With her retirement on the horizon, boys volleyball coach Caron Schiffman is closing out one of her strongest seasons in a 46-year coaching career.
Schiffman, known to players and colleagues as “Schiffy,” has been a prominent figure at the school since it opened in 1998.
Over her 46-year career, she’s coached girls and boys volley-ball, basketball and softball, and taught physical education. Now, as she retires from both teaching and coaching, her players are working to send her off with a season to remember-one that honors everything she’s done for them.
“[Her retirement] definitely puts pressure on us, but it also motivates us,” junior Matthew Iglar said. “We want to go as far as we can—for her. She’s been everything to this team.”
After decades of coaching boys volleyball and then suddenly taking a five-year break in 2010, Schiffman returned to coach the boys team in 2015. Her methods are sharp, her energy unmatched and her expectations crystal clear.
“After the team lost in States, I took a break in 2010,” Schiffman said. “I realized after a while that I missed the sport and coaching, so I decided to come back.”
Shiffman’s impact hasn’t just been about wins or championships – it’s about the players she’s helped grow along the way. Senior Brian Ricketts didn’t come into the program with any experience. He joined after playing volleyball recreationally, unsure of where he stood. From the start, Shiffman pushed him to grow. She focused on his funda-mentals-his hitting approach, blocking and especially his serve.
“Caron isn’t just a coach-she’s the heart of this place,” Coach Rossana Lopez said. “She’s the kind of person who makes you want to do better, be better. The kids feel it. We feel it. When she walks away, it won’t just be the end of a season—it’ll be the end of an era.”
Schiffman has used volleyball as a tool to teach her players how to handle challenges both on and off the court. From holding them accountable for missed serves to pushing them to take leadership during games, she’s focused on teaching lessons that go beyond sports. Players said her coaching helped them grow more confi-dent, not just as athletes, but as people.
“She told me I could always do more and never give up,” Iglar said. “That changed how I think— not just in volleyball, but in life.”
Schiffman’s impact goes beyond wins and stats. Practices weren’t easy under Schiffman, but that’s exactly what the players say made the difference. She pushed them with high expectations, demanding consistent effort from warmups to final drills. Each mistake became a moment to im-prove, not something to ignore.
“She always tells us we can do better, and to never give up,” Iglar said. “That sticks with you.” Most of the varsity team this season came from JV, a team that spent last year learning the ropes under Schiffman’s direction.Practices were long and detailed, often stretching into weekends. She focused on building funda-mentals-clean footwork, tight blocks, reliable serves—and demanded focus from the start.
“She taught me how to serve, how to block, how to actually hit the ball with power,” Ricketts said. “Since the begin-ning, she kept telling me to keep working. She saw something in me that no one else did.”
The transition wasn’t easy. But Shiffman motivated players by reminding them why they were there—to get better, to play smarter and to support each other.
“She trusted us even when we didn’t fully trust ourselves,” Ricketts said. “Now we’re here, and we’re improving for every point.”
The team’s chemistry shows through every practice and game. Her approach goes beyond just strategy and technique. In practice, when mistakes are made, they re addressed as a team, with players focusing on collective improvement instead of individual errors. After matches, the team huddles together, reflecting on their performance. These moments are not just technical fixes— they’re opportunities for growth, both in terms of skill and teamwork.
“I want them to walk away with life lessons,” Schiffman said. “How to support each other. How to move on after a mistake. How to work toward something together.”
Over the years, Schiffman coached generations of athletes across multiple sports, and has watched former players become coaches themselves—in-cluding some who returned to the school to coach alongside her. As for what’s next, she plans to stay connected to the game. Whether through youth camps, consulting with teams or simply cheering from the sidelines, Schiffman wants to be involved with the sport of volleyball and coaching overall.
“I love volleyball, she said. “I’ll never stop loving it. But I want to spend more time with my grand-child, too.”
This season, every serve, every block and every win is part of a sendoff-and every moment reflects the deep connection between coach Schiffman and her team. Her influence stretches far beyond the sport itself, leaving a legacy of leadership and unwavering support that her players will carry with them long after her final whistle.
