Judy BeardsleyJudy Beardsley remains one of Colorado’s volleyball coaching icons. Whether she was the head coach, or an assistant coach, all the teams that she was coaching did, was win.
As a head coach at Merino (20 years) and at Peetz (2), Beardsley compiled a coaching record of 502-88, and 85% winning mark from 1979 to 2002.
Her Merino teams captured 10 state titles over that time, winning in 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1999 and 2001. But that isn’t where it ended.
Her teams won three runners-up trophies in 1986, 1994 and 1996. They were also third place in 1982, 1983 and 1995. After a format change, they also earned two Final Four appearances in 1998 and 2000.
After her retirement in 2002, Beardsley took an assistant’s role at Sterling High School and helped the Tigers win a 4A title in 2005 and a second place finish in 2003.
She was named Class 1A Coach of the Year on 10 occasions, was named the NHSCA’s 2000 National High School Coach of the Year. She has been named Coach of the Year 16 times including honors from including The Rocky Mountain News and The Denver Post.
She was inducted last spring into the Colorado High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Beardley’s teams won 10 league championships, eight Lower Platte titles at Merino and two North Central championships at Peetz.
The Peetz High School alumnus has guided her teams to 19 district championships, nine regional titles and qualified for the state tournament on 19 occasions.
She is a 24-year member of the Colorado High School Coaches Association and has been a member of the Colorado Coaches of Girls’ Sports for 20 years. She served four years on the CHSAA Volleyball Committee and was the CHSCA Volleyball president for four years.
