Case continues to grow volleyball legacy

Jeff Case fondly remembers the day he was hired as the Hauser Varsity Volleyball Coach just prior to the beginning of the 2002 season.

The coach’s eyes lit up – to go along with a large smile - as he recalled the memory of his hiring.

“I can still remember well when Mr. Brock (Hauser Principal at the time) hired me," Case grinned. "He asked me if we were going to go undefeated. I told him that we were sure going to try!”

While the undefeated season has never come to pass, Case has done nothing to disappoint. During Case’s 16 years at the helm, the Jets have amassed nine Sectional Championships and four Regional Championships. Last year, Hauser capped off their 35-5 season as Semi-State Champions. In addition, the volleyball team’s current eight years of consecutive sectional titles is the 6th longest active streak in the state.

Case’s volleyball roots run deep. Prior to being named the varsity coach, Case ran Hauser’s junior high program for two seasons. Before that, Case acquired a considerable amount of playing experience. The first league he participated in was during the summer of 1983 – just after graduating from Hauser. After graduating from that league, Case went on to play travel for several years through USA Volleyball.

“Playing and meeting new people was an amazing experience,” commented Case. “I never would have met my wife (Kristen) if it weren’t for volleyball.”

Coaching did not factor into Case’s volleyball equation until his daughter, Erica Raisor, entered junior high.

“When Erica played in junior high it was hard to just watch,” recalled Case.

Soon after becoming Hauser’s eighth grade coach in 2000, it did not take the new coach long to realize there is more than just a bit of difference between playing and coaching.

“When I got into coaching, I knew I would be able to bring some energy and enthusiasm," Case said. "Along with that, I wanted to get across a go get the ball attitude. I really started to study the game more along with coaching techniques.”

Over the course of the past few years, the “rumor” has been spread that Case has done a bit of “mellowing out.”

When Raisor was asked if she thought that might be an accurate assessment of her dad’s coaching demeanor, she smiled and said she thought he “went soft" after she and husband Kevin had their son, Luke, now 7.

 Raisor was quick to respond when asked what it was like to play for her dad early in his coaching career.

“He said I played better when I was frustrated with him, so he would usually make sure I was mad to be on top of my game,” replied Raisor.

After playing for her dad, Raisor went on to coach the junior varsity at Hauser for eight seasons and also spent two seasons as the varsity coach at conference rival – Waldron.

“Those two seasons really made our competitive nature come alive,” Raisor stated matter-of-factly.

This season, the family connection will continue as Raisor’s little brother, Christian, will help his dad patrol the bench as an assistant coach.

“It will be a neat thing to have Christian on the bench this year," Case said. "When he played soccer, I missed a lot of his games as the volleyball coach. However, Christian didn’t want me to quit because he said me being the coach was what he knew. Now he’s helping me.”

A huge chunk of Hauser’s continued path of improvement since Case took over the reigns 17 seasons ago can undoubtedly be traced to the founding of the Hope Area Volleyball Club (HAVOC.) According to Raisor, HAVOC sported 11 teams last year (five high school, six junior high). When the organization first started, it consisted of one junior high team.

Case, along with former Hauser coaching mate, Becky Baker-Schoen, created HAVOC during the 2003-04 school year.

Baker-Schoen, a former Columbus East and Eastern Kentucky University standout, spent 10 years heading up the Jets’ junior high program before most recently spending the last four years as Case’s varsity assistant. Baker-Schoen said it was evident that the founding of HAVOC was necessary to take Hauser’s program to the next level.

“There are a lot of skills that are volleyball specific,” commented Baker-Schoen. “Because of that, if you’re not playing in the off-season, you’re not developing."

"It takes a lot of court time in the off-season. There’s no doubt a lot of Hauser’s success has been due to the development of HAVOC.”

Case would concur that HAVOC has played a vital role in Hauser’s success.

“When I first started, I think we had two girls playing in the off-season,” Case recollected. “Now nearly all of our girls are playing in the off-season. That changes everything.”

During his tenure as the varsity coach at Hauser, Case has accumulated a very impressive 427-113 record. Following his first two seasons of 16 and 18 victories, the Jets have tallied 20+ win seasons eight times and have won 30+ over six different seasons. In addition, Case has been named Mid-Hoosier Conference Coach-of-the-Year eight times and, in 2017, served as coach of the Indiana South All-Star squad.

When asked what was the secret to success behind such impressive numbers and individual accolades, Case was rapid in his response.

“I’ve had a lot of great help over the years,” said a thankful Case. “From all the other coaches to the parents to the volunteers… they’ve all been great. Not to mention the girls that have worked so hard. They’ve been like sponges. They really want it.”

Case was also quick to praise the Hauser community for its role in helping shape such a successful program.

“The community has certainly made a positive impact," he said. "The values of working hard, playing fair and being faith-based affects us. We are so proud to represent the community and are appreciative of the support we get.”

Baker-Schoen's daughter Sydney won the Mental Attitude Award at the State Finals in Muncie last fall and will follow in her mother’s footsteps playing this fall at Eastern Kentucky. Baker-Schoen believes that Case’s loyalty is a key ingredient to his being able to run such a successful program.

“Jeff has been very loyal,” Baker-Schoen commented. “He is very dedicated to the program across the board – from the junior high to the younger kids.”

When Case, a custom machine fabricator at Capital Industries, was asked what some of his favorite memories have been to this point in his coaching career, he paused for a few moments to contemplate. It was obvious that the coach had lots of memories to mull over.

“That first sectional title in ’08 was very special,” said Case. “We worked so hard to get there.”

That sectional title happened to be during a 4-year stint when Hauser was a 2A school. During those four years, the Jets made the sectional final match each year – against a different opponent each time.

Of course another favorite memory of Case’s was last year’s trip to the state final match at Ball State University.

“Making it to the state finals last year was a dream,” he said.

As for what’s in store for the future of Hauser volleyball, Case was at no loss for words.

“We want to continue to keep it fun for the kids,” summed up Case. “Of course doing things the right way is fun to me. I just need to keep them buying into that.”

Case was quick to say that it is very rewarding and humbling to head up such a successful program.

“We have certainly built up a reputation,” Case said. “Teams shoot for us. We continually have to rise to the occasion. Of course we want to make it back to the state finals. That is where the bar is at now. We always want to be in the talk and in the mix.” 

As for his future coaching plans, Case plans to stay at the helm for the foreseeable future.

“I am very blessed to be here,” said a grateful Case. “I am very humbled to be the coach here. I have a great love for the community, the school and the program. They are all wonderful. I love it here.”

As Case continued his response, his competitiveness and level of dedication once again became very apparent.

“I don’t know how to quit. As long as I’m healthy, family is doing well… I’m just going to take it year by year.”

In an age when it is normal to see coaches with either very short careers or ones that go around from place to place on a frequent basis, Case’s longevity at Hauser is unique.

“When I first started coaching at Hauser, I didn’t have gray hair,” quipped Case. “I have the pictures to prove it.”

It is a safe bet to say that the veteran coach would gladly accept a few more gray hairs in exchange for the continued success of Hauser’s volleyball program.