Despite 3-year deal, Shoji not sure he’ll stay to the end

Penn State’s Russ Rose is the all-time winningest major college coach in women’s volleyball, having supplanted Dave Shoji for the distinction in 2014.

But word of Shoji’s pending new three-year contract doesn’t have Rose hugging his 11-victory (1,161-1,150) lead and nervously listening for footsteps across six time zones.

“I’m not thinking that Dave is signing his new contract with the hopes of passing me,” Rose said.

“Although … they gave Dave a nice ceremony and gifts when he passed Andy (Banachowski of UCLA to become No. 1 in  2013) so, maybe, if I retire before he does he can go ahead and get some more gifts and treats,” Rose said, tongue in close proximity to his cheek.

“Then, I would have to sit back and applaud him,” Rose said.

Probably from a rocking chair.

The 68-year-old Shoji has seven years on Rose, 61, who says, “I don’t know about him, but I’m going to tell you, for sure, that I’m not coaching when I’m 72.”

Rose said, “the game has changed, recruiting is changing and I know, at 61, I don’t relate as well to 16-year-old girls as well as I did when I was 25.”

Just how much longer Shoji will continue remains an open question. If he completes the three-year deal and goes deep into the 2017 NCAA Championships, to his Dec. 4 birthday, Shoji would be 72. 

Yet he is not the senior member of the fraternity now and might not be even then. Southern California’s Mick Haley is 71 and has shown little signs of heading to pasture. “Mick has no intention of quitting anytime soon, as far as I know,” Shoji said somewhat admiringly.

As he prepares to start his 41st season, Shoji maintains, as he has for the past several, that his stay at UH has become an annual decision. “My contract was running out and Ben (Jay) was gracious enough to make it a three-year deal even though I told him I’m not committed to going the full three,” Shoji said. “It is still up to me how long I go. I’ve said before — and I’ll say it again — that’s going to be a year-to-year decision.”

This year the incoming recruits and returning foundation of a team that went 22-7 undoubtedly helped. Shoji said his health, state of the team and family considerations all weigh in the decision. 

He knows, too, that just keeping Rose in sight, much less making up ground, is a daunting task. The Nittany Lions’ coach of 36 seasons is on a run remarkable in the sport’s history, one that has enabled him to move atop the all-time victory list by averaging 33 victories a season over the past 12 years. 

In the process, Rose, who has won seven national championships, has captured the past two in succession and six of the past eight. It is an ascension that has given him admiration for the man he passed.

Rose said, “Whenever Dave decides to retire, he’s earned it. He’s already done a lot — for the sport and his school. He’s made great contributions to volleyball, made great contributions to sports in Hawaii and, with his wife, has done an even finer job of raising three great children. He’s set the bar pretty high for the younger coaches in this profession.”

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@staradvertiser.com or 529-4820.