After nearly two decades of building the Argyle volleyball team into one of the top programs in the state, Clark Oberle is moving on.
Oberle recently accepted the position of head coach of the Decatur volleyball program and will also serve as the Girls Athletic Director.
As Argyle High School’s only head volleyball coach since the school first opened in 1999, Oberle said he has thoroughly enjoyed watching his program evolve.
“My time at Argyle has been amazing,” Oberle said. “Having watched the program grow from just ninth graders in 1999 to state champions in 2015 was incredible. Eighteen years is so long to be in one school. All the students and athletes that I’ve coached and taught will forever be in my memories.”
The Argyle volleyball team reached the state tournament four out of the last five years, including 2015 when the Lady Eagles won the 4A state championship by defeating Bushland 3-0 (25-17, 25-23, 25-16).
Oberle said he accepted his new role at Decatur High School because it was too good to pass up.
“It was an opportunity for a promotion and to coach one sport, and that wasn’t going to happen in Argyle,” Oberle said. “Decatur made it clear that they wanted me to be their volleyball coach, and it’s nice to feel wanted.”
Oberle also served as an assistant track and field coach at Argyle High School.
The former AHS volleyball coach said he will miss Argyle dearly and said he hopes that his players take away a couple of things from their time competing for his Lady Eagles teams.
“I’d like for them to have learned that with hard work, dedication to team, sacrifice and belief that anything can happen,” Oberle said. “You will be successful–not just on the volleyball court, but in the classroom, in a marriage, as a parent, in the workforce and in life in general.”
Decatur is a district rival for Argyle, and this season the Lady Eagles defeated Decatur both times the teams faced (3-1, 3-1).
Oberle has a career record of 533-239, and Argyle Athletic Director Todd Rodgers said his impact on the athletics program at AHS cannot be underestimated.
“We appreciate Coach Oberle’s commitment and dedication to our school district for the last 18 years, and we wish him the best,” Rodgers said. “Unless he is playing Argyle.”
