Penn State sweeps St. Francis to give Mark Pavlik career win no. 500. Congrats, coach!
Here's a real nice Collegian story that reflects on Pavlik's time in Happy Valley and what Penn State means to him.
As he approaches his 500th win, Penn State men’s volleyball coach Mark Pavlik reflects on his time at Penn State
By Mark Puleo | Collegian Staff Writer
Happy Valley means different things to different people. To some, it’s nothing more than a university with classes, to others it’s an entire life.
To coach Mark Pavlik, Happy Valley represents a sense of optimism and something to be proud of.
“We’ve got great people here at this university, and certainly not just within athletics,” Pavlik said. “Throughout the university, the instructors, the professors and the faculty I’ve come to know are just unbelievable people.”
If one were to ask his current or former players, all would agree that Pavlik is one of those unbelievable people.
Tallying his 499th win with Penn State on Saturday against NJIT, Pavlik stands just three victorious sets away from joining an elite, upper-echelon of coaches that stand head-and-shoulders above the competition.
In his 21 years as head coach of the Nittany Lions, Pavlik has led his teams to unprecedented success each and every year. The only team in EIVA history to capture a national championship, Pavlik’s 2008 national title over Pepperdine is one of the brightest moments in program history.
Pavlik and Penn State have also been the flag-bearer for the EIVA. Winners of 17 consecutive conference titles, hosting the EIVA tournament as the No. 1 seed has become an annual event. A win on Saturday against St. Francis would clinch an undefeated record against conference opponents for this season.
As one of the longest-tenured coaches currently at Penn State, Pavlik has come to appreciate the atmosphere at the university.
“Certainly the student body here is great, you walk around campus and see a lot of smiling faces and there’s such a great thread of hope and enthusiasm as everyone looks to the future that they’re going to have,” Pavlik said. “It’s just a fun place to be.”
To put Pavlik’s longevity in perspective, his first season at the helm of the Lions was the same year as Derek Jeter’s debut, same year as the Monica Lewinsky scandal, and only one year after Penn State football’s Rose Bowl championship quarterbacked by Kerry Collins.
To say that Pavlik has been around to witness all of the athletic department’s peaks and valleys would be an understatement. Pavlik has been around to experience firsthand how an entire university can be affected by one event. However, he’s also been around to see how the community has stuck to its values.
“If it was perfect, we wouldn’t have nearly as much fun trying to make it perfect. I think just to come to work here has been a huge blessing,” Pavlik said. “It’s a great community to raise a family, what better people would I want my son Jack running around getting to know?”
With over 40 All-Americans, Pavlik has proven himself as a legendary coach. His former players have won National Player of the Year awards, gone onto play on Olympic teams, and parlayed his teachings into incredibly successful professional careers.
What separates Pavlik from his coaching peers is his love for the game. Doug Beal, USA Volleyball CEO and former USA Men’s Volleyball coach, noted his enthusiasm and passion, saying that, “Mark brings an unusual passion and thoughtfulness, along with a special rapport with his team every year.”
His adoration for Penn State and his commitment to the university mission should serve as a benchmark for all Lions coaches.
As he approaches his 500th victory, a quick glimpse at Pavlik’s legacy shows just how much of an impact he’s had on the university and the program.
“I bleed blue and white. I truly believe in the mission of our university and I truly believe what the intercollegiate athletics department has to add and to complement to that mission,” Pavlik said. “Hopefully for the guys that have come through this program, we’ve been able to follow through with exactly what the university and the athletic department expects of an experience worthy of being a Nittany Lion.”
Mark Puleo can be reached at mjp5772@psu.edu or (814) 865-1828. Follow him on Twitter @markrunner96.
Source: http://www.collegian.psu.edu/sports...4-ae14-7319e80cd137.html#.VTvyW3bA2LI.twitter
Here's a real nice Collegian story that reflects on Pavlik's time in Happy Valley and what Penn State means to him.
As he approaches his 500th win, Penn State men’s volleyball coach Mark Pavlik reflects on his time at Penn State
By Mark Puleo | Collegian Staff Writer
Happy Valley means different things to different people. To some, it’s nothing more than a university with classes, to others it’s an entire life.
To coach Mark Pavlik, Happy Valley represents a sense of optimism and something to be proud of.
“We’ve got great people here at this university, and certainly not just within athletics,” Pavlik said. “Throughout the university, the instructors, the professors and the faculty I’ve come to know are just unbelievable people.”
If one were to ask his current or former players, all would agree that Pavlik is one of those unbelievable people.
Tallying his 499th win with Penn State on Saturday against NJIT, Pavlik stands just three victorious sets away from joining an elite, upper-echelon of coaches that stand head-and-shoulders above the competition.
In his 21 years as head coach of the Nittany Lions, Pavlik has led his teams to unprecedented success each and every year. The only team in EIVA history to capture a national championship, Pavlik’s 2008 national title over Pepperdine is one of the brightest moments in program history.
Pavlik and Penn State have also been the flag-bearer for the EIVA. Winners of 17 consecutive conference titles, hosting the EIVA tournament as the No. 1 seed has become an annual event. A win on Saturday against St. Francis would clinch an undefeated record against conference opponents for this season.
As one of the longest-tenured coaches currently at Penn State, Pavlik has come to appreciate the atmosphere at the university.
“Certainly the student body here is great, you walk around campus and see a lot of smiling faces and there’s such a great thread of hope and enthusiasm as everyone looks to the future that they’re going to have,” Pavlik said. “It’s just a fun place to be.”
To put Pavlik’s longevity in perspective, his first season at the helm of the Lions was the same year as Derek Jeter’s debut, same year as the Monica Lewinsky scandal, and only one year after Penn State football’s Rose Bowl championship quarterbacked by Kerry Collins.
To say that Pavlik has been around to witness all of the athletic department’s peaks and valleys would be an understatement. Pavlik has been around to experience firsthand how an entire university can be affected by one event. However, he’s also been around to see how the community has stuck to its values.
“If it was perfect, we wouldn’t have nearly as much fun trying to make it perfect. I think just to come to work here has been a huge blessing,” Pavlik said. “It’s a great community to raise a family, what better people would I want my son Jack running around getting to know?”
With over 40 All-Americans, Pavlik has proven himself as a legendary coach. His former players have won National Player of the Year awards, gone onto play on Olympic teams, and parlayed his teachings into incredibly successful professional careers.
What separates Pavlik from his coaching peers is his love for the game. Doug Beal, USA Volleyball CEO and former USA Men’s Volleyball coach, noted his enthusiasm and passion, saying that, “Mark brings an unusual passion and thoughtfulness, along with a special rapport with his team every year.”
His adoration for Penn State and his commitment to the university mission should serve as a benchmark for all Lions coaches.
As he approaches his 500th victory, a quick glimpse at Pavlik’s legacy shows just how much of an impact he’s had on the university and the program.
“I bleed blue and white. I truly believe in the mission of our university and I truly believe what the intercollegiate athletics department has to add and to complement to that mission,” Pavlik said. “Hopefully for the guys that have come through this program, we’ve been able to follow through with exactly what the university and the athletic department expects of an experience worthy of being a Nittany Lion.”
Mark Puleo can be reached at mjp5772@psu.edu or (814) 865-1828. Follow him on Twitter @markrunner96.
Source: http://www.collegian.psu.edu/sports...4-ae14-7319e80cd137.html#.VTvyW3bA2LI.twitter
