Volleyball Head Coach Reaches 500-Win Milestone
Cliff Hastings' Cobras enjoy .913 winning percentage
Parkland Volleyball head coach Cliff Hastings recorded the 500th win of his Parkland coaching career this past Friday afternoon, Aug. 30, in a 3-0 Cobra sweep of Oakland Community College in Perrysburg, Ohio. A 2018 inductee into the NJCAA Volleyball Hall of Fame, Hastings has led the Cobras to two NJCAA DII Championships, five NJCAA DII Championship Games and 10 straight NJCAA DII Tournament appearances.
"Cliff is the consummate professional," said Parkland Athletic Director Brendan McHale. "We are very fortunate to have him leading our volleyball program, and Parkland College is proud to have him be a part of our Cobra Family. We look forward to watching the amazing things that he, his coaching staff and his team will accomplish. Well done and congratulations, Cliff, on your 500th victory!"
Now with 504 total victories following a 16-0 start to the 2019 season, Hastings boasts a dominating .913 (504-48) winning percentage since taking the helm prior to the 2009 season. Entering his 11th season, Hastings has averaged 48.8 wins per season with at least 52 wins in each of the last six seasons. Reaching the NJCAA National Championship match in five of those six seasons, the Cobras have won 321 matches in that span that dates back to 2013 with no more than three losses in any of those seasons. Hastings led Parkland to its first undefeated season in program history with a program-best 57 wins in 2015.
On top of the team success, Hastings has guided Cobra Volleyball players to numerous athletic and academic accolades. In his first 10 seasons, Hastings saw his athletes garner 23 NJCAA All-America honors, including three last year when freshmen Rachel Verdun, Ryleigh Warfel and Brooke Norder were each named to the NJCAA All-American team following the season. The student-athlete success is carried into the classroom, where 19 students have been named NJCAA Academic Student-Athlete Award recipients, with 14 coming in the last three academic years.
Off to another dominant start this season, the 2019 edition of Coach Hastings squad boasts a perfect 16-0 record with 15 of the wins coming in straight sets. With a 48-1 set record to begin the season, the Cobras took over the No. 1 ranking in Division II on Tuesday, bypassing defending champion Coffeyville, after beginning the season at No. 2.