Nickerson High School announced Tuesday the hiring of Trish Wade as the new Head Volleyball Coach, bringing with her an extraordinary legacy of success and leadership in high school athletics. Adding to the excitement, Coach Wade will be joined on the sidelines by her daughter, Teresa Rush, who will serve as the program’s new Assistant Coach.
Coach Wade brings an accomplished resume to Nickerson after a standout 17-year tenure at St. John High School, where she compiled more than 420 career victories and built one of the state’s most dominant small-school programs. Under her leadership, the St. John Tigers captured three Class 1A state championships—first in 2008 with a 43-2 record, then back-to-back 1A Division I titles in 2010 and 2011 with records of 41-4 and 43-2, respectively.
Wade's consistency was just as impressive as her championship runs. In 10 of her 17 seasons, she guided St. John to the state semifinals, demonstrating her ability to build and sustain a high-performing program year after year. Just last fall, she led the Tigers to a 29-15 season and another appearance in the 1A Division I state tournament.
In addition to her coaching success, Wade is a decorated athlete in her own right. She was inducted into the Barton Community College Sports Hall of Fame in 2011, honoring a collegiate career that began with dominance at the NJCAA level. Wade was a two-time All-American for Barton from 1985-86, helping lead the Cougars to a remarkable 111-10 record and back-to-back Top 4 finishes at the national tournament.
She continued her playing career at Florida Southern College, where she earned AVCA Second Team All-America honors in 1987 and was twice named First Team All-Sunshine State Conference. Wade still holds multiple school records, including solo blocks in a match (11), in a season (99), and in a career (182), and remains among the all-time leaders in several statistical categories.
Beyond her own athletic legacy, Wade is also the proud mother of NBA forward Dean Wade, a former Kansas State standout and current player for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Dean made history at K-State as the only player to record at least 1,000 points, 100 3-pointers, 500 rebounds, 200 assists, and 100 steals in a career—testament to the strong athletic roots in the Wade family.
Adding to the legacy is Wade’s daughter, Teresa Rush, who will join her mother on the court this fall as Nickerson’s new Assistant Volleyball Coach. Rush brings her own passion for the game, a shared vision of excellence, and a unique synergy that can only come from a mother-daughter coaching team.
With an elite coaching pedigree, a Hall of Fame playing background, and a family legacy of excellence, the Wade-Rush duo is set to make an immediate impact at Nickerson. The Panthers are poised for a season defined by competitive spirit, high expectations, and a renewed commitment to success.