Lee’s Summit West volleyball coach Lori Hanaway retires after 26 seasons

Lori Hanaway reflected on a 26-year high school volleyball coaching career Thursday, and within a matter of seconds, the conversation shifted to a four-year stint from 2007 to 2010. Hanaway called it the highlight of her time on the job.

The reason was simple.

“I was able to coach my daughter (Lindsey), and while coaching your kid has its challenges, getting to see them play every day is definitely the upside of that,” she said.

The next chapter will include a step back from coaching to see another daughter play.

Hanaway has retired as the Lee’s Summit West High School volleyball coach, a decision she made to enable her to watch her daughter Abby complete her high school career at O’Hara.

“I’ve rarely been able to see her play the last three years because when I’m coaching, she’s playing,” Hanaway said. “That was the biggest factor for me (retiring).”

Hanaway plans to continue teaching at Lee’s Summit West.

As a volleyball coach, she amassed 724 victories and eight state championships — seven of those while at O’Hara and one more at St. Teresa’s Academy. O’Hara won four straight state titles from 2007 to 2010, which coincided with Lindsey’s time with the Celtics.

Lee’s Summit West finished second in the state twice during Hanaway’s five years coaching the Titans. Hanaway, who also won a volleyball state title as a player at William Chrisman in 1983, was selected for the Missouri High School Volleyball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2011.

This story was originally published December 10, 2015 at 5:38 PM with the headline "Lee’s Summit West volleyball coach Lori Hanaway retires after 26 seasons."