Life is routinely hectic in the Lombardi family during most parts of the year, but it's even more hectic this week.

Tony Lombardi is the football coach at Cedar Rapids Washington, and the Warriors have a Class 4A playoff game against second-ranked Linn-Mar Monday night.

Kari Lombardi is the volleyball coach at Washington, and they have a date in the Class 4A regional finals Wednesday night against top-ranked Iowa City West.

Both Lombardis teach physical education at Washington, so their professional lives are busy enough, but they also have five active children of their own in the 7th grade (Rocky), 5th grade (Beau), 3rd grade (Payton), 1st grade (Olivia) and kindergarten (Gabriella).

"I just swung through the kindergarten parade to watch Gabriella march as a cowgirl for Halloween," Tony said before football practice Friday afternoon. "So that's our life."

This past Friday night, Tony and Kari both went to Beau's fifth-grade football game at the Metro Youth Football Association in northeast Cedar Rapids, where Tony intently watched (and offered advice) while Kari sat calmly on a bench, bundled against the chill.

The kids play football, baseball, soccer, volleyball, basketball and wrestle (even the girls). Tony said he has a calendar to keep track of all the kids, but Kari said she keeps track in her mind. And they've never forgotten to fetch one of the children.

"You know what? Knock on wood, don't jinx me, but never. Never," Kari said. "Our family is very important to both of us, and so we don't forget about a practice, we don't forget about a child.

"We have great help with other parents who help us get our kids where they need to be, early and on time."

Tony, 49, is normally vocal, demonstrative, excitable, flamboyant. "Really?" Kari joked. "I haven't noticed that."

Kari, 38, is quieter, more reserved, but said she has her moments during volleyball matches with her young squad.

"I think if you would have seen me coaching Thursday night you would have a different opinion, because I was definitely more vocal. But never at the level of him," she said, smiling. "I'm not sure anyone can be at that level."

The Washington volleyball team defeated Waterloo West in four games last Thursday night in the regional semifinals. The Warriors played well in the first two games, then had to scramble. That's when she got more involved, trying to get her team through the rough spots.

Tony said Kari has taught him to calm down, especially during games.

"She's right," he said. "You're far more effective impacting your team when it's clear you're under control. I get that. I certainly try to borrow that from her.

"I'm actually way more demonstrative at practice," he said. "In games, I might get after an official once in a while.

"She and I are completely different in our methodology with kids, which I think is good, since we both are raising the same five kids. It's nice to have some balance in that."

Tony and Kari met at Mankato State in Minnesota, where he was an assistant football coach and she was a college volleyball player, setting records as an outside hitter. "I did set some records there," she said modestly. "I'm sure they've since been broken."

They married and lived in Mankato, then moved to Ypsilanti, Mich., and Chicago for Tony's football jobs. Rocky and Beau were born at the University of Michigan hospital in Ann Arbor and both got football names. Rocky was named after Rocky Bleier, a former running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Beau was named after former Michigan coach Bo
Schembechler, although Kari insisted on spelling it Beau.

Payton, their eldest daughter, was named after former Chicago Bears great Walter Payton. Gabriella, their youngest daughter, derived her name from volleyball star and model Gabrielle Reece.

"Olivia is the only oddball," Kari joked. "We're not sure where we got that one from."

Tony did not become a high school football coach until he was approximately 40 years old. He decided he was spending too much time away from home as a college coach and wanted to spend more time with his growing family.

"It's the best thing that happened for us as a family and for our kids. It's been great," said Tony, whose father was a successful high school football coach himself in Illinois.

The Lombardis moved to Cedar Rapids six years ago. Even though they both teach physical education at Washington, their class schedules rarely mingle. "I almost never see her at school," he said. "I don't know how that works."

Both of their teams are underdogs this week. The football team (7-3) lost to Linn-Mar, 56-7, three weeks ago and could be hard-pressed against the second-ranked Lions Monday night. The volleybal team (20-17) has dropped two matches to Iowa City West this season, but both Lombardis welcome the challenges.

"I have a very young team, mostly juniors and sophomores," Kari said. "Three juniors, three sophomores and then two seniors are defensive players.

"So to have this kind of success and then to look into the future and see down the road, hopefully our success will continue. It's very exciting."

Tony and Kari might be able to catch their breath a little once their seasons end, but their only real vacation comes late in the summer, once summer camps are finished and before school starts.

Last summer the family went to Hawaii to help Tony's parents celebrate their wedding anniversary. Most summers they go to a cabin in northern Minnesota, to fish and hang out.

"We take seven days in the summertime," Kari said. "That's our family time."

Neither parent is complaining. In fact, they like it this way. They enjoy their hectic, happy lives.

"Somehow it has worked out for us," Kari said. "We've been blessed."