It was nearly three decades ago when she embarked on her head-coaching career, barely a year removed from playing college volleyball and with zero experience as a coach.
Mary Wise is the first person to admit her initial unfamiliarity with the job that she was suddenly at the helm of, even if she did not quite realize it more than 30 years ago.
"Have you ever been 21?" she said, laughing. "I didn’t even know what I didn’t know."
But Wise knew volleyball, and that was all that mattered.
She was 22 when she coached her first collegiate match at Iowa State, one of two instances during her 33-year career that Wise said she would never forget.
The other was Friday in Los Angeles when she reached win No. 800 of her career after sweeping Southern California.
"You know, I was asked if I remembered the 700th or the 600th," Wise said. "I remember number one, but I will definitely remember 800."
The Gator alumnae showed up in droves — either to watch their former coach make history or to reminisce on their own time with Florida.
The reason did not matter.
It only mattered to Wise that her former pupils were there, basking in the moment and sharing it with her, too.
"I think what really made it special was how many of our former players were in the stands at USC," Wise said. "That group, they were a part of a whole lot of wins. So we really did get to share it."
There were representatives present from each decade of Wise’s tenure at Florida – most notably Kelly Murphy, who is currently a U.S. National Team member, Kari Klinkenborg from the mid 2000’s era and even Kim Hale from 1991, during Wise’s first year at UF.
Some former players could not be at USC with Wise, but they managed to communicate their well wishes in other ways.
"My phone blew up with text messages," Wise said. "I still love staying in touch with those players. … We stay here and we win because of those talented players."
Wise’s career achievements are astounding, and some of them justifiably groundbreaking.
She was the first collegiate volleyball coach to win 100 consecutive games and the first female head coach to reach the NCAA National Championship.
She was also the first coach to win more than 90 percent of a program’s matches during the first 16 seasons of a career, and did it all while reaching 500 wins faster than any Division I female coach.
Somehow, Wise’s career milestone of 800 wins pales in comparison to her past accolades.
Did it ever cross her mind, back when she was a 22-year old head coach at Iowa State, that she would be where she is today?
"No. At the time did I even think I would be in coaching for this long?" Wise said, smiling. "I was making $13,000 thinking I was living the good life. I had just graduated from Purdue. But again, a different era. You’re not going to hire somebody with no experience (today)."
Now, Wise has more experience than she ever could have hoped for. Twelve Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year awards, two National Coach of the Year awards, and nineteen SEC championships later, Wise remains one of the most highly regarded collegiate volleyball authorities in the nation.
After finally reaching win No. 800 and year No. 23, how many more of each can Florida expect from its prolific coach?
"I think you stay in places when there are no push factors," Wise said. "And when you’re at Florida, there are no push factors."
Follow Ian Cohen on Twitter at @ibcohen5
UF coach Mary Wise reacts after a point during Florida's 3-1 loss to Texas on Sept. 6 in the O'Connell Center.
