VOLLEYBALL: Hutchinson retires after 552 wins in 32 years [UPDATED]

A bridge needs to be built again within the Norwalk volleyball program, and Grace Hutchinson believes it’s time for someone else to take that challenge.

Hutchinson — who compiled a 552-230 record in a 32-year career — announced her retirement Friday.

Hutchinson has been the only coach in school history at Norwalk, starting the program in 1978, while finishing with 29 winning seasons.

“The time is right for a change,” Hutchinson said. “I didn’t want to do it at the team banquet, and it’s something that has been constant speculation around me for the past three or four years, so it feels like it’s something coming off my shoulders.

“Now there are no more rumors or anything else, and I’m OK with that.”

Hutchinson retires as the all-time wins leader in the history of Register area sports.

Former Willard boys basketball coach Bob Haas (522) and Clyde volleyball coach Nancy Hanger (516) also in the 500-win club. Margaretta girls basketball coach Tim Tucker is expected to join the club this season.

Norwalk’s season ended with a 16-9 overall mark last week after a three-game loss to Mansfield Madison in a Division II district semifinal. However, Norwalk is losing seven seniors on a varsity roster that included four freshmen, with just one sophomore and one junior in between.

“There will be a lot of seniors out, and many young kids coming in,” Hutchinson said. “I joked with my longtime assistant Brian Krupp that I wasn’t going to put up another nest for these young girls. When I looked at it from that perspective, it was time for a change.”

In her time at Norwalk, Hutchinson coached more than 20 All-Ohioans and 40 players who played volleyball in college.

“There were a lot of hours spent with camps, the weightroom, and preseason practices,” Hutchinson said. “It’s been that way for 32 years. I think we’ve given the girls an opportunity to meet and know a lot of people. We’ve always tried to broaden their horizon and give them different experiences.”

Around the area, the reaction to Hutchinson’s retirement in coaching circles was one of admiration and reflection.

“If I coach along the lines of what she’s done for that long, I would hope to be fortunate enough to just come close to what she’s done for volleyball,” St. Paul coach Nancy Miller said.

One lasting impression Hutchinson will be remembered for is the team’s nickname of ‘Ladies in Blue’, as opposed to Lady Truckers.

“When I first came here, we were referred to as the Lady Truckers after our first match,” Hutchinson said. “And that was a period back then that had a different perception than what is out there today, and I didn’t want that connotation to be thought of for the girls.

“We wore blue uniforms, so I just figured we’d call ourselves the Ladies in Blue.”

In the late 80’s, Hutchinson also coached a men’s club volleyball team at Norwalk that also won a state championship competition.

“The Men in Blue was a very special time for me,” Hutchinson said. “It was a time at Norwalk when everyone was altogether for the different sports and such. It was a huge time at the school.”

Huron coach Don Wood — a 1986 Norwalk graduate — played for the Men in Blue under Hutchinson.

“She took a group of seven of us guys in a van to Chicago to play in Nationals,” Wood said. “And it was just a whale of a time. That was huge in getting me into playing and eventually coaching volleyball. That was the whole start for me, and it’s a huge memory of mine.”

Miller has many memories of Hutchinson through the years as well, but the 2002 trip to state stands out as Norwalk, St. Paul and Huron all qualified for the state tournament in the same season.

“That was awesome that year, not only for the coaches and the camaraderie we had there, but to see the way the kids cheered for each other was a great feeling,” Miller said. “To be able to share that with her was great.”

Hutchinson won’t disappear from coaching altogether, as she’ll still be in charge of the Coaches’ Elite Camp, as well as the director of an area Northshore volleyball club — with Wood and Miller — in the offseason.

All of the good accomplished in three-plus decades made the decision to finally walk away a tough one for Hutchinson.

“My record is the same as Norwalk’s,” she said. “It’s been a pretty big hallmark at Norwalk High School. We had very good community support, and it was fun and exciting times to experience.

“We’ve done some good things here with a lot of people involved, and that is what makes it so hard.”