Coupeville Sports

A different side of the volleyball coach, on one of her missions to China to help orphans.

One of the best coaches I have worked with on and off for the past two decades is leaving the biz.

Toni Crebbin, who led by example on the court and off, where she helped lead numerous missions to help Chinese orphans, is stepping down as Coupeville High School volleyball coach after twenty years in the program. Assistant Shannon Holcomb is exiting with her, leaving CHS minus both a varsity and JV coach.

Their final moments came in a loss to Friday Harbor at the district tourney Saturday, and then, in the locker room, when Crebbin told an emotional team about her and Holcomb’s imminent departures.

“I was really upset when she told us, because I still have two years left and because I didn’t get to know her as well as I wish I could have,” said sophomore outside hitter Madeline Strasburg. “When Creb and Shannon told us they were both leaving, I think everyone in the locker room got tears in their eyes. I wish she wasn’t going, but I am so proud to say I was one of the girls she coached!

“She was a great coach!,” she added. “Whenever we would come into a timeout she was always encouraging us, even when we were down by a lot. She always believed in us.”

The decision had been several years in the making, Crebbin said. With the younger of her two sons, Josh, graduating from Oak Harbor this year, and two adorable eight-year old daughters hanging around the house looking for a bit of mom time, 20 years had a nice ring to it.

“I figured it was a nice round number to end on,” Crebbin said. “Seriously, I have been talking this over with my husband for three years now, planning for my son Josh’s senior year to be my last.

“This year’s team was one of the nicest groups I have coached, not to mention drama free, so it was nice to finish with that as a positive,” she added. “Now I can play mom and actively participate in my daughter’s off island gymnastics carpool, as well as anticipating driving off Island for my other daughter’s select soccer in the near future. Who knows, I may even coach them in club volleyball some day!”

While she has always rooted for two schools, with her husband Mike running the wrestling program at OHHS and Josh playing football and wrestling for the Wildcats, she is not forsaking the Wolves any time soon.

“Cheering on the CHS volleyball team is definitely on my agenda too,” Crebbin said. “I told (Coupeville AD) Lori Stolee that I will help out with the transition and will make the new coach’s transition a smooth one.

“I am coordinating with Steve Swankie to get the club team up and running,” she added. “So hopefully there is a high number of participation from the girls.”

While the decision probably won’t fully impact her until the next volleyball season arrives and she no longer finds herself on the bench, she is already moving on and adjusting to life as a full-time mom and cheerleader.

“This is usually the time when volleyball slows down for me, and life gets cranking as a wrestling widow/mom,” Crebbin said. “I’m looking forward to being in the stands and cheering my son on to state — although I think that is more stressful than coaching!”