- First of all Hubert Wagner was our friend, and later a coach. He was radical, concrete and uncompromising, but always fair – this is how the greatest coach in the history of polish volleyball is remembered by one of his players, the Olympic Champion from Montreal, currently Chief of the Training Department of the Polish Volleyball Federation, Włodzimierz Sadalski. On the 4th of March there was a 70th birthday anniversary of the founder of the power of the polish volleyball.
When the Men’s National Team took 9th place during the Olympic Games in Munich a change on the position of head coach has been made. Tadeusz Szlagora was replaced by a young 32-years old Hubert Wagner. From this moment the “gold era” of the polish volleyball has begun.
Previously, he played in AZS Poznań and Warsaw’s clubs, such as AZS AWF and Skra. Four times the Champion of Poland (1963, 1965, 1966, 1968). The Polish national team player in the years 1963-1971, with 194 matches and a bronze medal won in Istanbul , in 1967. The Olympic Champion from Mexico (1968), twice the World Championships finalist - 1966 and 70. The coach of the Polish senior men’s national team (1973-1976, 1983-1985 and 1996-1998) and women’s national team in 1978-1979. Achievements: World Championship in Mexico in 1974 and the gold medal at the Olympic Games in Montreal in 1976. In 1973 and 1983 won silver medals of the European Championships.
His nicknames were "Fatty" and "Hangman ". The latter was given by the journalists, as he was known to be a very strict person - says former President of the Polish Volleyball Federation, Tadeusz Sąsara. -He only demanded a lot from others and from himself. He was a workhorse, as he knew that was the only a way to success.
Polish National Team in the years 1974-1976 was nominated to the Plebiscite of the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) to the title of the team of the 20th century. On the 28th of October 1974, the white-and-reds played the last match of the Championships with Japan-it finished with a success, just like the previous ones. The whole Championship, our team has been playing phenomenally. The Volleyball World was delighted with performances of Hubert Wagner’s team. Stanisław Gościniak was chosen best player of the Championships. Immediately Poland won fame, promotion to the Olympic Games, and qualifications to the next World Championships.
On the 28th of October 1974 one of the most amazing periods of the polish volleyball has come to an end. On the 18th of July 1976 in Montreal at the "Centre Paul Sauve, " another great chapter has begun. In the first match the World Champions were losing with Korea 0:2 and 5:6. Nevertheless, they won this match, just like many others, with a wonderful final match against the Soviet Union 3:2. The years 1973-1976 were the greatest period of the polish volleyball.
Afterwards, Hubert Wagner has worked with the senior men’s national team twice. In the years 1983-1985 he has also had an excellent team with players like: Wójtowicz, Łasko, KŁose, Drzyzga, Golec, Nalazek. In 1983 Poland won the ECH silver medal and gained promotion to the Olympic Games in Los Angeles. However, because of political reasons polish team could not participate in the event. Instead, they performed at the Friendship Olympics. In Havana, they took the 3rd place. This result was the best evidence of the possibilities of the team to reached the Olympic Games’ podium.
In October 1996 Huber Wagner once again became coach of the senior men’s national team. He worked on this position till January 1998. Furthermore, he worked as a Secretary General of the Polish Volleyball Federation and a television commentator. On the 22nd of October 2010, he was introduced to the American Volleyball Hall of Fame. Therefore, since 2003 a friendly tournament in Poland – called the Memorial of Hubert Jerzy Wagner has been organized.
Hubert Wagner died suddenly, on the 13th of March 2002 in a car accident. About 11.00 o’clock at the common street in Warsaw, he lost control of his car and crashed into another vehicle. The cause of the accident was a heart attack.
