Sally Thalken is the winningest active coach in the National Junior College Athletic Association.
During her 34-year career as head volleyball coach at North Platte Community College, Thalken has had 921 wins and 610 losses, coached 12 All-Americans and led her team to nationals five times.
She has been named Region IX Coach of the Year, District Coach of the Year and has been inducted into the NJCAA Volleyball Hall of Fame. However, it’s not the athletic victories that stand out in her mind – it’s the personal ones.
“You can’t get hung up on titles,” said Thalken. “For me, this job is all about the relationships you build with the kids.”
Coaching volleyball wasn’t her goal when she graduated from Ogallala High School in 1971. Partly, because she never played the sport.
“At that time, we only had track,” said Thalken. “I swam competitively at the University of Nebraska – Kearney my sophomore and junior years, so really, my sports background upon completion of college, was in aquatics.”
Her first job after UNK was teaching kindergarten through 12th grade physical education in Ainsworth.
“It was pretty remote, but I really loved it,” said Thalken. “I coached volleyball, basketball and track during my six years there. I kind of regret that I never got to serve as an assistant coach under someone great, though. I’ve been a head volleyball coach for 39 out of 40 years and just kind of grew into the job.”
It was in the summer of 1981 that Thalken heard about the opportunity to teach and coach volleyball and basketball at NPCC. Her predecessor left behind a skilled group of athletes willing to work hard.
“I walked into a real good situation,” Thalken said. “I had tremendous support from the administration, and I had great athletes who were smart kids. We were able to be successful not because of me, but because of them.”
She coached basketball at NPCC from 1981-1991, and recruited 62 players during that time. On the volleyball side, she has recruited 251 students for the college, 37 of whom were from North Platte.
“I’ve tried to recruit from our 18-county area,” said Thalken. “I like the idea of recruiting highly skilled kids who can be supported by their families and friends. It’s my philosophy, and it’s worked so far.”
That being said, the practice doesn’t come without its challenges.
“One is that a lot of the kids started for three to four years at their high schools, so helping each feel like she can contribute can be difficult,” said Thalken. “They come here with the vision and intent of competing, and sometimes it doesn’t work out. The goal is to have great players work together.”
She remembers many individual players who have stood out over the years – as well as several groups.
“We had a group qualify for nationals in ’84, back when we competed without divisions,” Thalken said. “We were truly the best team that year. It was quite an accomplishment. But, I also have fond memories of years when we weren’t as good. Sometimes the teams that are the most successful aren’t the ones with the most wins.”
Walking away from coaching was something she had given serious thought to for years. She attributes the decision to a combination of factors.
For one thing, it will allow her to be more available to her 91-year-old mother, who is in an assisted living home in Ogallala, instead of being out of town for games. Thalken will also be able to pursue hobbies she hasn’t had time for previously.
“Plus, I believe the team needs more youthful leadership,” said Thalken. “Although the kids keep me young at heart, sometimes it’s difficult to find that physical energy required day in and day out for coaching and teaching in the classroom.”
She will remain area chair of the Mid-Plains Community College mathematics and science division, will continue to teach at the college and will still be a familiar face at NPCC volleyball games.
“What will I miss the most? I really don’t know because I haven’t gotten there, yet,” said Thalken. “I do know that it seems like the right time to go.”