Rumsey Hall is proud to announce that the late Rick Spooner, whose remarkable 47-year career at the School shaped generations of students and student-athletes, has been selected for induction into the Connecticut Women’s Volleyball Hall of Fame as a member of its Class of 2026.
Spooner will be honored in the Scholastic Coach category during the Hall of Fame’s 28th Annual Induction Ceremony on Tuesday, November 24, 2026. The recognition celebrates his extraordinary contributions to girls’ volleyball at Rumsey and his lasting influence on the sport throughout Connecticut.
When Spooner arrived at Rumsey Hall in 1969, volleyball was only one chapter of the legacy he would build. Over nearly five decades, he served the School as a history teacher, dorm parent, Dean of Students, Academic Dean, Dean of Faculty, Director of Residential Life, and Associate Head of School. In each role, he brought the same qualities that would come to define his coaching: patience, consistency, high expectations, and an unwavering belief in the potential of young people.
In 1975, Spooner founded Rumsey Hall’s girls’ volleyball program and began a tradition that continues to thrive today. Under his leadership, Rumsey became known throughout the region for teams that combined skill and competitive success with discipline, preparation, and genuine respect for the game.
His teams recorded 11 undefeated seasons and regularly competed successfully against older high school athletes, an exceptional achievement for rosters composed primarily of eighth- and ninth-grade students. Spooner also established the Rumsey Hall Volleyball Tournament in 1975. Renamed the Rick Spooner Classic in his honor in 2002, the tournament has become one of the School’s signature athletic traditions. His teams captured the tournament championship 20 times.
For Spooner, coaching and teaching were closely connected. Quiet and observant, he listened carefully, spoke candidly, and expected his players to put in the work. He had little interest in shortcuts, but he remained firmly in his students’ corner as they learned, improved, and gained confidence.
In many ways, his approach reflected a philosophy that remains central to Rumsey: young people grow when they are known well, challenged appropriately, and recognized for their effort. The lessons Spooner taught through volleyball: preparation, accountability, composure, and commitment to one’s teammates mattered well beyond the outcome of any match.
His influence also extended well beyond campus. Spooner coached the Western Connecticut boys’ volleyball team to a gold medal at the 1989 Nutmeg State Games, coached annually at Debbie Chin’s No. 1 Total Volleyball Camp at Wesleyan University, and shared his knowledge with coaches and players at clinics and workshops throughout the region. An accomplished setter himself, he also competed for many years in Connecticut men’s volleyball leagues.
Following his retirement in 2016, Spooner was named a Rumsey Hall Master Teacher and received the Rumsey Medal of Honor. After his passing in 2019, the School honored the Spooner family’s enduring connection to Rumsey through the naming of Spooner House, Spooner Field, and Spooner Pond.
The Hall of Fame induction offers another fitting tribute to a coach whose influence remains present each time a Rumsey player enters the gym, works through a difficult point, encourages a teammate, or discovers new confidence through competition.
The Connecticut Women’s Volleyball Hall of Fame recognizes individuals from Connecticut who have made exceptional contributions to women’s volleyball through participation, service, support, and achievement. Spooner joins six fellow members of the Class of 2026: Isabelle Taylor, Stephen W. Banks, Emma Rose, Linda Sagnelli, Heather Kursman, and Donna Lopiano.
Join the Rumsey Community in Celebrating Coach Spooner
Rumsey Hall alumni, former players, colleagues, families, and friends are warmly invited to attend the induction ceremony and celebrate Coach Spooner’s life and legacy together.
Connecticut Women’s Volleyball Hall of Fame
28th Annual Induction Ceremony
Tuesday, November 24, 2026
Cocktails and cash bar at 6:00 p.m. Dinner and awards at 6:30 p.m.
The Aqua Turf Club – Wagon Room
556 Mulberry Street
Plantsville, Connecticut
Dinner reservations are $60 per person, and tickets will not be sold at the door. Reservations must be received by October 30, 2026. When making a reservation, guests should indicate that they are attending in honor of Rick Stephen Spooner.
Checks may be made payable to CWVBHF and mailed to:
Marie Lavin
187 Louisiana Avenue, Unit B
Bridgeport, CT 06610
Payment may also be submitted through Venmo to @ConnecticutWomens-VolleyballHa.
We hope members of the Rumsey community will join the Spooner family in celebrating this well-deserved honor and the enduring legacy of a teacher, mentor, and coach who gave so much to Rumsey Hall.
