Central Missouri volleyball coach Peggy Martin accepts congratulatory high fives from her team after picking up career victory 1,000 aagainst Northwest Missouri State at Maryville, Oct. 21. (Photo by Dave Kopp)

WARRENSBURG, Mo. -- Peggy Martin wouldn’t agree entirely with Vince Lombardi. While the University of Central Missouri volleyball coach would concur with the legendary football coach that winning isn’t everything, Martin, a legendary coach in her own right, disagrees that it’s the only thing.

Martin should know. She is just a few days removed from earning the 1,000th victory of her career with the Jennies, a run that got under way in the fall of 1975.

From the Beginning

When she began the journey to becoming the winningest coach in NCAA Division II history, Martin had no idea where the road would lead. A thousand victories was not just the furthest thing from her mind, it was a thought that didn’t exist.

Knuckle me! Jennies volleyball coach Peggy Martin (right) accepts a modern handshake from Central Missouri Hall of Fame basketball coach Millie Barnes following Martin's record-setting win Oct. 21. (Photo by Dave Kopp)

“Back in those days, we were struggling to even put teams on the floor,” she said. “I thought I would be at Central Missouri a couple years and move back south where my family was. The big picture wasn’t there back then. It was trying to get enough kids skilled enough to compete.”

What Martin soon learned was that Central Missouri was one of the nation’s leading institutions in the development of women’s athletics, a movement that was getting a big boost from Title IX legislation, mandating equal opportunities for female athletes.

“I’ve been very blessed all my life to be in the right place at the right time,” Martin said, explaining that, growing up in Mobile, Ala., she had the opportunity co compete in elementary, junior high and high school athletics, then found she was able to participate in three sports at Indiana University.

“I just went there because of the great academic side and didn’t realize until I got there that would be able to compete in three sports,” she said. “This was pre Title IX.”

After a season as a junior high volleyball and basketball coach in her hometown, Martin joined the volleyball and basketball staffs at North Carolina-Greensboro, where she earned her master’s degree in 1974. A year coaching club teams at Florida Southern followed before she landed in Warrensburg .

(Photo by Dave Kopp)

“Coming to Central Missouri was being in the right place at the right time again with the growth spurt and the very, very strong women that were here - Dr. Jessie Jutten, Dr. Alphadine Martin and Dr. Millie Barnes,” Martin said. “Those people allowed me to grow with the program. But, without them, without that strong female base back in 1975, who knows where we would be today?”

Under Martin’s tutelage, the Jennies began winning immediately, posting five straight winning seasons. Martin then returned to Indiana , a “forced” sabbatical, to earn her doctorate in physical education in 1980.

“The only reason I was on sabbatical was (university president) Warren Lovinger told me I had to be, that I had to get my doctorate or I was going to be fired,” Martin recalled. “God bless him, I’m happy that I did.”

While she had offers to go elsewhere, Martin admitted she never seriously thought about not returning the Central Missouri and picked up where she left off in 1981. The MIAA began sponsoring volleyball the next year and Martin’s teams won the first 19 league titles (1982-2000).

(Photo by Dave Kopp)

The following season, Central Missouri began a run of consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances that will likely reach 24 this year. The run includes six regional titles in 14 region tournament championship appearances and four top four finishes.

The Jennies finished second in 1987, fifth in 1988 and ‘90 and fourth each year from 1994-96. Central Missouri has finished second in the region tournament each of the last four seasons.

The program’s growth could certainly be themed “Great things from humble beginnings.”

“Going from not even having real volleyball standards to where we are today is phenomenal,” Martin said. “To see the progress we’ve made is awesome. Not only did I grow up with the program, but the whole program of women’s athletics grew up with me. I’ve been blessed in every fact of my career as a young woman, young girl playing sports to now being a rather older woman and still coaching.

From Athletes to Volleyball Players

As women’s athletics has grown by leaps and bounds, so too has the female athlete, especially in terms of sport specific skills. As Martin looks at all the great players she has coached at Central Missouri, a list that includes 26 All-Americans, she isn’t afraid to make comparisons.

(Photo by Dave Kopp)

“I think you can compare them athletically,” she said. “I don’t think I’ve ever had a more athletic player than Lisa Kissee (1980-83). Now, was she trained as a volleyball player? No. She grew up in the program and became a terrific volleyball player, but athletically, she could compete right now.”

