After 32 years at Sacramento State, which include more than 800 victories, two national titles, 19 NCAA Tournament appearances, 17 conference championships and 15 Coach of the Year awards, volleyball coach Debby Colberg announced in August that the 2007 fall season will be the end of her career.

Colberg and her husband Gary plan to do things that they never got around to doing while she was coaching full-time.

Not only has Colberg obtained many awards throughout her career, but later this year she will be inducted into the American Volleyball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. The 2007 AVCA Hall of Fame class will have a ceremony on Dec. 13 at the Jostens Coaches Honors Luncheon.

“It’s sort of a humbling experience. It caught me by surprise and I never even thought of it. It’s a nice surprise and very pleasing,” she said.

Before coming to Sac State, Colberg was head coach for the varsity team at Rio Americano High School. Even at the high school level, Debby was successful, leading the Raiders to three league championships and two section titles. In 1976, Colberg was still coaching at Rio Americano when she began coaching at Sac State.

Colberg has earned several awards throughout her career because of her talent as a coach, but she also knows how to get the best out of her players. During Debby’s reign, 27 Sac State players have earned All-America Awards.

Senior middler hitter Lindsay Haupt has received the Big Sky Player of the Week award five times throughout her Sac State career.

“She knows how to connect with us on the court but she is also a great person and I think that brings respect to her from all the girls,” Haupt said.

From 1992-2002 Colberg served as the Sac State Athletics Director and has always worked closely with faculty and staff.

“I’m going to miss a lot. I’m going to miss the people a lot. I enjoy working with the department and everyone at Sac State,” Colberg said.

The players also know the respect that people have for Colberg. “She has the utmost respect from all of us. Everyone in this department and everyone on this team, but also around the nation, because she is such a great person,” Haupt said.

Not only does the team and faculty at Sac State have respect for Colberg, but she also has the same respect for everyone around her.

“I’m going to miss the girls a lot also. They are young, bright and fun to be around,” she said.

Along with Colberg, the Hornets are coached by associate head coach Ruben Volta and assistant coach Weidi Zhang. Volta has been with Colberg for eight seasons and will be taking over the head coach position next fall.

“I’m excited about it, but at the same time I’m going to miss her because I enjoy working with her and I think she is an incredible coach,” Volta said.

Throughout their eight seasons together, Colberg and Volta have seen the good and the bad associated with Hornet volleyball.

“I had to learn one of my first years here when we won the Big Sky. I had a pencil in my hand and she jumped up with excitement to give me a hug and I stabbed her in the hand with my pencil. I had to learn my first year to put the pencil down at the end of the game,” Volta said.

Despite losing to Eastern Washington in the Big Sky Tournament championship match in 2001, Colberg has led the Hornets to 10 consecutive Big Sky Conference Championships. Although the Hornets have changed divisions over the years, they have consistently reached the NCAA Tournament. During the Division II era, the Hornets had some of their most impressive seasons.

“One of my most memorable moments was probably the 1981 National Championship,” Colberg said.

Colberg has shaped the Hornets into a winning team ever since she became a part of the Sac State family. She has seen players come and veteran players leave. Despite losing four seniors from last season, Colberg has found new players to replace them.

“I’ve only been with her for about a month, but she is probably one of the best coaches I’ve ever had. She is really patient and not critical,” said Missie Stidham, a senior outside hitter.

This season marks a tremendous milestone in Colberg’s career. On Aug. 24, Colberg picked up her 800th career victory after a three-game sweep of Delaware State in the first round of the Mary Jo Wynn Invitational.

To commemorate her landmark achievement, Athletics Director Terry Wanless presented Colberg with a decorative volleyball signed by all her players during their first home match.

Colberg leaves Sac State feeling bittersweet, but realizes there are other things to do in life. Colberg and her husband Gary plan to do things that they never got around to doing while she was coaching full-time.

“There are a few things in life I want to do before I’m not able to do them anymore. There are good and bad with leaving. I know I’m going to miss it,” Colberg said.

Alicia de la Garza can be reached at [email protected].