Volek among 2016 inductees
Billy Volek never considered looking for a college outside the Fresno area after his turn as a star quarterback at Clovis West High in 1994.
No chance. None. He wanted to play for his hometown team and the coach he had followed while growing up.
I knew I wanted to play for the Fresno State Bulldogs.
future NFL quarterback Billy Volek on his commitment to the hometown team after starring at Clovis West High
“Jim Sweeney,” Volek said. “He was probably three-fourths of the decision why I stayed there, and of course (assistant) Jeff Tedford was there. He’s been one of the best coaches I’ve had and of all the years I’ve played football. I wanted to be a local guy. Going to watch Fresno State games when I was younger, watching Kevin Sweeney and Trent Dilfer play … I knew I wanted to play for the Fresno State Bulldogs.”
Volek, a three-year starter for the Bulldogs in the late ’90s who went on to a 12-year NFL career, is part of the Class of 2016 for the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony is Nov. 3 at the Fresno Convention Center.
Other inductees are former Fresno Pacific and Fresno State basketball coach and current Golden State Warriors assistant Ron Adams; seven-time PGA winner Bill Glasson; Washington High and Fresno State women’s basketball player Yvette Roberts; longtime Fresno State athletic trainer Paul Schechter; and the 1968 Hoover High baseball team.
Volek said he gives credit to Sweeney and Tedford as well as former longtime Bulldogs assistant Dan Brown for helping him reach his goals and earn the call to the Hall of Fame.
“Very excited about this,” he said. “I wouldn’t be here without those coaches … and my best buddies in high school. We still get together three or four times a year and I’ve been very fortunate and lucky to be around some amazing people who helped change me into the person I am today. Extremely lucky.”
After joining Sweeney’s offensively charged system, Volek steadily transitioned from a redshirt year in 1995 to the No. 3 quarterback in 1996 (behind senior Jim Arellanes and backup Richie Donati) to the starter in his final three seasons at Fresno State.
His breakout year came in 1999 when he led the Western Athletic Conference in passing touchdowns (30), passing efficiency (152.9) and completion percentage (66.2).
Volek was signed by the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent in 2000 and also played for the San Diego Chargers. In 2004, he enjoyed his best pro season while starting eight games for the Titans in place of the injured Steve McNair. Volek played in 10 games overall and passed for 2,486 yards and 18 TDs – including back-to-back four-touchdown, 400-yard games against Kansas City and Oakland.
I was fortunate to play for some great coaches and I was very fortunate to have some great leadership in Steve McNair, Eddie George, LaDainian Tomlinson and Philip Rivers.
Volek
on key influences in his high school, college and pro football careersIn his lone postseason appearance, then with San Diego in January 2008, Volek came on for the injured Philip Rivers in the divisional round against Indianapolis and scored the winning touchdown on a one-yard sneak in the Chargers’ 28-24 road victory.
Volek took his 60.1 percent career completion percentage into retirement after the 2011 season in order to spend more time with his three now teenage children: Morgan, 16, Carter, 14, and Benett, 13.
“What I remember most about the NFL is how amazing the athletes were,” Volek said. “I always looked at football from a different point of view when I was in the NFL. Football was my job. It’s not who I am. It was my job, and I was fortunate to play for some great coaches and I was very fortunate to have some great leadership in Steve McNair, Eddie George, LaDainian Tomlinson and Philip Rivers. Playing 12 years was neat and overwhelming and it was a great ride.”
Anthony Galaviz: 559-441-6042, @agalaviz_TheBee
Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame
CLASS OF 2016
This year’s inductees, who are set to be honored at the 58th annual Enshrinement Awards Dinner on Thursday, Nov. 3, at Fresno Convention Center, with reception at 6 p.m., dinner at 7 p.m. and a schedule of events that includes Hall President Walt Byrd’s update on the progress toward a future home for the Hall. Visit fresnoahof.org/ for more information.
- Ron Adams, basketball: Laton native was head coach at Fresno Pacific (where he also played) and Fresno State and served under Jerry Tarkanian in UNLV’s heyday before turning to the pros as a longtime NBA assistant, eventually joining the staff of the Golden State Warriors for their run to the 2015 NBA championship.
- Bill Glassson, golf: McLane High grad went on to All-America career at Oral Roberts, qualified for the PGA Tour in 1983, winning seven tournament titles and nearly $7 million in prize money, and is currently on the Champions Tour.
- Yvette Roberts, basketball: Starred as prep at Washington, also excelling in track and field as a state long jump champ, then in college basketball at Fresno State where she held the school career scoring record for 22 seasons; also played 12 pro seasons in Europe.
- Paul Schecter, athletic trainer: Spent 29 years at Fresno State, also serving as trainer for various Olympic teams as well as the U.S. Track and Field trials and Military World Games on way to earning induction into the Far Western Athletic Trainers Hall of Fame in 2001.
- Billy Volek, football: After starring at Clovis West High, spent three years as starting quarterback for high-powered Jim Sweeney offenses at Fresno State before a 12-year NFL career highlighted by leading San Diego to a playoff victory in January 2008.
- 1968 Hoover High baseball team: Coached by Jack Hannah, a 1998 Hall inductee, the Patriots won North Yosemite and Central Section titles and earned media acclaim as the best prep team in the nation.
This story was originally published March 19, 2016 at 6:37 PM with the headline "Volek among 2016 inductees."