Martin made similar observations about All-Americans Becky Belland (1987-90) and Stacy Piontek (1986-87), both members of the Jennies’ 1987 national runner-up. That team, arguably the best in school history, went 42-4, and Martin said she believes those Jennies could compete with today’s teams.

“I get better trained volleyball players right now,” Martin said. “Jillian Ohrman is one of the better athletes we’ve ever had. I probably have better volleyball players right now, but when you go way back, we had some great athletes in the early years.

“The opportunities for these kids to play club ball, have good coaches at a younger age, brings them to me much more well trained. We do more refining now, where in the early years, we did a lot of teaching.”

From Players to Family

Even as UCM fans stood for match point during her 1,000th win, Coach Peggy Martin made sure to make a point to hitter Jacquelyn Williams. (Photo by Dave Kopp)

Not only is Martin the head coach, for the majority of players in her program, she fills the role of a surrogate parent. She readily accepts the tasks of disciplinarian as well as role model.

“Winning is important, but you probably judge yourself more on how those kids mature in your program and the values that you’re able, not to instill, but reinforce,” she said. “It is easier for us at the Division II level to spend a lot of time with our players and grow that other side of them.”

And don’t think the kids aren’t watching.

“During my freshman year, I remember how several of the older girls did not lift weights during the day and were kicked out of practice,” recalled Janell Mohme (1998-2001). “I was in awe as I had never seen anything like it.”

“We came into the gym and, for some reason, I asked (assistant coach) Flip (Piontek) if everybody was in weights that day,” Martin explained, adding that four seniors were the no shows for weight training. “I said, ‘OK, you four seniors can leave. You’re not good enough to follow the rules, you can’t practice.’ That means they don’t play. I think that set the tone for a lot of our younger players that we do what we’re supposed to and, even if you’re a star or a starter, you still go by the rules.”

That sense of family doesn’t end when a player leaves the program.

(Photo by Dave Kopp)

“Sometimes, people don't see the caring side of Coach Martin,” noted Lori Copeland of Nevada, Mo., mother of Alana Copeland, whose career was cut short by a knee injury in 2003. “When Alana, had knee surgery, Coach was there. She came over and waited with us before they took Alana into surgery and came back and checked on her after. It meant a lot to Alana and us that she took the time to physically come to the hospital. It was a tough time and a career ending injury. Her support that day and in the years to follow made a big difference in Alana's college experience.”

“When your kids grow up, you don’t abandon them,” added Martin. “When your kids get sick, you don’t abandon them. In the program, they give to me an outstanding effort and then, when they get injured or whatever, it’s my responsibility to be there for them. That’s a no brainer. That’s not something you pat me on the back for. That’s just life.”

Involved as she is, Martin has been known to go above and beyond the call of duty, and picked up some valuable lessons in the process.

Coach Peggy martin hugs longtime assistant coach Flip Piontek following her 1,000th win Oct. 21. (Photo by Dave Kopp)

“Our son, Joe, was born in February of 1990,” explained Stacy Piontek. “Coach Martin is his godmother and I was in graduate school at the time. After a week off from classes, I had to get back to school. I needed a babysitter for just one hour on Monday and Wednesdays, so Coach volunteered to watch him. I gave Coach all the instructions and headed off to class.

“When I got home, she was a bit agitated. I guess she thought there was something really wrong with Joe. He had the hiccups, so she frantically tried to call Coach (Rhesa) Sumrell and Flip. Finally she got ahold of one of them and they assured her that babies get hiccups all the time. She was still a little worked up when I got home. I don't think she appreciated it when I laughed, either.”

While Martin remembered that incident with a bit of a sheepish grin, she recalled another lesson young Joe taught her.

“Not being a real mom, I didn’t understand the things that could happen when you’re changing a diaper on a little boy,” she said. “Believe me, it happened and I learned very quickly. That was an experience. I like being the surrogate mom or surrogate grandmom, but I just wasn’t made for that nurturing part of the youngsters.”

