Valor Christian Mourns Beloved Coach Who Passed Just After State Title Win

By: Jesse Sarles | CBS Colorado

A Colorado community is mourning the loss of a legendary Colorado athlete and coach. Jayne Gibson-McHugh died over the weekend from cancer. She was the volleyball coach at Valor Christian High School.

McHugh’s death came soon after the Eagles won their fourth straight 5A state title. They are the first girls’ volleyball team from the 5A classification to win four straight state championships.

The Colorado High School Activities Association shared a photo online showing McHugh’s hand holding the game ball from Saturday night’s championship game not long before she died. The school told families she watched the game from her hospital bed and players on the team brought the ball to her afterwards.

McHugh was unable to coach for the last 7 weeks and the team was run by interim head coach Trisha Kroll, who had been her former assistant coach. Kroll said the “impact Jayne is leaving on volleyball is profound.”

“She has empowered countless women to be strong and to recognize that if they get knocked down, to rise again,” McHugh said in a statement posted on the CHSAA website.

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