Bill Lang (Andy Morales/AllSportsTucson.com)

Ironwood Ridge girls’ volleyball coach Bill Lang is only 39 wins away from breaking the all-time win total of 455 matches set by legendary Rincon/University head coach Juanita Kingston. Lang is expected to break that Southern Arizona mark sometime in the fall of 2018 but he is only three matches shy of coaching in 973 matches which would break the record if 972 held by Kingston.

Former Sahuaro head coach Sandy Novak holds the combined win-total record of 673. Novak retired this past spring. Former Salpointe coach Amy Johnson is sitting at 670 career wins. Johnson’s 347 wins on the boy’s side might never be broken.

It is possible for Lang to break the 1,000-match mark this fall. Salpointe coach Heather Moore-Martin no longer coaches boys but she has been the most efficient with three state championships in only 553 matches. Moore-Martin broke the 400-win barrier in the first round of the 2016 4A state championship playoffs. Salpointe pulled off three more wins to take the state title:

SOUTHERN ARIZONA VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON WATCHLIST

Sandy Novak, Sahuaro
673-203 (876)
402: Girls (2 runner-up)
269: Boys (1 championship & 1 runner-up)

Juanita Kingston, Rincon/UHS
671-301 (972)
455: Girls (1 championship & 1 runner-up)
216: Boys (1 runner-up)

Amy Johnson, Salpointe
670-187-36 (893)
323: Girls
347: Boys (2 runner-up)

Bill Lang, Ironwood Ridge (Active)
635-335 (970)
417: Girls (2 runner-up)
218: Boys

Melva Lundy, Canyon del Oro
592-234 (826)
(1 championship with the boys & 3 runner-up with the boys)
(unknown breakdown)

Heather Moore-Martin, Green Fields, Catalina & Salpointe (Active)
403-150 (553)
189: Girls (1 championship & 1 runner-up)
214: Boys (2 championships)

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Andy Morales was recognized by the AIA as the top high school reporter in 2014 and he was awarded the Ray McNally Award in 2017 and he has been a youth, high school and college coach for over 30 years. His own children have won multiple state high school championships and were named to all-state teams. Competing in hockey, basketball, baseball and track & field in high school, his unique perspective can only be found here and on AZPreps365.com. Andy was named a Local Hero by the Tucson Weekly for 2016. Contact Andy Morales at AMoralesMyTucson@yahoo.com