Fitch Volleyball Banks On Coach's Passion

Steve Banks thought he had the perfect opportunity to pick a perfect ending to his Fitch High volleyball coaching career.

In 2008, the time seemed right. Banks recently became a grandfather and was looking to spend more time with his family. Saying good-bye to 16-hour days that began with his day job with the Town of Ledyard at 6:30 a.m. and often ended around 10 p.m. after arriving home from Falcon girls' volleyball games was also appealing.

In the '08 Class LL state finals, Fitch had just beaten NFA in an epic game, 35-33 (only 25 points are needed) to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-three finals. Banks appeared poised to retire on top in the manner of John Elway, Bill Mignault and Kemba Walker. It would have been a storybook ending.

Instead, NFA, a team Fitch had beaten three times, caught fire and rode an emotional tide to win the last three games and snatch the state crown from the Falcons.

"After we won a big, long game like that, you tend to think that's it, they're all done. It was like we felt, 'okay it's all over,'" Banks said. "We stopped playing defense. Volleyball is a game of momentum. Once they got it, it was hard for us to get it back.

"It's tough to get this close and not close it out," Banks said. "It was right in our grasps and we let it get away. It hurts like hell. but NFA earned it."

On the one hand, Banks lost his storybook ending. But on the other, Fitch retained Banks, who couldn't step aside after such an emotionally gut-wrenching loss.

Banks privately hinted before the '08 states that retirement was near for him. But his passion for the game is making his imminent decision to retire a difficult one. He's directed Fitch to an Eastern Connecticut Conference elite status with over 200 wins and a state powerful profile in his 15 years at the helm. Fitch reached state finals in 2003 and 2008 and made the semifinals last year and in 2002.

Prior Fitch volleyball coach Mark Sullivan won Connecticut High School Coaches Association Coach of the Year in 2001 and was named to the state volleyball hall of fame a few years back. Banks belongs in that company.

"I have a passion for volleyball and enjoy the teaching aspect of it," Banks said. "I started playing volleyball in college and partook in travel teams as an adult. The sport has so much high energy and comraderie with all the teamwork involved. When you compete at a high level of volleyball, it's very intense."

Banks likes this team's attack near the net with outside hitters Kelsey Armstrong and Ashley Adams and middle hitter Maura Brown leading the way. Blocker Lexis Foster, setter Jackie Lockett and defensive digger Marissa Buckley form a solid nucleus.

The Falcons have known nothing but winning in Banks' tenure and this year should be no different. Not only does Fitch volleyball succeed, it ranks as one of the school's most popular sports. Though only six players can participate at one time during matches, Fitch volleyball drew nearly 50 to preseason tryouts.

"We've been successful and popular," Banks said. "The kids like to play, and the Groton middle school tournaments stir up a lot of interest. We're one of the few sports which has to cut people, which is something I won't miss. "

Banks is proud that Fitch's consistent quality in the 2000s has set a standard for other ECC teams to emulate.

"There were about four ECC teams in 2000, now there are 16," Banks said. "Volleyball has become very popular over the years."

Which is one reason it's been so hard for Banks to give it up.