Craig Skinner sees 200th win as just another step towards ultimate goal
November 21, 2013
By Kyle Arensdorf | Volleyball beat writer
The UK volleyball team amassed 20 wins for the third straight season against the University of Mississippi on Sunday.
But in the wake of the victory, a second larger milestone was reached. Head coach Craig Skinner became the second coach in UK history to eclipse the mark of 200 career wins as a head coach, all at UK.
“I’ve been fortunate to have … the commitment of the administration and support of my family to do what I love doing, but I’m as excited for the program as anything,” Skinner said.
The Muncie, Ind. native came to UK after five seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Nebraska, garnering NCAA births in all five seasons and an NCAA Championship in an undefeated season in 2000.
“One of the reasons I came to Kentucky was to build a championship program and be one of the best programs in the country,” Skinner said. “We’re on our way and continue to want more.”
When asked what makes Skinner such an effective coach, senior outside hitter Whitney Billings emphasized not only his on-court presence, but also his presence off of the court.
“The way he handles everything is great. I feel like I can talk to him about anything, whether it’s (volleyball related) or not,” Billings said.
Billings and senior middle blocker Alexandra Morgan were here for Skinner’s 100th career win as a head coach as well.
“We feel so old,” Billings said. “It is crazy to think that we’ve been here for his 100th win and his 200th win. We feel like grandmas.”
As for his future at UK, Skinner said he’s hopeful that it’ll a long and successful future.
“We want to keep recruiting great players to continue to move this program forward,” Skinner said. “I think we have great opportunities ahead of us and I’m looking forward to every one of them.”
Skinner is nine wins behind former UK head coach Kathy DeBoer (1984-1992), who holds the all-time UK record for wins as a head coach with 209, but said he is “only focused on win no. 201.”
The Cats will play for that win Friday as they take on Texas A&M University in Memorial Coliseum at 7 p.m.