University of Tennessee Athletics
SEC Coaches Weigh in on Rob Patrick’s Milestone Win
August 29, 2017 | Volleyball
Rob Patrick has been a head coach for 635 matches – all on Rocky Top.
And after Saturday night's 3-0 triumph over George Washington in Thompson-Boling Arena – which helped the Vols claim the Tennessee Classic championship – Patrick has been on the winning end of 400 of those matches. It's a career milestone that speaks not just to longevity, but consistency and a commitment to both Tennessee and the Southeastern Conference.
After all, one doesn't just luck into a career .630 winning percentage.
"Reaching 400 wins is a significant accomplishment for any coach, and to do it at (one) institution is remarkable," Kentucky head coach Craig Skinner said. "It has been a pleasure to compete against Rob and his Tennessee teams over the last 12 years, and I look forward to more great matches in the future."
Patrick, meanwhile, looks forward to fostering more student-athlete development, both on and off the court.
"I love Tennessee because it allows the young ladies to come in and grow and be successful," said Patrick, who is in his 21st year as UT's head coach. "They can be successful athletically, successful academically, and Tennessee provides the support needed."
Under his leadership, the Big Orange have captured two SEC titles and made nine NCAA appearances. There was that run to the Final Four in 2005. There are the 11 20-win seasons, including five in a row from 2008-12. He's produced 38 All-SEC honorees.
"The profile of our volleyball program has grown significantly during Coach Patrick's 20 years as head coach," Tennessee Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics John Currie said. "400 wins is an accomplishment that reflects not only on his leadership but also on the quality of his recruitment and development of student-athletes. He has persevered though periods of uncertainty regarding facilities and practice space between the closing of Stokely Athletics Center era and the completion of our state-of-the-art Joan Cronan Volleyball Center."
In his first 20 years at Tennessee, Patrick has thrice been named the SEC Coach of the Year (2004, 2008, 2011). VBall magazine named Patrick its National Coach of the Year in 2005 after the aforementioned Final Four run.
That magical season came a year after Tennessee won 32 matches, earning a share of the conference crown and just missing the Round of Eight at the NCAAs. Tennessee defeated rival Florida in Gainesville that season, snapping the Gators' NCAA-record winning streak in what Patrick calls his favorite memory with the Vols.
"As we built the program and worked hard and improved every year," Patrick recalled, "the one thing that finally hit us like 'You know what? We've finally put this program on the map' was beating Florida for the first time at their place."
"That's the one that stands out as 'Okay, we've really put this program in a position to be as successful as we want it to be.'"
The Vols followed that up a week later with another win at Florida in the SEC Tournament championship match held in Gainesville.
"Rob's success comes as no surprise," Florida head coach Mary Wise said. "He has been a great addition to our league from the day he entered the SEC."
From Patrick's first 20-win campaign in 2000 (when UT went 23-10) through 2012, his squads went a combined 289-120 (.707) and had just one sub-.500 season. All nine NCAA appearances came during that span, including five straight from 2008-12 and a stretch of three in a row from 2004-06.
"Rob has been a great advocate for volleyball in the SEC for many years," LSU head coach Fran Flory said. "Throughout his tenure at Tennessee, SEC volleyball has evolved in a positive direction. His loyalty to the sport, to the league, and to the University of Tennessee has always remained steadfast."
Patrick became the Tennessee's all-time winningest volleyball coach in 2008 after a sweep of Auburn. He came to Rocky Top in 1997 after a three-year stint as an assistant coach at Stanford – a national powerhouse out of what is now the Pac-12 and the defending national champion. How strong was Stanford at the time? With Patrick on the bench, the Cardinal won 92 matches and two NCAA titles.
Among the players Patrick, a renowned recruiter, has coached? Most famously, three-time Olympic gold medalist Kerri Walsh.
You might have heard of her.
As a student-athlete himself, Patrick competed at Miami (Ohio), where he also played football. He has succeeded both indoors and on the beach, and that acumen carried over to his coaching career. Though his coaching style was initially shaped by his coaches on the gridiron – "Those were my mentors," he said – he quickly adapted not just to coaching women, but shifting with the times.
