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OXFORD, Ohio— The year is 1998.
 
Carolyn Condit's Miami Volleyball program has just won its fourth consecutive MAC regular-season championship.
 
(Remarkably, this is the first of multiple times in Condit's four-decade tenure that the RedHawks would string together four straight titles!)
 
The late Darcy Shriver is sitting at the scorer's table digging through her stack of dozens of cassette tapes and preparing to play –what else?– 'We are the Champions' over the Millett Hall sound system.
 
However, the song that absolutely has to play first after the final whistle sounds is a different anthem. Tina Turner's voice is already echoing through the gymnasium, just as it has after dozens of other big wins for the Red and White.
 
"Simply the best, better than all the rest…"
 
It's a fitting selection that not only represents the sustained success of Condit's teams, but epitomizes a legendary coach who will eventually retire a quarter-century later as the winningest in Miami Athletics' history.
 
"Better than anyone, anyone I've ever met."
 
"That really is a metaphor of her, what she is about," said Lisa Dankovich '87, who served as an assistant coach under Condit during those years.
 
"I can picture [that song]. I can see it. I can feel it. I just think that when you look at Carolyn and her career over 40 years: 'Simply the best.'
 
"As a coach, you have highs and lows, but how can you be consistent and not change your core coaching style, whether you're having good years or bad years?
 
"'Simply the best' means she's the best teacher. Coaching is teaching, and she is one of the best teachers out there…she's the consummate individual that's also talking about the game, striving about the game, and just continually in that teaching mode to make each of us better."
 
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Condit came to Miami University in 1984 with an undergraduate degree from Mount St. Joseph, a Master's from Indiana and four years of experience as a head coach at nearby Xavier. The product of a close-knit family and one of 11 children, Condit's initial foray into adulthood involved juggling college coaching with working in her father Jim's law office to make ends meet. The role of full-time coach that Miami's program offered was a significant draw.
 
"This has been an amazing place for me," Condit reminisced shortly after announcing her plans to retire at the end of the 2023 season. "I drove up from Cincinnati for my first interview in July of 1984, and I told my parents, 'It kind of feels like Mayberry!'
 
"I loved the people I met in Millett Hall —Dick Shrider, Karen Womack, Darrell Hedric— the community, and the fans that eventually came to our games…I got to meet more and more people who are just genuine and for Miami. The earnest interest that they have is amazing. My neighbors are amazing. Everyone that works uptown is amazing.
 
"It's drawn me in, and I knew if they'd offer me the job, I'd take it."
 
The rest is history.
 
Condit won her first championships with Miami in 1990, sweeping the regular-season and tournament titles after edging Eastern Michigan in a marathon five-set match in Battle Creek, Mich. Rally scoring had not yet come to the sport of volleyball, and every point was a battle for the Red and White, who ultimately prevailed by the narrowest of margins in the deciding final set, 15-13.
 
"That match was so intense and it probably lasted close to three hours," Condit recalled. "We were just very proud. The four seniors accepted that trophy, and they are still close to this day. That whole team was amazing…
 
"It's the reason I coach volleyball…when you have a team that wants to give so much that they're willing to make even more sacrifices, and continue to improve and discipline themselves in a game. When that championship occurs, it says a lot about the team: How much they wanted to win and how hard they worked.
 
"And there is no better feeling."
 
Condit would go on to lead Miami Volleyball to a total of nine regular-season MAC championships and five conference tournament titles. Her teams made 13 postseason appearances, including nine trips to the NCAA Tournament.
 
She was named MAC Coach of the Year six times, beginning with that 1990 season. And if you were to stop into Condit's office and take a close look at those Coach of the Year trophies, you would notice quite a few other names engraved besides hers alone.
 
"She's the type of person that wanted her name AND her assistant coaches' names on those plaques," Dankovich said. "Collectively, it took more than just her, and she knew it.
 
"It wasn't just about her as the head coach, but it was her bringing her assistant coaches along with her in that journey throughout that season.
 
