Ohio State Hall of Fame Coach Jim Stone Passes Away
3/10/2026 10:39:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
26-year coach of the women’s volleyball team led program to three Big Ten titles, 15 NCAA tournaments
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Jim Stone, the all-time leader in coaching wins for the Ohio State women's volleyball program, passed away on Tuesday, March 10 after a courageous battle with cancer. He was 73 and he was living in Fort Collins, Colo.
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Stone served as the Buckeyes' head coach from 1982-2007, the longest tenured coach in program history. He compiled a 531-294 overall record and a 297-177 record in Big Ten play during his tenure. He led the Buckeyes to three Big Ten Championships and 15 NCAA Tournament appearances. He led the program to both of its NCAA semifinals appearances – 1991 and 1994.
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"Jim Stone dedicated much of his life and career to Ohio State women's volleyball," Jen Flynn Oldenburg, Ohio State head coach and four-year standout player for Stone (1996-99), said. "Jim accumulated many awards as the leader of the Buckeyes; leading two teams to the only Final Fours in program history. He coached numerous All-Americans, All Region and All Big Ten student-athletes.
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"Jim didn't coach for the accolades, though. He was a teacher and he was very passionate and intentional about the process of becoming great. After retiring from Ohio State, Jim continued to stay in the game in the USA High Performance pipeline, speaking at clinics, authored an e-book on practice essentials and never stopped sharing his knowledge and insight with the volleyball world.
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"I was fortunate not only to have him as my coach, but as a mentor and eventually a friend. Jim's impact on my career and my life is immeasurable. I truly believe I would not be in the position I am in without his wisdom, guidance and support. Jim has left a lasting impression not only on Ohio State but the entire volleyball community."
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Stone, who is fifth in Big Ten Conference history in both wins and Big Ten championships, was inducted into the American Volleyball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2021 and the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2012. He is 11th on Ohio State's all-time list of longest tenured head coaches.
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His teams finished 16 seasons ranked nationally, highlighted by a No. 4 ranking in 1994. The 1991 Volleyball Monthly National Coach of the Year led the 1991 Buckeye squad to an undefeated record in Big Ten play. Stone also earned AVCA Mideast Region Coach of the Year and Big Ten Coach of the Year honors in 1991. He was named AVCA Mideast Region Coach of the Year and Big Ten Coach of the Year four times apiece throughout his Ohio State tenure.
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Stone coached 19 AVCA All-Americans, including AVCA Player of the Year winners Laura Davis (1994) and Stacey Gordon (2004). Seventeen of his student-athletes combined for 31 AVCA All-Region honors, while 26 student-athletes totaled 60 All-Big Ten accolades. Academically, Stone coached two Academic All-Americans with student-athletes totaling eight Academic All-District and 81 Academic All-Big Ten honors. Current head coach Jen Flynn Oldenburg played for four years under Stone, graduating with a bachelor's degree in sport and leisure studies in 2001.
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Outside of Ohio State, Stone served as a United States Olympic Festival Coach three times (1981, 1986, 1990) and coached at the 1999 World University Games. Stone also went on to serve as the head coach of the U.S. Girls' Youth National Team, coaching them in six FIVB World Championship events. He is the only USA age group coach of either a male or female team to win medals at the world event, capturing silver in 2013 and 2015 and gold in 2019.
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Longest Tenured Ohio State Head Coaches
36 – Jim Brown, Men's Golf (1973-2009)
35 – Pete Hanson, Men's Volleyball (1985-2019)
33 – Herman Wirthwein, Men's Tennis (1925-57)
30 – Therese Hession, Women's Golf (1992-2022)
29 – Lori Walker-Hock, Women's Soccer (1997-present)
29 – Casey Fredericks, Wrestling (1948-76)
28 – Robert Kepler, Men's Golf (1937-65)
28 – Woody Hayes, Football (1951-78)
28 – John Daly, Men's Tennis (1972-99)
27 – Ty Tucker, Men's Tennis (1999-present)
26 – Jim Stone, Women's Volleyball (1982-2007)
25 – Marty Karow, Baseball (1951-75)
25 – Larry Cox, Women's Gymnastics (1979-2004)
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Stone served as the Buckeyes' head coach from 1982-2007, the longest tenured coach in program history. He compiled a 531-294 overall record and a 297-177 record in Big Ten play during his tenure. He led the Buckeyes to three Big Ten Championships and 15 NCAA Tournament appearances. He led the program to both of its NCAA semifinals appearances – 1991 and 1994.
