Salem’s Don Conser wins coaching honor
SALEM — Salem High volleyball coach Don Conser was named the Mideast Sectional Volleyball Coach of the Year by the National Federation of State High School Coaches Associations.
The section includes Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Kentucky, Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia.
Conser led the Quakers to a 24-3 record last season and a district title. They advanced to the state tournament in 2007.
“I’m very honored and quite surprised,” said Conser, who has a 572-177 record in 31 years of coaching.
“I won’t even begin to tell you how many of those losses should have been wins,” Conser said, chuckling.
The Quakers captured the Red Tier crown in the All-American Conference last season and his teams won at least a share of the Metro Athletic Conference crown in every season of the league’s existence.
Conser was inducted in the Ohio High School Volleyball Coaches Hall of Fame in 1999 and is also on the United High School Wall of Fame. He was named the high school coach of the year following the 2007 season by the American Volleyball Coaches Association.
Conser said one of the main reasons for the Quakers’ recent success is due to junior Amy Scullion, who he said is by far the best player he’s ever coached. Conser’s son coaches Amy during the Junior Olympic volleyball season.
“I’ve had some good ones,” Conser said, “but Amy certainly is the best.”