Laura and Sharon Neugebauer
Mick Haley had the pleasure of coaching one of San Antonio's greatest sister acts.
Back in the 1980s at the University of Texas, Laura Neugebauer followed Sharon Neugebauer to Austin and joined the Longhorns' volleyball team; the two quickly formed one of the most devastating frontline combinations in school history. With a blend of quickness and power, the sisters kept the UT volleyball machine humming into the NCAA tournament on an annual basis.
That's why Haley can't wait to get to San Antonio for Laura Neugebauer Groff's induction into the San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame. "I wouldn't miss it for the world," Haley said. "With Sharon being in the (UT) Hall of Fame, that's a great thing. Now, both sisters have been honored at the highest levels in their communities, and I think that's pretty special."
Sharon Neugebauer Sport:
Volleyball (1981-84); Track and Field (1982) All-American in volleyball and track & field Inducted: 2005 Hall of Honor
Led UT to the 1981 AIAW national title in volleyball and the 1982 AIAW outdoor track & field title.
Competed on the 3,200-meter relay team in track as a senior
Member of four SWC championship volleyball teams
Three-time All-SWC player and league MVP in 1983
Led UT to NCAA Elite Eight in 1984 and 1985
She pursued a career as an elementary school teacher and age group coach.
Laura Neugebauer Groff
Laura is a former All-American at the University of Texas. During her collegiate career, she served as captain and guided the Longhorns to four Southwest Conference Championships from 1982-85. In 1992, she was named to the league’s All-Decade team, and in 2002, the San Antonio Express-News named her one of its most influential people in women’s sports.
“Alongside the competition, she definitely instills character and integrity and to always give it our all in all we do,” said Shelby Williams, a freshman defensive specialist at UTSA. “She wants us to be successful women once we graduate from the program.”
Comparing present volleyball to the 1980s, Laura says, "When we played, you were a more complete player." "There were more all-around players because we had to serve and dig to win a point.”
"There was a lot more emphasis on ball control back then, whereas now your big hitters don't necessarily have to be the best ball handlers."
Lura during her playing years
Laura Neugebauer's early years as a volleyball player remind me of Anya Taylor-joy, who played the chess master Beth Harmon in the Netflix series Queen's Gambit. Laura was obsessed with volleyball as Beth Harmon was with chess. An unhealthy focus, no matter what the obession, that isolates individuals from enjoying all aspects of life.
As a player, it really bothered Neugebauer-Groff that other players weren’t training as hard as she did.
At Texas, Laura's life as a student-athlete included mostly volleyball and studies. She was very single-minded, and volleyball was super important.
“It was school and volleyball,” Neugebauer-Groff said. “I was so focused and so intense. It took me a while to realize there is more to life than that. I think as a coach; you realize you can’t do it for them. They have to grow up and learn how to balance it all in all areas of their lives because when they get out in the real world, that’s what they have to do.”
It was Haley who helped her gain a little perspective while she was a player. Laura says, "Mick Haley used to tell me 'Everybody can't be perfect like you," ‘They can’t be the person who practices all the time or studies all the time or works out all the time — you have to respect them for who they are.” “They can't be the person who practices all the time or studies all the time or works out all the time — you have to respect them for who they are."
“It was really great advice, and it is the same thing as a coach. They have to want it, and sometimes it’s hard if you want it more than they do.”
Neugebauer-Groff was also a member of the National Sports Festival squad in 1983 and participated at the 1995 World University Games in Japan.
Neugebauer-Groff was also part of Jefferson High School’s inaugural Hall of Fame and Distinguished Alumni Class in May 2007 and a member of the UIL's All-Century third team in 2009.
A member of the 17th induction class of the San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame in February 2011, she has tutored 50 all-conference players (21 first-teamers) and 32 all-academic honorees. Under her guidance, UTSA has advanced to 13 consecutive conference tournaments, and the program has been honored with the AVCA's Team Academic Award four times since 2008.
With a blend of quickness and power, the sisters kept the UT volleyball machine humming into the NCAA tournament on an annual basis.
Laura and Sharon Neugebauer's accomplishments remind all Longhorns that Longhorn heritage shapes the present and empowers the future.