“The keys to my success have been installing responsibility, accountability and commitment in my players,” said Saggio. “I have always requested hard work and dedication from everyone in my program and it has paid off. I have also kept learning and evolving as a coach. I have no allowed myself to become complacent once I got a taste of success.”
Saggio, a 1988 graduate of Union Catholic who played volleyball at UC and Caldwell College, took over the program at Union Catholic in 1995 from John Ferguson, who was Saggio’s coach when she played at UC. Since then, she has built the Vikings into a perennial state powerhouse.
Coach Saggio has led the Vikings to 21 Conference, 13 County, two Sectional, and one State Championship.
A member of the Union Catholic Hall of Fame Class of 2012, Saggio was recognized in 2019 by the NJSIAA as a Legend of Volleyball. Saggio was named 2011 NJSCA State Coach of the Year, and in 2023 she was inducted into the New Jersey Scholastic Coaches Association Hall of Fame. She has twice been named the State Coach of the Year.
Saggio said being successful at her alma mater is a special feeling?
“It’s very special and I feel unique,” said Saggio. “I don’t know how many other coaches are as lucky to coach at the school they played for, and in addition to that enjoyed the success that I have had.”
Saggio said her current team has come a long way in the past couple years.
“I have been waiting for them to reach this level for about two years,” said Saggio. “I knew the last couple of seasons that they were young and lacked experience. Now they are older, stronger and have gained a lot of volleyball knowledge and are battle tested. I am excited to see what this team will accomplish in the playoffs”.
Union Catholic senior captain Zia Oriol, who played a sensational all-round match for the Vikings, said she and her teammates are honored to be on the team that gave Coach Saggio her 600th victory, and they couldn’t be happier for her.
“We are so proud to be on the team that gave Coach Saggio her 600th win,” said Oriol. “We wanted to get this victory here at home for Coach Saggio, so we played with some added energy and motivation and we played our best match of the season. Coach Saggio has so much passion and is so committed to making every player she’s coached better players and better people. This is such a special moment, and I am proud to say that I play for Coach Saggio.
”
