Peterson tries on It was 7 a.m. and the first day of the rest of Sharon Peterson's life.
retirement
UH-Hilo will have to learn to live
without its coaching legendBy Cindy Luis
cluis@starbulletin.comHer husband, Greg Mooers, was still asleep in their Kamuela home, as was Ginger, their cat.
But Peterson couldn't stay in bed yesterday morning. The sun was coming up over the Kohala mountains, the views of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa beckoning her to step out and enjoy the cool air.
Peterson was ready to greet the day and take on a new challenge. And, after 25 years, 762 matches and thousands of miles in countless Waimea-Hilo-Waimea commutes, it finally hit the 60-year-old Peterson.
She was now the "former Hawaii-Hilo women's volleyball coach."
"Wow, I guess it is official," said Peterson, the only coach the Vulcans have known since the program's inception in 1978.
Peterson was feted Saturday night at Uncle Billy's in Hilo. Some 80 well-wishers attended, including former players from UH-Hilo and Punahou School; former UHH athletic director Ramon Goya, who hired Peterson initially at $2,400 a year; and retired Vulcan basketball coach Jimmy Yagi.
"It was really nice last night," she said. "It was small and intimate and filled with wonderful people who were special in my life. And I have so many gorgeous leis with flowers I don't recognize. I wish I could have spread them out, had one per day, and take a walk with each of them down memory lane."
Peterson has great memories that will share her walks, her yoga classes and her new life as a retiree. Her first season resulted in a second-place finish nationally; the next year, her Vulcans brought home the state's first national title in 1979, winning the AIAW Division II championship several hours before the Wahine of Manoa won the Division I counterpart.
The Vulcans never finished lower than second nationally between 1978-84, winning six championships, including the AIAW and NAIA titles in 1981. Hilo's seventh banner came in 1988 as the team finished 26-1.
But more than the victories, it is the memories of all the players and fans that Peterson will remember most.
"I was so fortunate that they picked volleyball as our first women's sport," said Peterson a member of the U.S. Olympic volleyball teams in 1964 and 1968. "It was a life-changing call. Ramon rescued me from the carpet store. I had no idea that I would have this kind of life or career. I would hate to think that I'd still be in the carpet business if he hadn't called me.
"When I came in, it was such a magically high time at Hilo. Vulcan Fever had started, they were packing the gym for basketball and they wanted to expand the athletic program with a women's sport. All these years, it's the players who have really touched me. I may have been the coach but I was learning just as much from them."
Peterson announced that she was retiring last November. She said that numerous players have since contacted her with their congratulations and their thanks. Former players have already asked that she coach their team at the annual alumnae match.
"It touches my heart to hear from them," said Peterson. "I'm so proud of all of them, to see how they've grown. I am so happy to be a part of their lives. I grew with them.
"We had some real challenging moments over the years. One of the hardest things was asking the players to change so we could become a team. It was hard for some of them but they did it because it was important. I thank them all."
Peterson said she was indebted to a number of people, from husband of 26 years to Dr. Rose Tseng, the UHH chancellor, to current athletic director Kathleen McNally.
"Greg only missed one home game in all the years," Peterson said. "And that one game was when I asked him to scout a player for us in Kohala. It wasn't easy for him sometimes. He'd be in Kona then go home to Waimea then down to Hilo for our game. But he was always there. I couldn't have married any more wonderful of a man.
"The Chancellor was always so supportive. And Kathleen ... it was nice to finally have another woman in the department after all these years."
"Sharon IS Vulcan volleyball," said McNally. "You read her credentials and she's done things that no one will ever repeat. And it wasn't an easy task doing it. She took us through the first steps and to the next step. She taught her players more than volleyball."
Life has always been a classroom to Peterson, who said her two most important 'yesses' in life were to go to college and to play volleyball. Now she has time to extend her personal education, and is taking classes in weight training, pilates, yoga and aquafit.
"I may try spinning," she said. "But I don't think I'll try the cardio boxing.
"I now have time to do these things, putt around the house and get involved in the community. None of us know how much time we have here. I'm having a blast, spending time with Greg at home and deciding what exercise program I can do today."
One thing she won't be doing is the daily commute to Hilo. For her 25 years as Vulcan coach, it was a round-trip trek of some 120 miles and at least 2 1/2 hours.
"There are times I felt my whole life was wasted on the road," she said. "But it was also very spiritual and I did a lot of thinking. I could unwind after a match, think through things. And I listened to a lot of cassettes about life."
The annual Haili Spring Volleyball Tournament starts later this week in Hilo. A number of Peterson's former players will be in town to play and have invited her down to watch.
"It might be fun," she said. "I may venture down. I don't know. It's a big trip for me now."
UH-Hilo Athletics
