Patriots’ Phelps notches big 100

When some people hit any kind of big mark, the feeling of an “end” comes into mind. As for head volleyball coach Kristee Phelps, hitting the century mark in her career win column only means the beginning of things. Phelps, in her ninth year of coaching and fifth year at the University, managed to capture her 100th win in a match against Mid-America Christian on the final day of the UT Tyler/Trinity Mother Francis Classic that was held a weekend ago.

Volleyball head coach Kristee Phelps gets the her players’ attention during their game against Mary Hardin-Baylor. Photo by Richard Sarmiento.

If someone would have tried to speak to her that day, they probably would not have figured out they were talking to a coach with 99 career victories, and on the verge of getting number 100. “We were having a tournament, and so I was just so busy running around, and making sure everything and everyone was taken care of. My parents were the ones that told me that I could possibly get my 100th win. At that point I was just hoping that it wouldn’t get jinxed,” Phelps said.

Of course, nothing was jinxed, as the Patriots managed to capture the win. After the match,  Phelps  mentioned that it felt good to finally hit the mark, and that with it coming off of a great match, it added even more to the feeling. Yet what topped the achievement off was the fact she had gotten the significant victory at home. “You always try and hope to get that big win at home.  I feel real supported here at UTT, and felt even better getting that win here. I really have enjoyed being here,” Phelps said.

In no way or fashion does the century mark mean any kind of stopping or slowing down for Phelps. “I’m not really focused on the win and loss column, I am focused on my team’s execution. It’s great to be at this mark, but now I view it as, got to go for my 200th win. I have to just keep going,” Phelps said. Given that approach, one would think that the 200th mark would be the next milestone for a veteran coach.

Phelps is anything but the conventional coach as she stays true to not only the love of the game, but to her players above all else. “I try to challenge my girls, especially the ones that stay their whole four year career with me, to try to beat some of the records I made when I was a player. If I do my job, I am sure I’ll coach a player that does beat them,” Phelps said.

The records that she refers to are the ones that she holds at her playing days as at Wayland Baptist University where she holds  numerous records, as well as serving as a coach there. Phelps is WBU’s all time leader in service aces with 174.

“Above all, we have to get back to the tournament,” Phelps said as she concluded on her journey to the next milestone. With more than 100 wins, Phelps still manages to be humble, but even more, she manages to see past the sport. When asked if with the 100 wins, did she believe it was all about winning, Phelps said no. “At this level, it’s not all about winning. As a coach you want your athletes to win in the classroom and life. You want them to be better people and to be driven in all that they do. In short, it’s not about winning, it’s about life.”

With an attitude like that, it is very likely Phelps will hit marks that go past the boundaries of the court. Phelps 100th career win is her 47th victory here at UT-Tyler. In her career, Phelps has coached 31 players to a All-Conference team. Last season Phelps led the Patriots volleyball team to their first playoff berth in school history. Something the team will look to repeat this year.