Scott Gallagher could be called a volleyball guru.

The 1988 St. John Central graduate guided the Irish to their first-ever Ohio Valley Athletic Conference playoff berth in 1993. Even though he has re-located to the Columbus area, volleyball is still a big part of his life.

Gallagher is a volunteer coach at St. Pius X in Reynoldsburg where he has led many teams to the Columbus Diocese championship.

This past season ended his boys’ coaching career, but he went out in a blaze of glory. He ended his outstanding coaching career with a 40-game regular-season unbeaten streak. His boys’ teams won five straight regular-season titles and four tournament championships over the last five years.

Because of his success, he was selected to coach the 16-and-under Zenith Volleyball Academy this season. He led it to a 10th place ranking in the Ohio Valley Region, which is the largest region in USA Volleyball.

In addition to those duties, the 1992 Wheeling Jesuit University alum also coached the 14-and-under team for Vanguard Volleyball Club. The team had won a mere eight games the prior season, but with Gallagher at the helm, it captured the Ohio Valley Region regular-season championship.

After a successful winter campaign, the club opted to send the team to Richmond, Va., to qualify for the boys’ Junior National championships in Columbus. The squad nabbed the final qualifying spot and finished as the 29th ranked team in the country.

The volleyball didn’t fall far from the net as far as his son, Kevin, goes.

The sophomore-to-be at St. Charles Preparatory School in Columbus was named second team All-CCL and honorable mention all-region as the starting Libero for the regional semifinalists.

Prior to high school, Kevin was a four-year starter on the St. Pius championship teams. He ended his grade school career winning 33 of 34 matches.

On the club level, the younger Gallagher has been playing with the Vanguard squad for three years, playing up in age all three seasons. Last year’s team finished third nationally in the 15-and-under club division at the 2014 Junior Nationals. This year’s team participated in bid-qualifying tournaments in Chicago, Daytona and St. Louis. Despite entering the event as the 28th seed, it finished 11th in the country.

Another player on the 14U team with local ties is Alex McLane. He is the grandson of Carole Mehlman Keyser who grew up in Sunset Heights and graduated from Bridgeport High School in 1959.

McLane played on the St. Pius teams and had a two-year record of 24-0. He is attending St. Charles Prep this fall.

Scott Gallagher is the son of Bridgeport residents Ann and Vince Gallagher. He is married and he and his wife, Julie, also have a daughter, Megan, who also plays volleyball.

Academic All-Ohio

A trio of local high school baseball standouts were recently honored by the Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Association as Academic All-Ohioans.

Barnesville’s Aaron Kerner, Buckeye Local’s Eric Banal and Harrison Central’s Austin Kowalski were named to the talented squad.

Other OVAC players receiving mention were Fort Frye’s Samuel Bidwell and Terren Huck, along with Edison’s Collin Skeeles.