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"Jim Stone dedicated much of his life and career to Ohio State women's volleyball," Jen Flynn Oldenburg, Ohio State head coach and four-year standout player for Stone (1996-99), said. "Jim accumulated many awards as the leader of the Buckeyes; leading two teams to the only Final Fours in program history. He coached numerous All-Americans, All Region and All Big Ten student-athletes.
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"Jim didn't coach for the accolades, though. He was a teacher and he was very passionate and intentional about the process of becoming great. After retiring from Ohio State, Jim continued to stay in the game in the USA High Performance pipeline, speaking at clinics, authored an e-book on practice essentials and never stopped sharing his knowledge and insight with the volleyball world.
Â
"I was fortunate not only to have him as my coach, but as a mentor and eventually a friend. Jim's impact on my career and my life is immeasurable. I truly believe I would not be in the position I am in without his wisdom, guidance and support. Jim has left a lasting impression not only on Ohio State but the entire volleyball community."
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Stone, who is fifth in Big Ten Conference history in both wins and Big Ten championships, was inducted into the American Volleyball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2021 and the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2012. He is 11th on Ohio State's all-time list of longest tenured head coaches.
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His teams finished 16 seasons ranked nationally, highlighted by a No. 4 ranking in 1994. The 1991 Volleyball Monthly National Coach of the Year led the 1991 Buckeye squad to an undefeated record in Big Ten play. Stone also earned AVCA Mideast Region Coach of the Year and Big Ten Coach of the Year honors in 1991. He was named AVCA Mideast Region Coach of the Year and Big Ten Coach of the Year four times apiece throughout his Ohio State tenure.
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Stone coached 19 AVCA All-Americans, including AVCA Player of the Year winners Laura Davis (1994) and Stacey Gordon (2004). Seventeen of his student-athletes combined for 31 AVCA All-Region honors, while 26 student-athletes totaled 60 All-Big Ten accolades. Academically, Stone coached two Academic All-Americans with student-athletes totaling eight Academic All-District and 81 Academic All-Big Ten honors. Current head coach Jen Flynn Oldenburg played for four years under Stone, graduating with a bachelor's degree in sport and leisure studies in 2001.
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Outside of Ohio State, Stone served as a United States Olympic Festival Coach three times (1981, 1986, 1990) and coached at the 1999 World University Games. Stone also went on to serve as the head coach of the U.S. Girls' Youth National Team, coaching them in six FIVB World Championship events. He is the only USA age group coach of either a male or female team to win medals at the world event, capturing silver in 2013 and 2015 and gold in 2019.
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Longest Tenured Ohio State Head Coaches
36 – Jim Brown, Men's Golf (1973-2009)
35 – Pete Hanson, Men's Volleyball (1985-2019)
33 – Herman Wirthwein, Men's Tennis (1925-57)
30 – Therese Hession, Women's Golf (1992-2022)
29 – Lori Walker-Hock, Women's Soccer (1997-present)
29 – Casey Fredericks, Wrestling (1948-76)
28 – Robert Kepler, Men's Golf (1937-65)
28 – Woody Hayes, Football (1951-78)
28 – John Daly, Men's Tennis (1972-99)
27 – Ty Tucker, Men's Tennis (1999-present)
26 – Jim Stone, Women's Volleyball (1982-2007)
25 – Marty Karow, Baseball (1951-75)
25 – Larry Cox, Women's Gymnastics (1979-2004)
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