SPEASL COURT is named after John Speasl.
John retired from Southwestern in June 2011 after 38 years of service. He was the Athletic Director for 25 years while also coaching volleyball for 32 years. The only other volleyball coach before him was Cheri Robinson who coached from 1977-1978.
 
Speasl Started at SWOCC 38 years ago as a Health and Physical Education instructor. In 1986 he became the Athletic Director. Speasl has coached numerous All-Conference and All-American athletes and was named OCCAA Wrestling Coach of the Year in 1980 and 1981, NJCAA Jr. Pan America Coach 1984, and NWAC Regional Coach of the Year in 1985, 1990, and 2005.
 
He was an Athletic Commissioner in the NWAC for 25 years, serving two terms each as the Regional Chair on the Executive Board. Speasl had also been a member of the Golf, Volleyball and Soccer Sports Committees. He was named to the Northwest Champions in 1994 and presented with the Dutch Triebwasser Award, given to the NWAC’s most outstanding administrator, in 1995. Of all of his accomplishments, Speasl, who received his Bachelors Degree and Masters Degree from Southern Oregon University, is most proud of being voted by the SWOCC student body as the life sciences professor of the year in 1984, 1985, and, 1986.
 
Speasl was also inducted into the NWAC Hall of Fame in June 2011.
 
Speasl was presented with a surprise court dedication ceremony in November 2010, when a banner with SPEASL COURT was presented at a regularly scheduled volleyball game. Over 20 former players as far back as 20 years ago were in attendance followed by a reception. An official ceremony took place in October 2011 when the floor was officially complete.