SEAN BOSTON
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Nickerson-South Hutchinson USD 309 has hired Trish Wade as the next head volleyball coach at Nickerson High School.
The USD 309 Board of Education approved the hiring during its regularly scheduled meeting Monday night.
"Coach Wade knows what it takes to compete at the highest level," Nickerson Athletic Director Devin Maxwell said. "She’s dedicated to instilling that same drive and excellence in her athletes."
Wade brings an accomplished resume to Nickerson after a standout 17-year tenure at St. John High School, where she compiled more than 420 career victories and guided the Tigers to three Class 1A state championships. St. John captured the state title in 2008 with a 43-2 record, followed by back-to-back 1A Division I championships in 2010 and 2011 with records of 41-4 and 43-2, respectively. Under her leadership, St. John advanced to the state semifinals in 10 of her 17 seasons and finished 29-15 last fall with a return trip to the 1A Division I state tournament.
A decorated athlete in her own right, Wade was inducted into the Barton Community College Sports Hall of Fame in 2011. She was a two-time All-American for the Cougars from 1985-86, helping the volleyball team to a 111-10 record and two Top 4 finishes at the NJCAA National Tournament. She went on to play at Florida Southern, where she earned AVCA Second Team All-America honors in 1987 and was twice named First Team All-Sunshine State Conference. Wade still holds the school records for solo blocks in a match (11), season (99) and career (182), and remains ranked in several career and single-season statistical categories.
Wade is also the mother of Cleveland Cavaliers forward Dean Wade, a former Kansas State standout and the only player in Wildcat history to record at least 1,000 points, 100 3-pointers, 500 rebounds, 200 assists and 100 steals.