‘She’s a rock star!’ Jesuit star volleyball player says of his coaching mom
Sara Marks coaches boys’ volleyball at Jesuit High School. She is a strong-minded woman, equal parts scowl and encouraging cheer during matches. She never sits while standing court in this sport, dwarfed during timeouts by middle blockers and Marauders who gleefully attack the net and their opposition.
So, how does this relationship work, exactly?
“Well,” Marks explained last week with a laugh as Jesuit was closing out its memorable season, “I have four boys of my own, so I know boys. I can handle them fine!”
And Jesuit handled the competition just fine, too, over two shortened if not wildly mixed and frustrating seasons.
A year ago, the Marauders went 6-0 with what Marks called, “a fantastic team” before the pandemic roared in and halted on-campus activities, placing sports competition on pause along the way. This season, Jesuit stormed to an 18-0 record with Marks’ sons Taylor and Colin vital cogs to this Big Red machine, but the program had no Sac-Joaquin Section playoff tournament or CIF Northern California Regional event to further test its mettle.
Instead, Jesuit embraced what it had: teammates and a schedule when for months there was concern that there may be none of any of it. Of the more than 100 section blue banners Jesuit has earned over the decades in all sports, none have come from volleyball teams. What might have been?
“We wanted to finish strong, to make our mark,” Marks said. “We played great programs in Bellarmine (of San Jose) and De La Salle (of Concord) and once had five matches in seven days because the kids wanted to play. For us, we played for pride, of being nationally ranked, of being the best we could be.”
A season for the ages
Jesuit finished top ranked in the section and No. 24 nationally by MaxPreps.
Marks’ assistant coach is husband Steve Marks, a longtime football coach. He told the Marauders before the final match against Cosumnes Oaks, “you may never play on an unbeaten team again, so go for it.”
They went for it, sweeping the Wolfpack 3-0.
The Marks duo have coached four sons, including senior setter Tanner and sophomore libero Colin. Logan Marks played last season at Jesuit and is now competing at Cal Lutheran, where Taylor will attend this fall to study business.
Taylor and Sam Oshita were Jesuit’s team captains this season. Taylor gutted out his final season amid searing shoulder pain, grimacing as he approached the net and often landing with a grin after a power spike.
“I got to the chiropractor to get my body adjusted and that works,” Taylor said with a laugh. “I gave it my all this season. I saw a surgeon for an MRI, and I have two tears in my left shoulder. Surgery in a month, so I’m going to play as much as I can until then.”
As for a perfectly timed spike, the equivalent to a home run in baseball, a touchdown run in football and a dunk in basketball?
“I try to put that baby through the floor!” Taylor Marks said. “The adrenaline rush you feel is indescribable.”
Jesuit’s junior varsity coach is Katie Haley, whom Marks said is, “a fabulous coach.” This is no novelty act at Jesuit of women coaching young men. Both coaches earned their jobs and have backed it up.
Then again, Marks didn’t anticipate coaching this program. She took the reins three years ago when the varsity and junior varsity coaches stepped aside days before team tryouts.
“I wanted to be a mom, sit in the stands and cheer, but the school needed a coach, and I said, ‘‘OK, I’ll do it. I brought Steve with me.” Marks said. “We’ve had a blast.”
Building a program
Taylor Marks remembered those early tryouts and practices. He was a sophomore. He wasn’t calling her mom at practice.
“First day,” he said, “she set the ground rules, told us our roles, was straightforward with everyone, no BS. She’s a rock star!”
Marks played sports at Woodland High School in the 1990s and coached girls’ volleyball for years throughout Yolo County. She has blended the girls game into the boys game.
“The boys game in volleyball is a power game and the girls is a finesse game, and you can do both,” Marks said.
Jesuit’s other starters: outside hitter/blocker Vince Semon, outside hitter/blocker Nathan Hatch, middle hitter/blocker Miles Honig, middle hitter/blocker Boris Horiuk. Horiuk, all 6-feet-9 of him, will be playing and studying at the University of St. Katherine in San Marcos. He is currently training for the Ukraine National Team.
Taylor and Colin will play for their mother and father one last time this season during the Optimist All-Star volleyball match at Jesuit on June 18 a showcase for recently graduated seniors.
Marks is a nurturing if not firm sort, and this includes players and family. Husband Steve battled cancer for years. He is three years clear of cancer this month.
“Amazing father, coach and person,” Marks said. “We took all the precautions when COVID hit. He was masked before anyone else was masked. He got the vaccine earlier than most due to the partial loss of a lung. We had two kids after he was first diagnosed, and he’s had chemo and surgeries. The bottom line is you have to live.”
To that end, Marks championed her youngest son, Nolan. He’s 12, and he’s had his own challenges, including being a diabetic. He also embraces a challenge, including practicing a moment here or there with the varsity team. And ducking during backyard volleyball matches at the family home in Woodland. Then there’s the youngest of the Marks lot in Avery, also a regular at practices and games.
“Oh, she’ll be better than all of us,” Taylor said.
“He is an athlete,” Sara Marks said. “He may be my best volleyball son when it’s all said and done. He’s played since he was 10. He has three older brothers and they showed no mercy. He wants to live out his dreams. We’ll be right here to see it.”