100 wins, another feat for Skinner

By T.J. Walker

Winning has become a common theme for the UK volleyball team.

Last Friday, UK head coach Craig Skinner won his 100th game, making him the fastest coach to win 100 games in the program’s history — it only took four and a half seasons and 141 games for Skinner to reach such a feat.

This season has been Skinner’s best so far. UK currently sits at the top of the Southeastern Conference and is in the top 10 nationally. In sweeping Auburn on Friday, Skinner captured his 100th win and had perhaps his most memorable game at UK. Since he has taken over the face of the UK volleyball program, it has completely changed.

“(Skinner) is UK volleyball,” said senior setter Sarah Rumely. “Before he was here, UK volleyball wasn’t on the map, not the national map and not even the SEC map. He is the reason why all of us come here as recruits and he is a great coach. He gets us prepared for scouting teams and we trust him 100 percent when we step on the court Fridays and Sundays that we will be ready to go.”

A reason why Skinner reached 100 wins so quickly might be because he has never had a losing season while head coach, and has made the NCAA tournament every season.

“He really has changed the program around,” said junior outside hitter Sarah Mendoza. “He is a great coach.”

The No. 8 Cats (17-1, 7-0 SEC) have tied the best start in school history after 18 games. Also, Skinner not only won a set at then-No. 5 Florida (breaking an 11-year drought), he managed to win the match outright, marking the first win in Gainesville, Fla., since 1989.

Skinner thanks everyone involved in the volleyball program for him reaching 100 wins.

“It’s great for the program, it’s great for the kids and players and people that have been involved in that,” Skinner said. “A lot of people have been involved in helping us be successful. It’s another win and we’re excited to get every win we can.”

UK has blown up on the national scene thanks to Skinner. He has had top-30 recruiting classes every year, including a top-10 class in 2007.

“He is building this program as we speak, and it’s only going to get better,” Mendoza said. “The better the program, the better the recruits.”

With the recent success of the program under Skinner, he has drawn attention nationally. He was named SEC Coach of the Year in 2005 and UK has finished second in the SEC in attendance for four straight seasons.

Skinner’s success at UK might have other schools interested, but he insists he loves UK.

“I love Kentucky. I love coaching here,” he said. “It’s one of the best programs in the country and I see no reason why we can’t make it better.”