IRONDEQUOIT – Marc Callari didn’t ask for the spotlight.
He earned it through 31 years of perseverance.
Callari has celebrated many milestones as head coach of the Irondequoit girls’ volleyball program. Oct. 15 welcomed perhaps his most significant achievement to date.
Irondequoit’s straight-set win over Greece Athena (25-17, 25-14, 25-12) marked Callari's 500th career victory. A celebration ensued inside his home gymnasium as dozens waved handheld signs reading '500.'
Callari joins a short list of Section V volleyball coaches to reach 500 wins. It was a "rewarding" feeling, he said, and one which required much perseverance.
He’s not done yet – this year’s squad ranks among the most talented he’s had.
“To build a program and continue seeing it be
successful is very rewarding,” Callari said. “All the time I’ve put in… people appreciate it, and they came out to show their love and support for me. I can’t thank them enough.”
Marc Callari built Irondequoit into Section V volleyball power
Callari has taught physical education at Irondequoit for more than 30 years.
He grew up in Spencerport and played baseball at SUNY Cortland. His coaching career started with Irondequoit boys volleyball before taking over the girls’ varsity program in 1996.
Since then, he’s won 10 Section V championships, made three New York State Final Four appearances, and captured the 2008 Class AA state title. The state championship, one of two in Irondequoit school history across all sports, remains his most prized achievement.
“We built the youth program with 3rd through 6th-graders,” Callari said. “I think that has snowballed and helped us continue to be successful. But it’s a lot of hard work, time and effort.”
Callari has won All-Greater Rochester Coach of the Year four times and led the Eagles to more than a dozen Monroe County division titles. His daughters, Caitlin and McKenna, both played for him at Irondequoit.
Callari reached 400 career wins in 2021. “We’ll see,” he said, about retirement plans.
“As long as I still enjoy it and am passionate about it,” Callari said. “I love working with kids and coaching them. Probably a couple more years.”
Irondequoit’s current talent might make it hard for him to leave.
Irondequoit girls volleyball enters postseason race unbeaten
Callari identified the potential of his 2026 roster before the season.
“This is definitely one of the best offensive teams I’ve had,” he said in early September, adding that blending offense, blocking and ball control would prove key to the group’s success.
So far, so good.
The Eagles’ sweep of Athena made them 14-0 overall. The New York Volleyball Coaches Association’s latest statewide rankings placed them 12th in Class AA, a division packed with Section V talent.
“We have a lot more skill on our team than just our starters,” senior setter Aleah Nolan said after defeating Athena. “We really like to put our focus on not only our smartest plays, but what can we do to make our offense better than it already is? There’s always something we can do to make it better.”
Irondequoit’s talent spans beyond its eight seniors. Standout attackers such as sophomores Gia Meeks and Brynnleigh Fischer position the Eagles for success both now and in the future.
“We’ve run new things and are more comfortable with things out of our comfort zone,” Fischer said. “It doesn’t matter if we mess up because we’re all there for each other.”
Two weeks remain before sectional playoffs.
“They have to be ready every single night,” Callari said. “We want to get better every single repetition, practice and week… come late October, hopefully we’re playing our best volleyball.”
Jeff Uveino joined the USA Today Network in 2023 and began covering Rochester-area high school sports in 2026. He is a graduate of St. Bonaventure University's Jandoli School of Communication and native of Perry. Contact him at juveino@usatodayco.com. Follow him on X @realjuveino and on Instagram @jeffusports.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Irondequoit volleyball coach celebrates milestone decades in the making
