching a master coach at work. It goes far and beyond wins and losses.”
However, Fryczynski said that he knows that no team will ever enjoy the incredible success that Nolan’s teams did.
“We will never see the likes of it ever again,” Fryczynski said. “It was so special. I was so lucky to be a part of a great ride. New faces came and went, and every year, they kept winning. She touched and impressed a tremendous amount of people.”
“We just kept it going,” Nolan said. “We continued to do well year after year. I never sat down and added up all the numbers. Sure, all the winning was great, but we just kept focus on doing the same thing on a daily basis. People tell me about the numbers and they’re amazed. I guess they are pretty amazing.”
In 1998, Nolan received the Disney National Coach of the Year Award for all sports. That same year, she was selected as The Star-Ledger Volleyball Coach of the Year. In 2000, she was honored by the Frank McGuire Foundation. Nolan also has served as president of the National Federation High School Coaches Association and on the National Federation Volleyball Rules Committee.
“I really enjoyed the Disney award, because I was able to share that with the whole program,” said Nolan, who was able to give the school $10,000 as part of the award. “The Frank McGuire Foundation [also $10,000] helped out other teams, so I’m proud of that.”
Nolan also said that she enjoyed serving as the president of the National Federation, as well as starting the Hudson County Volleyball Coaches Association with Bob Tholen in 1985.
“I’ve been blessed with a loving family that supported me through the years,” Nolan said. “I also have to thank the people, the players, the coaches, the parents, the administration, everyone who helped me.”
Nolan was asked if she walks away with any special memories.
“I always try to remember the first championship in 1978 [winning the BCSL], because it was the first one and it was so exciting to win for the first time,” Nolan said. “I never dreamed we would win 16 state championships or seven in a row. But the best memory I’ll have is being with the players every day and watching them grow.”
It’s the relationships with the players that Nolan will take with her.
“I kept in close contact with so many of my players over the years,” Nolan said. “That’s what has been the most fulfilling. I enjoy seeing them and talking with them. They all have been so supportive. I’ll always have them.”
Hit them hard
Although she might have hinted at the end of last championship season that she might step down, the news of Nolan’s retirement hit the players hard.
“They were emotional, with tears streaming down their faces, when we told them,” Fryczynski said. “They didn’t want to see her leave either.”
But some of the players respect Nolan’s decision to retire.
“She needs to feel good about herself,” said senior Justine Muzones, who earned All-State honors. “I respect her decision. She really needed a break and you could see that during the course of the season. She went through so much. It became much more work for her. She inspired me to become a better player. I will always remember that.”
“Although I knew she was thinking about it, the decision was still a little surprising,” said senior Katy Cannan. “I think it’s good for her and I support her. It may be a little harder on the younger girls, but we all respect her and what she’s done for us.”
It is not readily known who will succeed Nolan as the new head coach. Long-time assistant Sheila Ulrich, who once played for Nolan at Secaucus, is expected to be offered the position.
“I know that I’m leaving the program in good shape,” Nolan said. “I know that they’ll continue to do well.”