Plocki Selected to 2018 West Virginia Hall of Fame Class
5/27/2018 8:40:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
CHARLESTON, W. Va. -- West Virginia University announced its 2018 Hall of Fame Class on Sunday (May 27) with University of Michigan women's gymnastics head coach Bev Plocki included among this year's honorees.
"I was really surprised when I got the phone call from West Virginia's Director of Athletics Shane Lyons," said Plocki. "I am very honored and humbled to be considered for the West Virginia Hall of Fame with all the amazing people they have to choose from. It is exciting and I am looking forward to the opportunity to go back."
Plocki, formerly Beverly Fry, earned two degrees from WVU, earning her bachelor's of science degree in physical education in 1987 and her master's degree in sports management and administration in 1989. She got her start in coaching at her alma mater under Linda Burdette after competing for three seasons for the Mountaineers after transferring from the University of Alabama. During her time as a collegiate gymnast she earned All-America honors on balance beam, all-conference honors on bars and was a team captain in 1987.
Once she started coaching, Plocki was on a fast track to success and was hired in the fall of 1989 to take over the Wolverines program. It took her just two seasons to turn a 2-19 team into a 20-win team and Big Ten Champions. She went on to win six straight conference titles and 23 overall in her 29 seasons at U-M to go with four Big Ten regular-season titles in six years.
The accolades for Plocki at Michigan are extensive. She has 749 wins, is tied for the most Big Ten titles by any head coach in any sport in Big Ten history, has guided the team to 23 NCAA Championship appearances, 10 NCAA Super Six appearances and 11 NCAA Regional titles.
She is an 11-time Big Ten Coach of the Year, nine-time NACGC/W Regional Coach of the Year and was the 1994 National Coach of the Year. She has coached eight individual national champions, 177 All-Americans and 93 Big Ten Champions in her 29 seasons.
"West Virginia gave me a second chance after it didn't work out at Alabama and it was a turning point for me," said Plocki. "I owe Linda Burdette so much for bringing me there and giving me an incredible opportunity. She also helped me transition from being an athlete to a graduate assistant and helping me come to Michigan. That part of my life was so pivotal in getting me on the right track and turning me into who I have become."
Plocki has had three of her student-athletes selected into the Michigan Hall of Honor in Wendy Marshall (Martin), Beth Wymer (Humbles) and Elise Ray, and will now get to experience that feeling for herself at her alma mater.
"I know how prestigious it is for my student-athletes at Michigan when they are inducted into our Hall of Honor, but I hadn't really thought about putting that in context now that it is me at my institution," said Plocki.
Plocki will be honored with the rest of the Hall of Fame class at West Virginia's football game against Kansas State on Saturday, Sept. 22.
• West Virginia release
