Shaping Young Minds On And Off The Court

Anne DiPrima’s passion takes her into sixth decade of coaching

For Bethpage High School girls volleyball coach Anne DiPrima, coaching and teaching have been unrelenting twin passions since she was hired by the district fresh out of Adelphi University in 1970. Milestones aplenty have accrued over time for DiPrima, who was named 2019-20 Northeast Section Girls Volleyball Coach of the Year by the National Federation of State High School Coaches Association. The Farmingdale native was nominated by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association. The Northeast Section includes schools from Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont. Honorees were selected based upon their performance in the 2019-20 school year, community and school involvement and coaching philosophy.

“Being recognized among so many worthy recipients is a humbling experience and I am truly thankful for the honor,” DiPrima said. “My reward is knowing that I have encouraged, guided and influenced the girls that I have coached over so many years at Bethpage and it is my pleasure to be a part of their journey in life. I enjoy every minute of it.”

While coaching volleyball has been a constant for DiPrima, she’s also served stints heading up field hockey, girls basketball and softball, where the former pitcher put in 38 years of coaching before walking away in 2014, two years after she stopped teaching physical education and health at John F. Kennedy Middle School. A lifelong lover of school, the die was cast for being an educator when the former Daler was in high school, during which time she switched her goal from teaching math to physical education when she was a junior.
“The reason for the change was I thought I could have more influence on students in that kind of [physical education] environment versus the classroom,” she explained. “At the time, when I was in school, I thought if I was going to have any kind of impact on kids, it’s got to be in more of a social environment. But education—I always loved school. I had great teachers and role models—people rub off on you.”

As someone whose coaching style encourages camaraderie via familial straight talk, encouragement and accountability (fueled by liberal doses of affirmative quotes), the DiPrima formula has yielded plenty of dividends beyond this recent award. Back in 2018, DiPrima became the first Long Island girls volleyball coach to reach 600 all-time wins, passing the 590 victories by Smithtown’s Maura Stouter in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) record books. (Eden’s Stephen Pierce is the all-time leader with 991). DiPrima also coached the district to the championship Bethpage snagged in the old LIGA (Long Island Girls Association) league back in the 1974-75 season and a Nassau County Championship trophy her team hoisted in the 1985-86 season.
“The championship for Counties in ‘85 was really special,” she said. “I was pretty proud of that because at that time, you were competing against all teams—it wasn’t Class A or Class AA—you played everybody.”

DiPrima’s passion for working with her players has been driven by the idea of her helping them become “elite citizens” versus elite athletes. It’s a driving factor behind a career going into its sixth decade.
“I always tell my kids to do what you love and love what you do,” she said. “One of my favorite quotes is ‘A good coach can change a game, a great coach can change a life.’ You’re not teaching sports, you’re teaching kids. You’re not coaching sports, you’re coaching kids. Hopefully, you can influence them in a positive manner and make their lives better. You’re trying to help make them become better people and have them learn about sportsmanship, values and life lessons. That’s probably why I love it so much—that’s what I think coaching is all about.”

With the State of New York and Governor Andrew Cuomo signing off on bringing back “high risk sports,” girls volleyball, which normally plays its games from the last Monday of August through the end of October before sliding into November playoffs, will instead kick off its season on March 1. And while the Class A districts Bethpage will compete against are the geographically far-flung Hewlett, Mepham, North Shore, Valley Stream North and Elmont, DiPrima’s biggest concerns are making sure she and her players figure out how to navigate myriad pandemic protocols.
“There are a lot of guidelines and for me, it is going to be a challenge,” she said. “When you play sports, especially when you’re close to the kids, what happens when they do something good? You give them a pat on the back or a high five. You grab them by the hand and really shake it. There is contact there in a good way. After you get a point, you get together and high five each other. What are they going to do, run away from each other? I just can’t imagine what it’s going to be like for these poor kids.”

But even with having to grapple with COVID-19 uncertainties, DiPrima sees it as just another obstacle to meet head-on in a career that’s given her a deep connection with players past and present.
“In your lifetime, to influence kids and have some kind of meaning in their live is where it’s at,” she said. “Don’t get me wrong—I’m very humbled and honored by this award, But I’d rather be talking to you about my kids, athletics, teaching and coaching. My reward is doing what I’m doing.”