Spangenberg resigns Cyclone volleyball post
HARLAN -- It was only six seasons, but oh, what an amazing six-year run it was.
Harlan Community head volleyball coach Angie Spangenberg, who quickly took the program to new heights after moving to Harlan in 2011, has decided to hang up her whistle and put away the clipboard.
Harlan Community Activities Director Mitch Osborn announced that Spangenberg has resigned her coaching position, pending school board approval on Monday, Nov. 7. She will continue to work as the Dean of Students at Harlan Community Middle School.
Spangenberg, who has compiled a 623-162-22 career record during 24 years at Red Oak (18) and HCHS (6), held the Cyclones’ team banquet on Tuesday night and informed her players the next day that she would be stepping down as head coach.
It was a difficult decision for Spangenberg, 56, who cited “time and energy” as key factors. Not only are there the demands of Spangenberg’s job at the middle school, but more importantly she would like to spend as much free time as possible with a growing group of grandchildren.
Angie and her husband, Randy, currently have five grandkids - a number that will be increasing to eight over the next four months.
Angie Spangenberg ...
An Iowa volleyball treasure
Retiring Harlan Community coach Angie Spangenberg will go down as one of Iowa’s all-time greats in the sport of volleyball. During her 24-year coaching career at Red Oak (18 years) and HCHS (6 years), Spangenberg’s teams won nearly 80 percent of their matches, claimed nine Hawkeye Ten Conference titles and made 14 state tournament appearances, including the Cyclones’ back-to-back Class 4-A championships in 2013 and 2014.
According to the Iowa Girls Coaches Association website, Spangenberg entered the 2016 season as one of just 22 Iowa high school volleyball coaches with at least 600 victories. The following is a look back at some of her many career highlights.
Coach Angie Spangenberg’s Career
• 623-162-22 career record (.794) in 24 years at Red Oak and HCHS.
•14 State Tournament appearances; 9 Hawkeye Ten Conference titles.
• Teams won two state titles, finished as state runner-up three times.
• Named 2014 Co-National High School Volleyball Coach of the Year by the American Volleyball Coaches Association.
• Inducted into the KMA Sports Hall of Fame’s inaugural class in 2016.
• Will receive the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union’s Golden Plaque Award on Friday, November 11, at the State Volleyball Tournament, becoming just the sixth volleyball coach in the state to receive the honor.
• Received numerous other regional and state coaching awards.
Spangenberg’s Six-Year Run at HCHS
• 198-43 record (.822).
• 5 State Tournament appearances; 4 Hawkeye Ten Conference titles (broke 27-year conference title drought in 2012).
• Cyclones won back-to-back 4-A state championships in 2013 & 2014, the first state volleyball titles claimed by a southwest Iowa school. HCHS had gone 0-5 in its first five state appearances.
• Cyclones finish as 4-A state runner-up in 2015.
• HCHS set school record for wins in each of Spangenberg’s first 4 years.
2011: 31-7 overall, 7-2 Hawkeye Ten (T-2nd), 3-A State Qualifier.
2012: 32-6 overall, 8-1 Hawkeye Ten (T-1st), 3-A State Qualifier.
2013: 37-4 overall, 10-0 Hawkeye Ten (1st), 4-A State Champion.
2014: 41-2 overall, 10-0 Hawkeye Ten (1st), 4-A State Champion.
2015: 37-6 overall, 9-1 Hawkeye Ten (1st), 4-A State Runner-Up.
2016: 20-18 overall, 6-4 Hawkeye Ten (5th), 4-A Regional Semifinalist.
