UF VB: Legendary Head Coach Mary Wise Steps Down
Wise led UF to eight NCAA Final Four Appearances & 25 Southeastern Conference titles
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The architect of one of collegiate volleyball’s most successful programs, Florida’s Mary Wise, announced her retirement Thursday.
During Wise’s 34 seasons with Florida, she led UF to 1,068 wins – the fourth most in Division I history and one of two women among the top eight. Wise led UF to the NCAA Tournament every season – the third-longest streak in Division I history. Her teams advanced to eight Final Fours, including two national runner-up finishes and won a league-leading 25 Southeastern Conference Championships.
They Said:
“Gator Nation, it has been an honor to serve as your Head Volleyball Coach the past 34 seasons. I look back on my career with such gratitude for the assistant coaches, staff members, administrators, and especially the incredible women who said yes to being a Gator,” Wise said.
“This is such a special place and there was never going to be an easy time to walk away, but after 43 years in the arena, the time to step away is now. College volleyball has risen to a whole new level with participation, attendance and TV exposure. I cannot wait to see what’s next for the sport at a view from my new seat.
“To the Gator fans that helped elevate our program with their support, the Gainesville community that helped Mark and me raise our sons, and to the entire Gator Nation that allowed me to represent the orange and blue, thank you.”
“Mary Wise is an icon at the University of Florida, in college athletics and in the volleyball community. Beginning with her being the youngest Division I coach ever hired at her first coaching stop, Mary’s 43-year journey in the profession is an impressive parade of remarkable successes and accomplishments,” athletic director Scott Stricklin said.
“As impressive as those accomplishments are, it is equally impressive the countless lives she touched and impacted along the way. Gator athletes, staff and fans are forever grateful to Mary for her tireless efforts, and for making Florida Volleyball one of the premier programs in the nation.”
Wise’s Collegiate Impact:
Wise made an impact right from her debut season, as that 1991 team won a share of the Southeastern Conference title. That was the first of 25 league titles for Wise teams – which is the most for any SEC women’s team, ninth of all SEC men’s/women’s teams.
The 1991 team also started Florida’s presence in NCAA post-season action. That team was the first of 30 Gator teams to advance to NCAA Regional semifinal action. Just a season later, the 1992 Gators won a thrilling five-set victory over Texas to advance to its first of eight NCAA Final Four appearances.
Florida competed in every NCAA Tournament and finished every season with a winning record under Wise’s leadership. She is one of two coaches to be recognized as the AVCA Division I National Coach of the Year three times (1992, 1996, 2017). Her league peers selected Wise as the SEC Coach of the Year 15 times.
Wise guided the Gators to two national runner-up finishes (2003 and 2017) and a total of eight national semifinal appearances. A total of 142 All-America honors were earned by 49 Gators. Rhamat Alhassan was named the 2017 Honda Award winner as the nation’s top collegiate player.
A native of Evanston, Ill., Wise was a setter for Purdue’s volleyball team. Wise was the youngest Division I coach ever hired when she started her head coaching career at Iowa State the fall after receiving her bachelor’s degree in spring of 1981. She led the Cyclones from 1981-84 and then was part of the Kentucky coaching staff from 1986-90 before being tapped to lead the Gator program March 25, 1991.
Under Wise’s coaching, 13 Gators claimed a combined 19 SEC Player of the Year honors, led by three-time winner Aury Cruz (2001, ’02, ’03), and double recipients Aycan Gokberk (1993, ’95), Jenny Manz (1998, ’99), Jane Collymore (2004, ’05) and Angie McGinnis (2006, ’07). In addition, seven Gators took home SEC Freshman of the Year recognition.
Wise’s impact touched the game on many levels. She is considered one the finest resources for collegiate volleyball coaching with a philosophy of innovation regarding rule changes and youth volleyball opportunities. More than 30 of Wise’s student-athletes and staff have gone on to coach collegiate volleyball.
Wise finishes her remarkable Gator career with a 987-150 (.868) record as Florida’s head coach and a 1068-213 (.834) career mark including her time at Iowa State.
