Warsaw’s Hepler Takes Talents To Taylor
WARSAW – Chandra Hepler has left an indelible mark on the Warsaw volleyball program.
One that as both a star player and a tremendous coach will never, ever fade.
It’s a program that Hepler loves dearly and was not looking to leave.
But when opportunity knocked, she knew that she had to answer the call to pursue her passion.
Hepler, who has spent the last five years as the junior varsity coach for the Tigers, resigned last week. She has been hired as an assistant coach for the volleyball program at Taylor University in Upland.
“This is an opportunity that literally fell into my lap,” said Hepler in a phone interview Wednesday morning. “I was not looking to leave Warsaw.”
Erin Luthy, who is entering her second season as the the Taylor head coach, called Hepler three weeks ago after her assistant coach resigned. Hepler and her family, husband Abe and three children, quickly fell in love with the school.
“It’s all happened so fast, but this was the best fit for our entire family,” Hepler said. “All of us fell in love with Taylor when we went down there and talked to the people and visited the campus. It was just so clear that I was meant to be there. It gives me an opportunity to pursue what I love (coaching) full time.”
Hepler, who was a four-sport star at WCHS, did not tell the Warsaw players about her decision until at practice this past Saturday.
“It was really hard to tell our players, one of the toughest conversations that I have ever had to have,” said Hepler, choking back the tears even four days later while recalling Saturday.
“It was just extremely emotional for me. These girls at Warsaw have meant the world to me and my kids, too. They have blessed me more that I even thought was possible.
“I have tried to invest myself in them. My goal has always been as a coach here to make them better students, better daughters, better players, and better moms and wives in their futures.
“But like I told them, this is not good-bye forever. It’s see you later. I plan to still be around. I plan to try and recruit some of them to come to Taylor and to continue to coach some of them during the club season.”
Hepler, who played volleyball at Missouri after starring for coach Penny Salm at WCHS, posted an eye-popping 114-14 mark the last five seasons as the JV coach. She was also the varsity assistant to Mike Howard for four years and then for one year after Rick Ashmore took over the program a year ago. Hepler’s JV team went 25-4 last fall.
Warsaw is currently going through two-a-day practices in preparation for the season. The Tigers scrimmage at Valparaiso Thursday night and then host Leo in the season opener next Tuesday. Players, including senior Nikki Parrett, who is currently sidelined due to a knee injury, mentioned at practice Monday how much their former coach and mentor meant to them.
“I’m really happy for coach, but we are really going to miss her,” said Parrett, who hopes to be back later in the season. “She was just a great coach and such a good friend to me.”
Taylor, an NAIA program that competes in the Crossroads League with the likes of Grace, Goshen and Bethel, opens its season at a tournament in North Carolina Aug. 25-26. Taylor plays at Grace on Aug. 30.
“The timing to do this is not ideal, but like I said, it all happened so fast,” said Hepler.
“But Rick (Ashmore) has been great through all of this. He’s been amazing. He’s really helped me grow the last year with the opportunities that he has given me. I look up to him and respect him. He’s been a great role model and a friend to me.
“I really want to thank everyone at Warsaw for all of their support. Dave Anson (the WCHS athletic director) has been amazing. Everyone in the athletic office (Brenda Wright and Amy Burgh), along with Dr. Hoffert (superintendent Dr. David Hoffert) and Troy (WCHS principal Troy Akers) have all been incredible. I appreciate all of them so much.”
Hepler, a 1995 WCHS graduate, has been a stay at home mom since June 2016. That was after she spent the previous 13 years in pharmaceutical sales with GlaxoSmithKline. Her and husband, Abe, have three children in nine-year old twins A.J. and Ellie and four-year old Eden.
Hepler, the former Chandra Hopkins, is ready for the next chapter in her volleyball life.
“I’m ecstatic and looking forward to coaching at Taylor,” said Hepler. “I’m so excited about it and feel at home there.”
Expect her to make her mark there too as Warsaw’s loss is definitely Taylor’s gain.