Glacier’s Christy Harkins retiring as teacher, coach

You could say the Glacier Wolfpack found unprecedented success under Christy Harkins and it would be true, even if she wasn’t the only volleyball coach the school has had.

On Monday Harkins told her volleyball team she was retiring from coaching at the school, where she’s also taught English since its doors opened in 2007.

She took the team to 10 State AA tournaments in 15 seasons, bringing back third-place trophies in 2010 and 2016. That’s half the story: Last fall marked three decades of volleyball seasons, including three in Bridgeport, Wash.

“It’s a very odd position to be in, after all these years,” Harkins said Wednesday. “It’s a little different way to look at life.

“It’s something I’ve been thinking about. This is my 30th year as a head coach, so it’s not like it was a spur of the moment decision. There are things that pushed me forward to that decision, but I’ve been thinking about it for a while.”

Christy and Mark Harkins moved to the Flathead Valley in 1996, where she took over the Columbia Falls volleyball program while he started as a football assistant in Whitefish (while teaching in Columbia Falls).

Her first season the Wildkats, coming off a third-place showing the year before, surged to the 1996 State A volleyball title. That is among the coaching highlights for Harkins.

“I inherited a really great team and just helped lead them in the right direction,” she said.

Harkins guided Columbia Falls to six state tournaments in seven seasons, then moved to Flathead High in 2002 (that was the year of the season switch, so her 30 seasons include the 2002 winter with the Kats and the 2002 fall with the Bravettes).

Three straight trips to state followed in 2004-06, culminating with a runner-up finish to Billings Senior at the 2006 State AA. Coaching in the winner’s bracket semifinals that year, Harkins was sitting next to assistant Brad Holloway when he noted the Bravettes were going to the championship.

“I said, ‘No we’re not,’ and he said, ‘It’s Game 5 and we have 14 points. We’re going to win,’” Harkins remembered.

A year later Glacier High opened, and since then the Harkins have been the only head coaches Glacier has known for volleyball and boys basketball – and speaking of which, Mark Harkins isn’t looking at retirement.

“No he’s not,” Christy Harkins said. “I’m getting that question a lot.”

Harkins dug out her records in her four stops, and it is impressive: 40-16 in Bridgeport, 118-53 in Columbia Falls, 76-46 at Flathead and 221-159 in Glacier. The total: 455-274.

Among that many wins, another stands out: The first at Glacier.

“Game 4 against Hellgate, we won something like 33-31,” she said. “It took us forever to figure out how to win here at Glacier, and it was great when we finally got that one.”

The numbers and seasons can sneak up on a person, but when she and her husband were chasing degrees at Western Washington, this was the goal.

“Honestly, I hoped so,” she said of her long career. “Because it was a passion of mine. I had hoped to be coaching a long time.”

Harkins noted that the recent two seasons, played in the midst of a pandemic, brought added challenges. She also noted that she knew she was retiring from teaching, which meant a 15-month period where she couldn’t coach, and felt it wouldn’t be her style to do one and not the other, anyway.

“I think there are some other opportunities that I’m interested in, outside of education,” she said. “Coaching and teaching is an extremely emotional investment, and taking a little step away right now seemed the right thing to do.”

“During Christy’s tenure, she has influenced countless young ladies in such a positive way,” Glacier activities director Mark Dennehy said in a statement. “ Christy’s attention to detail, preparation, and knowledge have been key ingredients in the success of the volleyball program. We wish Christy well in all her future endeavors.”

The Harkins’ had the goal to teach and coach in Montana, and they raised a family in the Flathead Valley. Their time in Montana certainly started on a high point.

“That state championship team, even though I wasn’t in Columbia Falls a ton of years, that was special,” Harkins said. “Those girls were a great group, and they are strong pillars of the community still.”

She mentioned Dulcie Berube, who memorably fired up a team that ran off 18 straight games at that state tournament, Hillary Lang and (Glacier assistant) Shay LaCasse.

“Just some great kids that have continued to make an impact in the Flathead community,” Harkins said. “I still have relationships with those kids, which is really great.

“I’ve said it more privately, but I’d like to just thank all the people that have let me coach their kid, and all the kids that let me coach them. It’s been a great ride. I’ve been very thankful to have had this job.”