Mary Wise retires after 34 years coaching Florida volleyball

Mary Wise, the legendary head coach of the Florida Gators volleyball team, announced her retirement after 34 successful years in Gainesville. Under her leadership, the Gators achieved remarkable success, making the NCAA Tournament every season and reaching the Final Four eight times, including two national runner-up finishes. Wise's career record stands at 987 wins and 150 losses at Florida, contributing to an overall record of 1,068 wins and 213 losses, making her one of the most successful coaches in NCAA Division I history. She has been recognized as the AVCA Division I National Coach of the Year three times and has won the SEC Coach of the Year award 15 times. Wise expressed gratitude for her experiences and the athletes she coached, noting that stepping away was a difficult decision but felt it was the right time. Her retirement follows a trend at Florida, where several championship-winning coaches have recently stepped down.