Lafayette Jeff athletics has not known its volleyball program without Gail Gripe in decades.

Next season, the Bronchos will have to adjust to not having the legendary coach on the sidelines.

After 30 seasons at Lafayette Jeff, Gripe resigned as head volleyball coach Thursday afternoon, ending a coaching career that started in 1972 and brought her to the Bronchos in 1981.

"Probably what I am going to miss the most is the girls," said Gripe. "It's just fun watching them develop into young ladies. As these girls come through the program, they develop into young adults."

Gripe will continue to teach English and coach the boys intramural volleyball program at the high school.

Gripe's coaching career began in 1972 in Indianapolis. In 1980, she led Creston High in Grand Rapids, Mich., to a state title. The following year she arrived at Jeff as an assistant, then was promoted to head coach the following season.

But more importantly, Gripe is viewed as someone who opened many eyes to the sport of volleyball.

"Volleyball has always been that sport that is not football or basketball, and she's let a lot of people know that volleyball is an exciting sport," said West Lafayette coach Chad Marshall, who coached under Gripe for 14 years. "She's done an amazing job of promoting it in Lafayette."

The sport has grown since Gripe began coaching. She coached Creston to the school's first state title in any sport. But the principal and athletic director were not in attendance.

At Lafayette Jeff, former athletic directors Joe Heath and Maurie Denny, and now Mark Preston, have allowed the volleyball program to thrive.

"I go back to Joe Heath giving me my shot to coach at Jeff," Gripe recalls. "I really wanted to teach here. We chose to live in the Jeff district. I was honored with that. He was mentoring me and then Maurie Denny took over and added his own suggestions.

"Mark was (Gripe's son) JT's basketball coach. It's kind of gone full circle."

In 2008, Gripe was elected to the Indiana Coaches of Girls Sports Association's Volleyball Hall of Fame. She finishes with a career record of 642-396 in 38 overall seasons of coaching.

More important that accolades, records and championships, Gripe is remembered for bringing a volleyball community together.

"She opened up the door to her school for everybody. Everybody come in, everybody learned and everybody worked together," said Beth Crum, former Twin Lakes and McCutcheon coach. "She spent a lot of time helping kids from every school -- it didn't matter -- just for the sake of volleyball."

WL's Marshall, Harrison's Lori Janssen and Central Catholic's Brad McCarter all came through Gripe's system as players and coaches before landing a head coaching job.

Last season, McCarter coached Central Catholic to the program's first state championship. Janssen's Raiders won a fourth-straight sectional championship and a Hoosier Crossroads Conference title, and Marshall's Red Devils had a turnaround season in his first year at the helm.

And Gripe cheered for them all. Moments after winning a state championship, McCarter stepped away from the spotlight to thank his mentor Gripe.

Crum believes seeing McCarter win a state title meant just as much to Gripe as if she had won it herself. It's a sentiment echoed by McCarter.

"She's just wired different," McCarter said. "She wants and cares about the people she competes against. Most importantly, she cares about the sport.

"What sets her apart is she has a true love for the game."

Marshall nearly gave up coaching volleyball, but was brought back when he saw how Gripe had rallied a community together.

"My first experience with Gail was through club," Marshall said. "At the time, she brought the entire area together. I thought she was amazing."

Marshall isn't alone in his thinking. Each year he attends the American Volleyball Coaches Assocation convention.

"You walk down the street with her and a thousand coaches know who she is," Marshall said.

From 1993-95, Gripe led the Bronchos to state three consecutive years. After losing to Muncie Burris in the title game in 1993, Jeff fell again to Burris in the state semifinals in 1994 and to Michigan City in the semifinals in 1995.

In recent years, the Bronchos haven't been as successful. Their last sectional title came in 2004.

Meanwhile, Gripe continued teaching lessons, which was what being a volleyball coach ultimately was all about for her along the way.

"It teaches you life lessons, which is why I think I stuck with it for so long," Gripe said.

"It makes you really work on self-discipline."