UW-Eau Claire Athletics

There are a lot of words or phrases that could sum up UW-Eau Claire volleyball coach Lisa Herb and her career.

Successful. Winning. Record-setting.

Athletic Director Scott Kilgallon, however, went a step further.

“In the world of volleyball, she’s a living icon,” Kilgallon said.

Herb announced her retirement Thursday after 22 seasons with the Blugolds, finishing as the third winningest coach in NCAA Div. III history.

At a press conference Thursday in the McPhee Center, Herb said she stepped down to teach full-time in the kinesiology department.

“That opportunity doesn’t come around very often,” said Herb, who took over the volleyball program in 1985. “I took a look at how long I’ve been doing the coaching and trying to balance my life and I thought this would be the right time and right opportunity.”

Herb went 626-208 at Eau Claire and, in addition to six seasons spent at the University of Dubuque (Iowa), she compiled a 789-297 career record, winning almost 73 percent of her games.

But the gaudy statistics don’t stop there.

The Blugolds advanced to nine NCAA tournaments. They won the WIAC twice and finished second or third nine times.

Fifteen All-Americans were named. Forty-eight Blugolds were named first-team all-conference.

And the ‘Golds had winning records in 21 of 22 seasons.

“To stay in coaching this long you do have to have a certain degree of success,” Herb said. “Those highs keep you going and re-energize you from time to time.”

Former players and coaches said those numbers and wins didn’t come by accident.

“Out of all the coaches I have had, which is a lot, she was the most focused on the team as a whole,” said senior Carly Freiborg, who spent four years playing for Herb. “She adapted to each player’s style of play.ÿShe knew some needed a lot of guidance and gave it while others needed pointers here and there.”

The Blugolds went 6-65 in the two years before Herb’s arrival, and had won just 100 matches in 10 seasons.

Herb said some of the things she is most proud of, is what players accomplish after leaving Eau Claire, and said many of her teams stick together long after their playing days are over.

“Fifteen years later, after some of them have left, they’re still a team,” she said. “Even though they’re not living in the same area, they come together and support each other. That’s a real blessing to me to see they have had that bond and they still care about each other.”

Senior volleyball player Ashley Danielson said the way Herb went out – with a conference championship and coach of the year award – was a fitting end to her career.

“What she has taught will stick with the bunch as far as the team’s unity and what not,” she said.

Kilgallon said the process of replacing Herb will begin soon.

“It’s always hard to fill shoes, but this is really a great university and under coach Herb a great volleyball program,” Kilgallon said. “So I really anticipate we’ll get some excellent candidates applying for the position.”