Welcome to the Hall of Fame, Jolene Voga

Former South Hamilton softball coach gets the exciting call

By Troy Banning, DFJ Sports Editor

JOHNSTON - The call came a few weeks ago. It's a call that no coach ever expects to get, yet is thrilled to receive.

Jolene Voga, welcome to the Hall of Fame.

Voga, South Hamilton's softball coach for 20 years until she resigned following the 2006 season, was welcomed as one of the newest members of the Iowa Girls Coaches Association Hall of Fame Tuesday night during the Senior All-Star softball game held here. She was joined in the 2008 class by Carlisle head softball coach Jim Flaws.

Always known for her spunk, whether it be on the diamond or off it, Voga says she was too stunned to say much when she picked up the phone and heard the news.

"When the call came I just said, 'are you kidding me,'" Voga said Tuesday afternoon as she prepared to take her rightful spot among the elite coaches in the state. "And then I just sobbed. I'm just very humbled by all of this and so very grateful."

Voga - 494-307 during her career - coached one season at Paton-Churdan and two seasons at Kanawha before landing at South Hamilton. From 1987 to 2006 she directed the Hawks to more than 400 victories, a handful of Heart of Iowa Conference championships and a pair of state tournament appearances.

South Hamilton placed fifth in Class 1A in 2002 and a year later finished third.

"I was just fortunate to be surrounded by a lot of good people," Voga said.

Funny, those good people that Voga spoke of feel the same way about her.

"Her getting inducted just makes sense because she gave so much to the game of softball," Audra Hovick, a multiple time all-state pitcher under Voga's direction, said upon hearing the news. "She always gave 100 percent to the game and I don't think I ever saw her not want to be somewhere for softball. It's just great to see her get something back."

Hovick, a 2003 graduate of South Hamilton High School, was in the circle for both of the program's state tournament runs. She finished her career with 123 victories - 104th all-time in the state of Iowa - and only 28 losses. And she says that Voga was a big reason why she was so successful.

"Jolene was definitely enthusiastic and I loved playing for her," Hovick said. "But it was more than just softball. I loved that she cared about each of us as a person and not just as a player."

Voga's coaching style was all about aggression, all of the time. Her teams constantly took extra bases when the opportunity presented itself and they never - ever - took their foot off the accelerator.

But whether the Hawks were winning by 10 runs - which happened a lot, particularly in her final few years at the helm - or losing a heartbreaking regional final - which happened a time or two as well - Voga was always there with a high-five or a supportive hug.

"We played with an aggressiveness that came from our coach," Hovick, who went on to play softball at Waldorf College in Forest City, said. "In the heat of the game, you could just see that intensity from her and that just picked us up as a team and pretty much never allowed us to sit back on our heels."

Voga opted to end her stellar career in 2006 in order to devote more time to her family. Her son, Cody, was a key contributing starter on the South Hamilton baseball team that reached the Class 2A district final round this summer for the first time since 1991.

Does she miss being in the third base coach's box? Absolutely. But does she regret her decision to step away? Absolutely not.

"I just love watching Cody play. I can't miss an inning," Voga said. "I even show up early just to see him warm-up, that's how much I love it."

Cody and husband Stewart were both by Jolene's side Tuesday night as she accepted her spot in the Hall of Fame. Cody served as her escort.

She couldn't have asked for more.