Winning - From 1 to 1,000

UCM Associate Athletic Director Kathy Anderson (right) presents Peggy Martin with a ball, commemorating her 1,000th win Oct. 21. (Photo by Dave Kopp)

Consistency has long been the hallmark of Martin’s career. Her first team went 18-15-2, a .543 winning percentage, and the closest the Jennies have ever come to having a losing record under her.

The only win that seems to have eluded Martin is the national championship,

Does it bother her? Yes.

Is it the end of the world? No.

“In 31 years, you’d think we’d get lucky,” Martin quipped. “But, is that that important or is the pride of our program consistently putting out 25-win seasons against top competition? Sure, I’d love to win a national championship, but sometimes, you see teams win a national championship and then, then next year, have a losing season.

“”I’ve never been one to sell my soul, to bring in five JUCO players or the international student-athlete to win that national championship. I firmly believe in the (Midwest) kid. I think it’s just going to reinforce that we’ve been damn good for a long time. That goes to the players, the coaches, the training staff. You can’t just lay it on the head coach. Certainly, I’m somewhat of a controlling persona, but the people around you have to want to be controlled. They have to want to buy in to what you’re doing and I’ve been very, very blessed to have people who have bought in, in a huge way.”

Coach Peggy Martin addresses a crowd of players, parents, former players and firends following her 1,000th victory Oct. 21. (Photo by Dave Kopp)

Not winning the MIAA title since the rally scoring format was implemented in 2001 , Martin said, bothers her more than not winning an NCAA title. However, she’s more proud of things like her team posting the highest collective grade point average in all of Division II in 2005.

“That says I don’t have to work very hard as a coach. The kids are smart. They are going to do what I ask them to do and, for the most part, they do.”

As her milestone victory edged closer, Martin chose not to address the subject with her team until the day before they left for the weekend trip that would produce the final two victories in the string - at Missouri Western Oct. 20 and at Northwest Missouri State the following day.

(Photo by Dave Kopp)

“We addressed it early in the season,” Martin noted. “I told them there would probably be a little media hype and people were going to get excited about it, but I wanted this season to be about them.”

Following the milestone victory, a 3-1 win over Northwest Missouri, Martin was gracious during an impromptu celebration in a classroom adjacent to Bearcat Arena. The gathering not only included her current team and their parents, but many former players, friends, and the pioneers who took her under their wings in 1975.

“For Peggy, you don’t want to say it’s the culmination of a career because I don’t think she’s going to stop doing this,” said assistant coach Flip Piontek. “But it is a significant thing for her and it’s representative of how significant she is to women’s volleyball. You’re not going to have anybody else win a thousand games. Tracy Rietzke (Rockhurst) is probably going to get one next year, but those kind of coaches that last that long in one place is not going to happen. So, when you get people here like Alphadine Martin and Joyce Bailey, it’s really a significant recognition of her accomplishments more than anything else.”

That significance isn’t lost on Martin.

“I think 1,000 is huge, but it means perseverance and it means doing it a long time,” she said. “As I’ve joked, I wouldn’t still be doing it if we weren’t winning. The winning is important.”

Heading into the final weekend of the regular season, Martin’s record stands at 1,000-261-8 (.791), including a 25-4 mark this season. Even after 31 years, Martin can still be surprised.

Jennies head coach Peggy Martin hugs Katie Patterson during Senior Night Wednesday. (Photo by Dave Kopp)

“I didn’t expect (the 1,000th win) to come this year,” Martin said. “I thought with losing Kaci (Young), who was so important to our program, and Becky (Haug), I thought this team would need a year to grow into being a good volleyball team. They have matured and gelled as a team much more quickly than I thought.

“Our schedule is always tough. To be here now and only have four losses, if you’d told me that at the start of the season, I would have been thrilled. We lost to three very good teams. We haven’t slipped up and lost to somebody we shouldn’t have. That’s a compliment to them and their focus.”

No matter how many matches or titles her teams may win, Martin hopes her players will remember one thing about her.

“The legacy probably would be that I was consistently the same person, meaning, whether you’re a star or a bench player, that you’re important to me. Whether you win or lose, you’re still the same people, that I could be supportive of you when you’re down as well as when you’re up.

"I’m not so sure I’m not lucky because I feel I’d rather stay blessed with the players I have and them coming back and being so proud of being a volleyball Jenny. That’s much more important to me that winning a national championship.”