Begin with the End in Mind
Women’s volleyball became a varsity sport at Springfield College in 1971. Under Head Coach Barbara Viera, G’71, the first team finished with a 5-5 record. For the next 50 years—as the coaching reins changed from Viera to Joan Barbarich, DPE’80, Marta Picado, G’75, Peggy Jaeger, Mimi Murray '61, G'67, Tom Hay, Joel Dearing ’79, and finally to current Head Coach Moira Long, G’97—the program has never had a losing record.
In fact, women’s volleyball sports a .739 winning percentage, good for eighth among all Division III programs. Beyond the wins and championships though, this program has always been focused on helping women grow on and off the court, while leaving a legacy for future student-athletes to build upon and from which to learn.
For 22 of those 50 years, the head coach was Dearing. As Springfield College alumni and friends gathered to celebrate the 50th anniversary of women’s volleyball, it made sense to honor Coach Dearing and all he has done for the program.
Dearing, who is a faculty emeritus after his tenure as an associate professor in physical education and athletic administration, arrived on the Springfield College campus in 1975, just four years after the women’s volleyball program had begun. He remembers cheering for his friends and classmates as they competed for that team, unaware of the influence he would have on the program’s future.
“Begin with the end in mind” is one of Dearing’s aphorisms that all of his former players, students, proteges, and colleagues have come to know. They didn’t just hear it; they experienced it.
For instance, Heather MacRae ’98 chose Springfield College to play for Dearing, but it’s his influence on the person she has become that has stayed with her.
“The lessons that he taught me many years ago have stayed with me and helped me to become the person and professional that I am today,” MacRae said.
For current head coach Moira Long, Dearing didn’t hire her to be his assistant coach for the rest of her life. When he decided to retire, it was her that he recommended take his place.
“He has been my mentor, sounding board, teacher, and now friend. He epitomizes what it means to live your life by the Humanics philosophy,” Long said.
Honoring Dearing’s influence, Springfield College—along with a group of alumni, staff, and friends—decided to celebrate the 50th anniversary of women’s volleyball at Springfield College with a special announcement. Supporters are raising funds to establish the Joel B. Dearing '79 Volleyball Fund, which will support the women's and men's volleyball programs.
Once the fund becomes endowed, it will provide support into perpetuity, giving new meaning to “begin with the end in mind.”
When the program was in its infancy, the team had to raise their own funds to support needs like new uniforms and money for out-of-region travel. With continued donor support, today’s student-athletes won’t worry about doing their own fundraising, meaning they can focus on training and competing.
“I know what a difference that makes to current student-athletes. If they can have one-tenth the experience that I had, I think that's a mission accomplished,” said Heather Somers ’97, G’99, a supporter of the fund.
For many alumnae, their most salient memories of playing volleyball go well beyond the game.
“I don’t think when any of our players come back, they talk about wins and losses. They talk about people, the love they have for Springfield College, the love they have for volleyball, and ultimately the love they have for each other. That’s what they’re passionate about,” said Long.
Somers agreed, “I think about the stories on the van trips, little sound bites that, even to this day, ring around my head and make me smile. And I think that's just the hallmark of Springfield; if you're not familiar with Springfield, you don't really get it.”
So it seems very fitting, in a year where we celebrate the impact of 50 years of women’s volleyball at Springfield College, that Long has her squad back in the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament for the 15th time in program history. A legacy that has been paved by generations of women before them has helped create the opportunity for our current student-athletes to thrive and compete on the national stage.
If you are interested in supporting the Joel B. Dearing '79 Volleyball Fund, visit springfield.edu/gift/athletics or contact Kylie Laurenitis ’13, G'16, at (413) 748-3227.
