May 26, 2016
Mark Pavlik
Donald Shondell All-Time Great Coach Award - Contemporary Division
USA Volleyball - Colorado Springs, CO - Mark Pavlik had quick hands and quick feet playing intramural basketball in high school, and that caught the attention of his soon-to-be volleyball coach Rich Schall who suggested he play volleyball. Those qualities borne Mark's career in volleyball.
After high school, Mark played setter at Penn State as a freshman and sophomore before serving as team manager his final two seasons. Following graduation from Penn State he helped coach his high school alma mater from 1982 to 1985 with two gold medals at state along with a silver and bronze. By then, he caught the coaching bug.
In 1989, his collegiate coach Tom Tait retired at Penn State and Mark joined the staff of new head coach Tom Peterson. Penn State would go on to win the NCAA Championship in 1994, and Mark would be named interim head coach following the season. Mark would have the interim tag removed a year later as his coaching success blossomed immediately with a 26-3 record and NCAA runner-up finish in 1995.
Mark is now in his 22nd season as Penn State's head men's volleyball coach. Heading into the 2016 season, the Nittany Lions have a 503-152 record under Mark with 21 NCAA Tournament berths. Penn State captured the NCAA title in 2008, the same year Mark won AVCA National Coach of the Year honors. In his first 21 years as head coach, Penn State holds a 235-7 record in the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association, including 20 EIVA titles.
Mark has coached 21 different players to 41 AVCA All-American awards, including current U.S. Men's National Team stars Matt Anderson, Aaron Russell and Max Holt.
USA Volleyball CEO Doug Beal says "Mark has developed not only one of the best programs in the East, but one of the most outstanding programs in the nation. His teams compete with class at the highest levels, year-in and year-out. Mark brings an unusual passion and thoughtfulness, along with a special rapport with his team every year."
Mark's involvement with USA Volleyball and its High Performance pipeline runs deep. He was part of the U.S. coaching staff in consecutive World University Games in 1994 and 1995 and later guided the U.S. National Team to the silver medal at the 1995 NORCECA Continental Championship. In 2001, Mark returned to USA's World University Games staff as head of delegation as the team brought home its first-ever gold in the event. He also served as head of delegation for the U.S. Men at the 2008 America's Cup in Brazil.
Mark has held leadership positions off the court as well. He has been on the AVCA All-American Committee since 1997 and was the men's collegiate representative to the AVCA Board of Directors from 1997 to 2001.
Story from USA Volleyball - http://www.teamusa.org/USA-Volleyball/About-Us/Awards/All-Time-Great-Coaches/Mark-Pavlik