"I think that's really unique, because I challenge you to go anywhere across the country and find somebody else that does that same thing: I don't think you'd find it. That speaks to her integrity."
 
"I did enjoy putting my assistant coaches' names on the trophy, because they're such a big part of what we do and how hard they work," Condit explained.
 
"I stood on the shoulders of a lot of assistant coaches, and to put their names down there is just my way of saying, 'Thank you. You were as much as part of this as I was.'"
 
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So many trophies.
 
So many wins.
 
So many memories.
 
So many success stories.
 
"What she does, and how she does it: It's just the right way to do things," Dankovich said.
 
But now, with four decades at Miami (and 44 years in all as a college coach) in the rearview mirror, the time has come: Condit is set to coach her final match at Millett Hall on Saturday, Nov. 11, with the RedHawks' season finale scheduled for four days later at Bowling Green.
 
Her immediate post-retirement plans? Catch up on time with friends and family, keep supporting the Cincinnati Reds and Bengals, and 'get a lot of sleep!'
 
She will also continue to follow the sport she's dedicated most of her life to.
 
"I will definitely watch volleyball; it's hard to get out of your bloodstream," Condit said. "I'll be sending texts and congratulations to coaches that I follow, and all my assistants that are out there coaching…I might even be found driving a little bit to see some of my alums' daughters play. Maybe random show-ups: 'Go lock the doors – here she comes!'"
 
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Condit's sense of humor shines through in nearly any conversation.
 
Ask the longtime-coach to describe herself in a word, and she can't help but joke around to see how many adjectives she can hyphenate together.
 
"Maniac-Multi-Tasker?"
 
"Emotional-Italian-Calm-Irish-Person?"
 
And on and on the list goes.
 
But as she stops for a moment to reflect, the answers turn more serious.
 
"I'm a genuine person," Condit said. "I'm an enthusiast. And I really enjoy building relationships and seeing my team build relationships."
 
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If you're fortunate enough to be able to attend Condit's final series at Millett Hall this weekend, those relationships will be on full display. In fact, if you listen closely, there's a good chance you'll hear at least one of Condit's famous sayings repeated by the many friends and alums who will gather in Oxford Friday and Saturday nights.
 
"Winners work hard when no one's watching."
 
"Better together."
 
"Forget mistakes, and move on to the next ball."
 
"This too shall pass."
 
"Listen well, remember well and help your teammates to listen."
 
"We can do this."
 
A special postgame ceremony is planned on Nov. 11. There will be hugs. There will be applause. There will be speeches. There will be tears.
 
All of it, incredibly well-deserved.
 
But before the festivities to conclude the weekend, there are still matches to be played. The RedHawks will battle Akron on both Friday and Saturday nights. As the end of an era dawns for Miami Volleyball, Miami Athletics and Miami University, Carolyn Condit's team will take the floor in Oxford for the final two times…ever.
 
And no matter the result on the scoreboard, the hallmarks of Condit's program will undoubtedly shine through, all the way to the last whistle of her 1,234th and 1,235th matches leading the Red and White.
 
"Hard-working. Never-say-die. Cohesive. Fun: Her teams have fun because they love the sport and enjoy playing with one another," Dankovich said.
 
Condit's teams are that way because Condit is that way. So, as one of the best coaches ever at an institution known for its Cradle of Coaches, what will be going through Condit's mind when she walks onto the floor at Millett this weekend?
 
Unsurprisingly, a little bit about volleyball and a whole lot about the people involved.
 
"It's going to be hard to believe, really," Condit said. "I have great thoughts of all the years, and of this particular team.
 
"I guess the most important thing is: I really love these girls, and I'm happy it's with them."
 
Find more Front Row Features at: MiamiRedHawks.com/FrontRowFeatures
 
Tickets are on sale now for Carolyn Condit's final home series with Miami Volleyball (Friday, Nov. 10 at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 11 at 5 p.m.). Use the promo code FRIENDSOFCAROLYN to get your tickets for a memorable weekend and plan to stay after the match Saturday for a special postgame ceremony.