Her success as a coach landed her in the Northwest Nazarene University Athletic Hall of Fame; her compassion for her players landed her in the hearts of those she coached.

Darlene (Epps) Brasch, a 1968 graduate of Oak Harbor High School and former Wildcat volleyball coach, was inducted into the NNU Athletic Hall of Fame Friday, Nov. 13, in Nampa, Ida.

Brasch, who retired in 2011, coached volleyball at NNU from 1989-2000 and served as associate athletic director from 1998-2007. She held a variety of other administrative and teaching positions while at NNU, and returned as an assistant volleyball coach for seven seasons after stepping down from the head job.

Here’s a quick look at what she accomplished as the head coach of the Crusaders:

Most wins by an NNU volleyball coach, 264.

Cascade Conference titles, 1994, 1996, 1998.

NAIA Pacific Northwest Regional Champion, 1997.

Cascade Conference Coach of the Year, 1994, 1995, 1998.

Cascade Conference Women’s All-Sports Coach of the Year, 1995, 1999.

NAIA National Tournament berths, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999.

NAIA final four, 1997, 1998.

Second place, NAIA National Tournament, 1998.

In addition, 16 of her players earned NAIA/NCAA scholar-athlete awards, and 13 won NAIA All-American honors.

Brasch was the Cascade Conference Woman Administrator of the Year in 1996.

After graduating from Oak Harbor High School, Brasch earned her undergraduate degree at then Northwest Nazarene College in 1972 and taught and coached two years in Caldwell, Ida., before returning home to Oak Harbor.

Brasch coached junior high volleyball until taking over the head position at Oak Harbor High School in 1978, where she became one of the most successful Wildcat coaches in the history of OHHS athletics.

She won her first of seven consecutive Western Conference titles in 1981, and, at one point, the Wildcats won 84 straight league matches.

Her teams won six district championships and earned six state tournament berths, placing fifth at state in 1988.

She finished with a 157-61 10-year record at OHHS; 130-28 over the final seven seasons.

Oak Harbor failed to win  the Wesco crown in 1985 when Brasch went on a sabbatical to earn her masters degree in counseling.

The Everett Herald dubbed Brasch “The Wizard of Whidbey” while naming her the All-Area Volleyball Coach of the Year in 1984. She was selected as the Western Conference Coach of the Year in 1984 and 1986.

In 1988, she coached the Western Washington team in the all-state series featuring the state’s top players.

At Brasch’s induction to the NNU Hall of Fame, several letters from former players were read, all noting that it was the relationships that Brasch developed with her players that are remembered today long after the wins have faded.

Brasch’s impact while in Oak Harbor was similar.

Tawyna (Richard) Brewer, winner of multiple state titles while coaching at Burlington-Edison High School, played for Brasch at OHHS.

“Darlene probably had the single most impact on me personally and professionally,” Brewer said by email. “She is the reason that I chose coaching and teaching because she taught us so much about caring about one another, how to be a great teammate and, most importantly, to have high moral standards.

“Throughout my career I have used much of what she has taught me with my own teams. She made me love volleyball, and to this day I am forever grateful for the wonderful opportunity she gave me and the powerful influence she had on me. The relationships we formed with our teams during those high-school years are still present to this day.”

Current Oak Harbor High School coach Kerri (Short) Molitor, who also played from Brasch, said, “Darlene is an inspiration. She initially taught me the love of the game and has continually been an mentor and role model. I am privileged to continue her legacy at Oak Harbor High School.”

Brasch said, “Thinking of my years as a teacher and volleyball coach in Oak Harbor brings tears to my eyes realizing how truly blessed I was to coach so many wonderful young ladies. It was a joy to be a part of such a supportive community, parents and fans.”

Her goal was to win, she said, but, more importantly, that her players enjoyed volleyball and each other and left the program as “better individuals — athletically, academically and spiritually.”

“My greatest joy is the relationships I developed with my players and am thankful for Facebook where I have the privilege of continuing to stay in touch with so many of them,” Brasch said.

“It makes me proud to see former players become successful coaches who carry on the tradition of winning due to the philosophy of putting the emphasis on caring, trusting and having confidence in each other — including their coaches — which brings about the wins and championships.”