Clifton conquers life, has the Saints believing again

Second year Saints head volleyball coach Andrew Clifton has had a challenging two years, to say the least.

He is slowly rebuilding the longtime powerhouse program since taking over for former Mt. Hood head coach Chelsie Speer, who departed for Walla Walla Community College in early 2014.

In those last two years, Clifton and his wife, Lisa have bounced from the sunny California coast, to north Portland and finally out to Gresham.

Finally things are falling into place as the Cliftons have settled in fairly smoothly in the Mt. Hood community, though it hasn’t been an easy transition due to Lisa’s mental health challenges with the anxieties that come with being diagnosed as being bipolar.

Just two years ago, with Speer coaching, the Saints went 10-0 in the NWAC South Region, and 37-8 overall. Clifton’s first team struggled in 2014, finishing 3-7 in the South and 13-29 overall.

“It has been quite the process, especially with replacing Chelsie,” said Clifton. “(She) had such a footprint left behind, but we made it through and I am creating my own footprint and we’re headed in the right direction. It just takes time, like anything.”

Just over two years ago, Clifton took his first-ever Division I coaching job, at the University of Portland, but things didn’t go as planned. The Pilots finished that season with a dismal 0-27 record, and the entire staff was let go.

Clifton, 39, said it was important for him and his wife to stay close by after being terminated, even though he was offered some other coaching jobs before taking the helm at Mt. Hood. The stress of packing and moving far again would be more than he and Lisa could handle.

Lisa, 40, is now enjoying living in Gresham this year, and said she has adjusted quite well, though her mood swings still come and go.

“It’s hard to have a mental illness, which puts you in a minority,” said Lisa. “But I’m naturally a loner, which I don’t mind. Because one minute I’m fine and the next minute, I’m depressed for a while.”

Clifton added, “It has been a process… But we have learned to recognize her behaviors and then figure out what to do next. We know the difference between a mix state, which is the worse. Sometimes we have to figure out whether we’re going to shut it down for the day or if she can push through it. It’s always her decision.”

Lisa said growing up was like hell on earth at times, especially since her father was also bipolar.

“I came from an abusive household,” she said. “My dad was bipolar and untreated. It was like Mickey Mouse and the devil, with him. I didn’t know if I was going to get slapped in the face or if I was going to get $20 from my dad.”

Before departing for Portland, Clifton was the top assistant coach for the Division II California State Monterey Bay Otters, where he was the setting coach and offensive coordinator in 2012. Prior to that, he coached at Hope International University and Long Beach City College.

His heart and passion has always been coaching at the Division I level and, thankfully, Lisa was on board, even though his career moves have been quite the struggle. “It’s hard making change, but it was time,” said Clifton of the move to Oregon. “I knew what I wanted and the University of Portland offered me a job on the spot during the camp I was working at. It’s too bad I was let go after six months.

“But I was happy that Mt. Hood had an opening and it was nearby,” he added, turning down other jobs elsewhere.

Clifton wasn’t too sure how his wife would react to the change of moving more than 700 miles, but things have fallen into place for the couple, though it hasn’t been easy. Clifton said ever since the two met, Lisa had her fair share of problems with taming her disorder.

“Lisa was originally diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, then we found out later while we were dating in college that she was bipolar,” said Clifton. “And oddly enough, I found out I was dyslexic my sophomore year of college.”

Lisa loves her new home in Gresham, since the couple moved from St. Johns.

“Living close by this year — it has been much easier for me to have relationships with the girls (on the MHCC team),” she said. “I like to think I’m their mother away from home. I want to be as supportive as possible.”

The two have had each other’s back, during their series of changes.

He had to do most of the packing and had to travel by U-Haul from Monterey while his wife was struggling with the idea of traveling, change and starting from scratch again. But she told him to pursue his opportunity.

“She was supportive and knew my dream was to coach Division I and it was real hard for the both of us with leaving California – that’s why we decided to stay in Portland, even though I was offered a job in Iowa,” he said. “We have moved all over the place… We wanted to stay local.”

Clifton, a 2000 graduate of UC Irvine, played two seasons for the Anteaters — leading them to a top-10 national ranking. He received a bachelor’s degree in studio art. He went on to teach photography at Long Beach Jordan High School for nine years, while also running a club volleyball team.

He said he wouldn’t change anything in his life, and that everything happens for a reason.

“We have been through so much together and I’m not really a person that really hides anything, and maybe I should get better about that… I’ll learn that later on, I guess,” Clifton said. He said his family and friends have been real supportive of his ambitions as a coach and for Lisa’s health, which seems to be moderating for the most part.

“For a while, it got to the point in our marriage that she didn’t want anyone to know about her conditions. She kind of masked her mental health issues,” he said. “It’s hard to see problems with someone dealing with mental health problems, but most people understand.”

Clifton hopes to find himself on the hardwood coaching at the Division I level again, but for now, his main focus is on Lisa’s health and the success of the Saints. In other words, it’s one day at a time

In other words, it’s one day at a time, said Clifton, who had a bright smile, knowing how cliché he sounded.

“Life kind of just happens,” said Clifton. “I’m kind of a journeyman, but that’s not always in my control. Things have just kind of fallen into my lap.”

Advocate Staff