Briscoe steps down as FRHS volleyball coach (03/08/06)

A new coach will be leading the Indian attack next season.

Fort Recovery volleyball coach Jackie Briscoe told school officials earlier this week she will not be returning for a fifth season because of “family reasons”. She plans to stay with the program until a new coach is hired.

“I really enjoy coaching,” said Briscoe, adding that she would like to coach again in the future. “The kids make it a lot of fun, and I just have a great time with them. I love learning from them and having them learn from me. I’ll definitely miss the players.”

Briscoe, 26, did not have to turn in a letter of resignation as all FRHS coaches serve on one-year contracts. Athletics director Barb Sautbine said she’ll be sorry to see Briscoe depart.

“ ... whoever takes over is going to have a great team for next year,” said Sautbine in complimenting Briscoe’s work. “She has to do what’s best for her. She’s been a good coach for Fort Recovery. I think she’s done a lot for our program.”

In her four seasons with the Indians, Briscoe had a record of 59-35 (.628).

Her 2005 squad finished 13-10, with a majority of those losses coming against state-ranked competition. Seven juniors, including kills and blocks leader Tiff Gaerke, will return next season.

Briscoe recalled going on the road during the 2003 season and defeating Marion Local, which finished that season ranked 10th in Division IV, as one of her fondest memories.

“... But I’d say the biggest highlight is that the girls got to improve their skill level and they were competitive in the conference,” said Briscoe, who took over the program in July of 2002. “And every match they went in knowing they could win.”

A 1998 Fort Recovery graduate, she led the team to an average of 15 wins per season.

She played college volleyball at Ohio Northern University, where she holds the single-match record for aces (11). She is also third on the Polar Bears’ all-time list in digs (1,616) and fourth in aces (213).

“She’s made our program a much stronger program,” said Sautbine. “With her background as a player ... she demands a lot out of the kids, and I think she gets a lot out of the kids. I think she expected a lot out of herself and she expected a lot out of her kids and they respected her for that.”

Briscoe and her husband, Jared, have a daughter, Brinn, who turned nine months old today.

Fort Recovery is currently accepting applications for the position. Applicants will be interviewed by a hiring committee, which will include Sautbine, FRHS principal Ed Snyder and a member of the booster club, and the committee will recommend a candidate to the school board.

Although there is no official deadline, Sautbine said she would like to have a coach in place by June.[[In-content Ad]]