Coach Shae Speth, Head Varsity Coach
The 2009 season will be my 3rd season coaching at GU. I have served the past two years as Assistant Varsity and Head JV coach, and am thrilled to be taking on the role as Head Varsity Coach!
Working with student athletes is very rewarding, and I love to see all of their hard work in practice pay off when it's game time. I teach US History, Citizenship, and English at Grant Union, and enjoy spending time with these girls on and off the court. Having played volleyball at Grant Union, and as a member of the 1989 State Championship team, sportsmanship, tradition, and success are extremely important to me now as a coach. I look forward to a rewarding and successful season.
I recently attended the University of Nebraska Coaches Clinic with sessions by Hugh McCutcheon (2008 Men's Gold Medal Olympic Coach, current USA Women's Coach), Sue Enquist (11x softball National Champion as a player and coach), Coach John Cook and the Nebraska players, and Gwen Egbert (high school and club coach who recently coached Nebraska Juniors to a national championship). It was great to see that even state, national, and Olympic championship programs work on fundamentals at every practice!!
Personally, I have been married to my husband Steve for 15 years. We have 3 children: Caity, a junior at GU; Trejan, a 5th grader; and Eli, 2-1/2 years. I have a BS in Secondary Education from the University of Nebraska-Omaha, and an MA in History from the University of Nebraska. After spending time after high school in California (Univ. of San Francisco), Washington (WSU), and 12 years in Nebraska, we moved back to Grant County in 2006, and love being here. My husband is the Head Girls Basketball Coach, so we are a family dedicated to the student-athletes of Grant Union.
Jare' Retherford, JV Coach
This is my first year coaching at any level and I am honored to have the opportunity to learn from head coach Shae Speth. I was born in John Day and lived here off an on throughout my life. I attended school at Grant Union from age 11 until my junior year. While attending GU I participated in volleyball, basketball, and track. I moved to madras, OR, to finish out my high school education, and continued in my athletic career there. As a senior, my team and I achieved a state championship in basketball at the 3A level. I was then asked to play in the East/West All Star Game, and was fortunate to gain a full scholarship at Mt. Hood Community College for basketball. I continued to play volleyball throughout the years as well. After college I moved to Idaho Falls, ID, played women's and co-ed club volleyball and won 5 club championships. I decided to move home in February 2009 to follow in a long family tradition of high school coaching. I look forward to my first year and hold high expectations for my girls and our ability to kick butt as a team! Go Prospectors!!
Sarah Ackerman, Volunteer Assistant
