Jeff Gabbert's accomplishments as a men's volleyball player continue in his first year after retiring from Vianney

Of course, this 0-0 record is a technicality, as the Missouri High School Activities Association finally recognized boys volleyball as an official sport this season. MSHSAA official records will begin this season, so records from before when men's volleyball was a club sport will no longer appear in the state governing body's record books.

But without Gabbert, who retired after last season to end his 35-year tenure as Vianney's coach, the sport likely would be a long way from being an official MSHSAA sport.

“Jeff created a movement,” said Eureka coach Brian Peaschel, who played for and served as an assistant coach under Gabbert. “Wayne Pounds is like the father figure of St. Louis boys volleyball. Gabs took it to a whole different level. … He changed St. Louis boys volleyball.”

Vianney won a record 16 state championships in the pre-MSHSAA era. Gabbert, who was inducted into the Missouri High School Volleyball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2018, won more than 800 games and led the Golden Griffins to 25 Final Four appearances.

The coaching tree Gabbert leaves behind is just as impressive as his win total.

Peachel played for and was an assistant under Gabbert, as did his brother Jeff, who is an assistant at Saint Louis University High School. SLUH coach Jeff Cheek also includes De Smet coach Tim Hafner, Vianney coach Jillian Hoge, Vianney assistant Tommy Vander Pluym, former CBC coach Matt Ketzer, and former Olympian and Long Beach State coach. Assistant Scott Tudzinski, as well as former Kirkwood, are part of that tree. Coach Keith Tudzinski, High Performance Club Director Scott Mebruer and Missouri Baptist Coach John Yehring.

That doesn't include the numerous club and college assistants who spread out from St. Louis.

“The thing I'm most proud of in my career so far, including the championships, is giving people a love of the game and making them want to become a coach themselves. ,” Gabbert said. “That's the most rewarding thing.”

Cheek, who won seven state championships at SLUH, said almost everything he does is based on what he learned under Gabbert as a player and coach.

“One of Gabbert's best attributes is that he inspires the players and coaching staff to be competitive, he is there for his teammates, and he really loves coming to the gym and loves it. It made it so contagious,” Cheek said. “That’s what I still take from him.”

That love of coming to the gym every day and putting in the hard work was a trademark of Gabbert's teams and continues to be a trademark of the teams under his coaching tree.

Victories are always due to the effort of the players, and losses are always due to the coaching staff.

“As soon as the game is over, I think about what I can do,” Gabbert said. “How can we more fully prepare our children for the next situation they will encounter? What can we do to get better and increase their chances of success?”

Hoge was an assistant under Gabert for 10 years at Vianney, coaching the club together for six seasons. Gabbert supported Hoge, who also coaches the high-performance top team 18u Royals, to take over the Golden Griffins' program when he announced his retirement.

“That meant a lot to me, especially because I think we had some big-time alumni who probably wanted to come back,” Hoge said. “He always had my back, especially as a young woman in a male-dominated business. That meant a lot to me.”

Gabbert is a big fan of Hoge. He still attends as many Vianney games as he can, but never misses the effort he puts in each day.

But being a fan had some unexpected consequences.

“It's much more stressful,” Gabbert said. “I didn't see it coming. When I was coaching, when you were in a fight with your players, you and the players had complete control over what was going on. But you can't control it in the stands. And I've always heard this from my parents for years, and I never understood it.”

Hafner played under Gabbert and was an assistant under him for eight years. He led De Smet to the boys state championship and Col Hess to the girls state championship.

“There's a lot of building that culture, communicating with the players, building relationships, all of which I learned from him,” Hafner said.

Piechel said he's not surprised that Gabbert's former assistants have had widespread success with their own programs.

“Everything those guys have done has helped produce winners and winners because of their work ethic,” Peachel said. “Obviously, great players come and go, but the consistency at this level all comes from your approach, year in, day out.”

Cheek said Gabbert is a communications expert. He's not afraid to have tough conversations with his players. That honesty tends to bring out the best in both players and coaches.

It also forms bonds that tend to extend beyond the volleyball court.

“He doesn't come to the gym just to win,” Cheek said. “He comes to the gym to build those relationships and to be there for you. He really loves being in the gym with the players and coaches and the bonds that form as a result. Masu.”

Cheek said Gabbert was the driving force behind getting men's volleyball officially recognized by the MSHSAA. He said Gabbert's ability to get boys to love the sport helped explode the sport in the St. Louis area and beyond.

Ironically, the MSHSAA will not recognize Gabbert's incredible number of wins and titles at Vianney, even though he is a big reason why Vianney athletics has grown into what it is today.

But that's fine with Gabbert. For him, it was never really a question of winning or losing.

“The explosion in popularity is very gratifying,” Gabbert said. “It's great to see how many young boys out there are exposed to this sport and hopefully fall in love with it.”