June 16, 2025 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

10 things you don’t know about me… Cliff Hastings

We asked the owner of Prime Time Volleyball and the Parkland Head Volleyball Coach to tell us 10 interesting facts about himself! Get to know Cliff Hastings!

1. What is something you always carry with you? my phone – although fun fact, I never talk on it — just a ton of email and texts all the time.

2. Where is your favorite place to travel to? My favorite experience was Israel from a religious experience perspective. But my favorite place I visit often is Tokyo.

3. What is the best advice you have ever received? Under-promise, over-deliver.

4. What is your most valuable (to you) possession? When I was a kid, I had a stuffed Clifford the Big Red Dog animal. I kept it all these years, and when I see it, it constantly brings back memories from when I was a kid. I remember taking him with me to get my tonsils out — and I remember taking him on the bus for my first day of kindergarten. It’s a priceless reminder of memories of hugs from my mom or the love I felt from that stuffed animal when things were tough, etc.

5. What is a movie or tv show you have watched again and again? Law & Order SVU — one would think I’d know who did what, but I never remember and love it every time.

6. What do you enjoy about your job? I probably love most that I have so many jobs and they really fulfill me in totality — software company gives me adult, stimulating conversation; Parkland volleyball gives me great opportunities to mentor young women finding themselves; Prime Time Volleyball gives me the chance to run a large organization of coaches, parents and kids.

7. What is the most unique thing you have ever dealt with your job? Around my fifth year of coaching at Parkland, I realized that we weren’t stopping to use the restroom on long trips like past teams did. I made a statement like “I’m amazed at your bladders.” A girl responded with “oh no, we just use our drink cups.” It may have been the first time in my life that I was speechless.

8. What is your favorite childhood memory? My parents and I took a water tank trailer into town to get water for our pool. It got a flat tire, and my dad was changing the tire. He asked me to help. Five minutes later, he called out for me and asked why I wasn’t helping. I told him I was. I was on top of the water tank trailer waving at the cars driving by. I truly thought that was me helping. He didn’t find it overly funny at the time, but we have a good laugh about it now.

9. What is a talent or hobby you have that may surprise people? While I used my athletic gifts post-college for coaching, I actually paid for my college through my singing and musical instrument skillsets. So I would say that my signing and then my ability to play the most random instruments known to man are my secret skills.

10. What was the best gift you have ever received for your birthday? I just got a puppy for my most recent birthday – that was not my best gift. But it did remind me of my absolute favorite which was an Oscar the Grouch alarm clock when I was 8. He would pop out of the garbage can and complain at me “Ring, ring – get up there – it’s Oscar the Grouch here, and it’s time for you to get up.” I loved that clock.

in Life, People
Banner
Related Posts

10 things you don’t know about me… Abbie Layden-Rogiers

June 17, 2019

June 17, 2019

Each week we ask a community member to tell us 10 things about themselves. This week is Abbie Layden-Rogiers, owner...

‘We lost a very good man in Jim Cotter’

September 2, 2021

September 2, 2021

Jim Cotter loved to brag about his kids. This past Saturday was no exception. Cotter took time out from covering...

Ask the Doctor with Dr. Jeanelle Murphy

March 10, 2020

March 10, 2020

What are the pros of breastfeeding your newborn? How long would you recommend breastfeeding? Breast milk is the perfect food...

St. Joseph rallies to find missing dog

September 17, 2020

September 17, 2020

Operation bring Piper home is in full effect in St. Joseph. Piper, a yellow labrador retriever, went missing from the...

Doctor’s love of medicine started at early age

February 18, 2019

February 18, 2019

St. Joseph resident Dr. Jeanelle Murphy fell in love with medicine in the oncology wing at the Children’s Hospital of...

10 things you don’t know about me… Bobbi Busboom

February 27, 2020

February 27, 2020

Every week we ask an area resident to share 10 facts about themselves. This week we talked to Bobbi Busboom,...

Love of the game: Two St. Joseph residents umpire at state softball tournament

June 3, 2019

June 3, 2019

Slipping on wet grass actually helped Karl Black’s first experience working as an umpire at the high school softball state...

10 Things you don’t know about me… Terri Rein

November 6, 2019

November 6, 2019

Every week we ask an area resident to give us 10 interesting facts about themselves. This week we spoke to...

SJO could return to full in-person instruction

March 3, 2021

March 3, 2021

St. Joseph-Ogden High School is starting to plan for the future. Superintendent Brian Brooks said the school is looking into...

‘Being the first of anything comes with challenges, but also a lot of opportunity’

July 13, 2021

July 13, 2021

St. Joseph Village Administrator Joseph Hackney likes challenges. “Being the first of anything comes with challenges, but also a lot...

Bright Beginnings to hold open house

September 18, 2021

September 18, 2021

A long-time dream is finally coming to fruition. Bright Beginnings Learning Center located at 501 Peters Drive in St. Joseph,...

10 things you don’t know about me… Alisyn Franzen

December 13, 2021

December 13, 2021

We asked St. Joseph Middle School Principal Alisyn Franzen to tell us 10 interesting things about herself. Here are her...

Senior spotlight…. Payton Clements

January 17, 2020

January 17, 2020

What are your post high school plans? After high school, I plan on attending Bradley university and majoring in environmental...

A familiar face joins Longview Bank

November 22, 2021

November 22, 2021

Sara Bryan has always had a passion for helping people. That passion was instilled in her by her father who...

5 things you don’t know about me… Josiah Thaman

August 7, 2019

August 7, 2019

Josiah is in the running for the title of Little Prince! He is six years old. We asked him to...

Comments
Leave a Reply