Hubert Wagner – Polish volleyball player and coach. Father of Grzegorz Wagner.

Sporting career

Hubert Wagner won the Polish Championship four times (in 1963, 1965, 1966 and 1968), earning silver and bronze medals in 1967 and 1969 with AZS AWF Warszawa. He played 194 matches for the Polish national team in 1963−1971, serving as its captain for a number of years. In 1967, his team won the bronze medal in the European Championship. He was also a member of the team which took fifth place in the Mexico City Olympic Games in 1968.

Coaching career

As a coach, Hubert Wagner was responsible for some of the greatest achievements in Polish volleyball, even though his great sense of discipline and demanding nature earned him the moniker of ‘Butcher’. He exhibited great persistence, leading the men’s team to victories in the 1974 World Championship in Mexico and the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal. In 1975, his team won the silver medal at the European Championship.

In 1978−1979, he coached the Polish women’s national team, but returned to the men’s team in 1983−1985, winning with them another silver medal in the European Championship of 1983.

He also coached the Tunisian national team and worked in Turkey and with Polish clubs − Legia Warszawa (Polish Champion in 1983), Stilon Gorzów and Morze Szczecin. In October 1996, he was once again appointed head coach of the men’s national team, which he coached until January 1998. He also served as Secretary General of the Polish Volleyball Federation, and provided sports commentaries for TV. In 1987, Hubert Wagner played a cameo role in the TV series ‘Growing Up’, appearing in its fifth episode as himself.

Awards and accolades

On October 22nd 2010, he was accepted into the US Volleyball Hall of Fame.

Hubert Wagner died in a car accident on Wspólna street in Warsaw on March 13th 2002. At about 11 am, he lost control of his vehicle, hitting other cars. The accident was caused by a heart attack, and Hubert Wagner died despite prompt medical aid.