Why is that?
"If you don't change," Patrick said, "you're going to be left behind."
And after Saturday night's 3-0 triumph over George Washington in Thompson-Boling Arena – which helped the Vols claim the Tennessee Classic championship – Patrick has been on the winning end of 400 of those matches. It's a career milestone that speaks not just to longevity, but consistency and a commitment to both Tennessee and the Southeastern Conference.
After all, one doesn't just luck into a career .630 winning percentage.
"Reaching 400 wins is a significant accomplishment for any coach, and to do it at (one) institution is remarkable," Kentucky head coach Craig Skinner said. "It has been a pleasure to compete against Rob and his Tennessee teams over the last 12 years, and I look forward to more great matches in the future."
Patrick, meanwhile, looks forward to fostering more student-athlete development, both on and off the court.
"I love Tennessee because it allows the young ladies to come in and grow and be successful," said Patrick, who is in his 21st year as UT's head coach. "They can be successful athletically, successful academically, and Tennessee provides the support needed."
Under his leadership, the Big Orange have captured two SEC titles and made nine NCAA appearances. There was that run to the Final Four in 2005. There are the 11 20-win seasons, including five in a row from 2008-12. He's produced 38 All-SEC honorees.
"The profile of our volleyball program has grown significantly during Coach Patrick's 20 years as head coach," Tennessee Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics John Currie said. "400 wins is an accomplishment that reflects not only on his leadership but also on the quality of his recruitment and development of student-athletes. He has persevered though periods of uncertainty regarding facilities and practice space between the closing of Stokely Athletics Center era and the completion of our state-of-the-art Joan Cronan Volleyball Center."
In his first 20 years at Tennessee, Patrick has thrice been named the SEC Coach of the Year (2004, 2008, 2011). VBall magazine named Patrick its National Coach of the Year in 2005 after the aforementioned Final Four run.
That magical season came a year after Tennessee won 32 matches, earning a share of the conference crown and just missing the Round of Eight at the NCAAs. Tennessee defeated rival Florida in Gainesville that season, snapping the Gators' NCAA-record winning streak in what Patrick calls his favorite memory with the Vols.
"As we built the program and worked hard and improved every year," Patrick recalled, "the one thing that finally hit us like 'You know what? We've finally put this program on the map' was beating Florida for the first time at their place."
"That's the one that stands out as 'Okay, we've really put this program in a position to be as successful as we want it to be.'"
The Vols followed that up a week later with another win at Florida in the SEC Tournament championship match held in Gainesville.
"Rob's success comes as no surprise," Florida head coach Mary Wise said. "He has been a great addition to our league from the day he entered the SEC."
From Patrick's first 20-win campaign in 2000 (when UT went 23-10) through 2012, his squads went a combined 289-120 (.707) and had just one sub-.500 season. All nine NCAA appearances came during that span, including five straight from 2008-12 and a stretch of three in a row from 2004-06.
"Rob has been a great advocate for volleyball in the SEC for many years," LSU head coach Fran Flory said. "Throughout his tenure at Tennessee, SEC volleyball has evolved in a positive direction. His loyalty to the sport, to the league, and to the University of Tennessee has always remained steadfast."
Patrick became the Tennessee's all-time winningest volleyball coach in 2008 after a sweep of Auburn. He came to Rocky Top in 1997 after a three-year stint as an assistant coach at Stanford – a national powerhouse out of what is now the Pac-12 and the defending national champion. How strong was Stanford at the time? With Patrick on the bench, the Cardinal won 92 matches and two NCAA titles.
Among the players Patrick, a renowned recruiter, has coached? Most famously, three-time Olympic gold medalist Kerri Walsh.
You might have heard of her.
As a student-athlete himself, Patrick competed at Miami (Ohio), where he also played football. He has succeeded both indoors and on the beach, and that acumen carried over to his coaching career. Though his coaching style was initially shaped by his coaches on the gridiron – "Those were my mentors," he said – he quickly adapted not just to coaching women, but shifting with the times.
Why is that?
"If you don't change," Patrick said, "you're going to be left behind."
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