After 40 years of coaching girls volleyball and girls tennis, Sandi Stein has announced her retirement.
Stein said she hopes to have made a lasting impact on the community during her time as a coach, as she gave them everything she could.
“Throughout my time, there have been so many rewarding moments,” Stein said. “Between watching former players become coaches themselves, seeing former players have children who now play the sport, and have the community come to me for assistance. It’s just a personal satisfaction in knowing I gave them all I had.”
Stein has coached volleyball and tennis for Midtown for the past six years along with being a physical education teacher. Senior volleyball player Vivienne Cannon said Stein has pushed her and taught her many valuable lessons.
“Under coach Stein I learned the phrase, ‘I can, I will, I must,’” Cannon said. “A key takeaway from my time under her is the idea of never going down without a fight and pushing yourself to do hard things.”
Sophomore tennis player Sydney Stafford said Stein has also made a huge impact both on and off the court.
“She has incorporated different methods of coaching that have helped our team grow substantially,” Stafford said. “On the court, I think she made me understand no matter who I’m playing to always give all of my energy. And off the court, she has taught me to be a more supportive teammate and give everyone credit for what they are doing for the team.”
Stein said being a coach is not only about the game, it’s also about the way you apply yourself as their coach. Stein incorporates what she calls the ‘3 E’s’ into her coaching style. This stands for energy, effort and enthusiasm.
“I want them to play out of love of the game and striving to be the best they can be – realizing nothing comes easy and hard work will pay off,” Stein said. “These lessons will help carry them through life.”
Fellow PE coach Isaac Taylor said Stein has completely transformed the program throughout her time as volleyball coach. The team has established a winning reputation and has expectations to be one of the top teams in the state.
“She has taken the volleyball program from the dumps of where it was to a new level with high standards and expectations,” Taylor said.
Stein said she has also worked to maintain consistency with the tennis team’s success. She said the team has historically been strong and it is important to hold the team to these high levels and push them to reach their full potential.
“Tennis has always been strong, even before I arrived,” Stein said. “I just try to continue the tradition of success and we have. Five years ago the boys were in the State Championship, [and the] girls [in the] Final Four. We have consistently maintained being in the top 16 in state. Sometimes better, but not worse.”
Cannon said that following Stein’s retirement, it will be hard to find a replacement. However, she feels that Stein’s legacy will carry on and continue to impact her teams.
“I think it will be really difficult for someone to fill her shoes when she leaves,” Cannon said. “She has been such a force here at Midtown and has paved the way for these programs to do great things.”
Stein said her retirement comes as a result of being worn out from all her years. She anticipates focusing more on herself and spending more time doing the things she desires.
“I am getting tired and there are other interests that I want to pursue, Stein said. “I do not want to keep burning the midnight oil- it’s going to be my time, as selfish as that sounds. I have always given myself to others and now it’s time for me.”
Following retirement, Stein hopes to become more involved in pickleball. Throughout her career, Stein has won over 25 metals ranging from women’s doubles to mixed doubles, in both indoor and outdoor tournaments.
“Most notably, I won the 2023 Minto US Open (Pickleball) in Naples with my mixed doubles partner,” Stein said. “I would love to pursue the senior Women’s Pickleball circuit and become more involved.”
Taylor said Stein will be missed as both a person and a coach at Midtown. He said her legacy will live on with the teams and community.
“She has made such a significant impact on everyone here at Midtown that we will definitely have a hole without her,” Taylor said. “If you ask any of her players, old or new, they will all tell you the same thing, that she is hard on them, but she loves them and truly cares about them. She is such a great coach due to her ability to balance these two qualities, and she has left a huge influence on everyone here.”
