A Visit with former WPIAL champion Norwin's Laurie Lokash
Laurie Lokash (left) giving instructions to a Slippery Rock player
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Background Info: Laurie Lokash played for one of the most successful volleyball programs in WPIAL and PIAA history. Lokash won three WPIAL titles at Norwin High School while playing for legendary coach Sheron Watson. Lokash won WPIAL gold medals in 1976, 1977, and 1978. The Knights also won PIAA titles those three years. She also played basketball and softball at Norwin. Lokash began her collegiate career at West Virginia, where she played one season before transferring to Penn State. At Penn State, she played for one of the top coaches in NCAA Division I volleyball history, Russ Rose. Lokash followed Watson and Rose into the coaching profession. She has been the head coach at Slippery Rock University for 35 years, and is one of the most decorated coaches in NCAA Division II history. Over her storied career, Lokash has recorded 632 wins, which ranks first in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference history and 21st all-time in NCAA Division II. She entered the 2018 season as the eighth winningest active coach in the nation. During her time at Slippery Rock, Lokash has led SRU to at least 20 wins 13 times, 10 PSAC Tournament berths, eight NCAA Tournament bids, five PSAC West division championships and two PSAC Tournament titles all the while competing in one of the toughest volleyball conferences in Division II. Lokash, who was inducted into the Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2002, has been named the PSAC Coach of the Year on two occasions in 2006 and 1993. Laurie Lokash's WPIAL championship experience. I was on the varsity as a sophomore, but didn't play in the championship matches. I started as a junior and senior. Winning WPIAL and PIAA titles was expected at Norwin. We were better prepared than our opponents and it showed in the way we played. We were a very confident group of girls who were having a very good time. I still have the six gold medals I won. They mean a lot to me. Lokash's PIAA championship experience. The WPIAL was the only district at that time that had its regular season in the Fall. So we won our WPIAL titles in the Fall, but had to wait until the Spring for the PIAA Tournament. It wasn't easy having to wait six months to play in the state tournament, but Sheron had us prepared. There were times I had three practices in one day, volleyball, basketball, and softball. Lokash's thoughts on playing for Sheron Watson and Russ Rose. I was very fortunate to have had the opportunity to play for two coaches the caliber of Sheron Watson and Russ Rose. Not only were they well versed in the technical aspects of the sport of volleyball, but they were also successful in motivating people to play beyond their perceived potential. Sheron was so ahead of her time. She was the only coach using biometrics at that time. By combining two effective coaching styles, I have been able to develop a plan that fits my personality and the personalities of the players in my program. I wouldn't be where I am now without their guidance. |