Bev Plocki

Beverly "Bev" Jean Plocki (born Beverly Jean Fry; September 6, 1964)[1] is an American gymnastics coach, and the current coach of the Michigan Wolverines women's gymnastics team. In 30 years as the head coach at Michigan, her teams have a record of 772–257–4 and have won 24 Big Ten Conference championships, and advanced to 23 NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championships, including 16 straight NCAA championship tournaments from 1993 to 2008.

Bev Plocki
Current position
TitleHead coach
TeamMichigan
ConferenceBig Ten
Record772–257–4 (.749)
Biographical details
Born (1964-09-06) September 6, 1964
Butler, Pennsylvania
Alma materWest Virginia
Playing career
1983Alabama
1985-1987West Virginia
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1988-1989West Virginia
1990-PresentMichigan
Head coaching record
Overall772–257–4 (.749)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
24× Big Ten Champions (1992-1997, 1999-2005, 2007-2011, 2014-2019)
11× NCAA Regional Championships (1997, 1999-2001, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2017)
Awards
11× Big Ten Coach of the Year (1992-1995, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2008, 2010, 2015)

9× NCAA Regional Coach of the Year
NCAA Coach of the Year (1994)

West Virgnia Sports Hall of Fame (2018)

Biography

Plocki was an All-American gymnast on the balance beam at the University of Alabama.[2] She began her coaching career as a graduate assistant at West Virginia University while studying for a master's degree. Plocki applied for an open coaching spot at the University of Michigan at age 23 and got the job.[2] When she took over at the University of Michigan, the women's gymnastics team was at a low point, having gone 0-13 and finished in last place in the conference in 1989 and having compiled a 1-10 record in 1988.[3] The Michigan gymnasts improved to 7-15 in Plocki's first season.[2] Plocki's conversion of the Michigan gymnastics program received a major boost when she succeeded in recruiting Toledo, Ohio, native Beth Wymer to Michigan.[2] In recruiting Wymer, Plocki told her: "You can go to one of the three dominant schools (Utah, Georgia or Alabama) and be another All-America on their list of All-Americas. Or, you can come to Michigan and be the first All-America."[3] Since then, Plocki has had All-Americans every year. Plocki gives Wymer credit for helping to build the Michigan gymnastics program: "I don't know where we would be today if she hadn't made the decision to come to Michigan. Her being here allowed us to recruit a completely different level of athlete.[2] It is monumental what she did for this program." In 2001, Plocki landed another blue-chip recruit when Elise Ray, captain of the 2000 U.S. Olympic gymnastics team committed to Michigan.[2]

In 1992, Plocki led the Wolverines to a Big Ten championship. Michigan went on to win six straight Big Ten championships starting in 1992 and also became one of the top teams in the NCAA championships.[3] In 1993, Plocki's squad made its first appearance in the NCAA championships and finished ninth.[3] In 1994, Michigan finished fourth in the NCAA championship and improved to No. 2 in 1995.[2] In 1997, Michigan's gymnasts won a sixth straight Big Ten championship, won all five events, and finished 1-2-3 in the all-around.[4] After missing the Big Ten championship in 1998, Plocki's teams started a new streak of seven straight conference titles from 1999 to 2005, a Big Ten record for most consecutive titles. The 1999 team also finished No. 2 at the NCAA championship.[5]

In all, Michigan has won 23 Big Ten Championships under Plocki, including 15 of 17 Big Ten championships between 1992 and 2008.[6] Plocki's teams also advanced to the NCAA championships 16 straight seasons between 1993 and 2008. Plocki is an 11-time Big Ten Coach of the Year, eight-time NCAA Regional Coach of the Year and was the 1994 NCAA National Coach of the Year.[7][8]

In 2018, Plocki won her 23rd Big Ten championship. With the win, she tied former Indiana men's swimming head coach James Counsilman for the most championships by any head coach in any sport in Big Ten history.[9]

Coaching record
Season[10][11]Overall RecordBig Ten RecordBig Ten rankNCAA Tournament
19907–152–106th—
199113–129–53rd—
199225–411–01st—
199329–109–11st9th
199436–813–01st4th
199536–5–112–01stT-2nd
199629–1410–31st6th
199732–99–01st4th
199822–108–22nd8th
199932–610–11st2nd
200030–129–01st6th
200127–109–01st3rd
200231–711–01st7th
200326–129–11st5th
200419–118–11st8th
200532–713–01st5th
200622–8–17–34th7th
200721–118–21stT-11th
200829–611–01stT-8th
200922–710–01st—
201025–710–11st10th
201126–1110–11st6th
201216–109–54th—
201331–517–22nd7th
201428–814–21st10th
201527–619–01st7th
201623–86–3T-3rd—
201727–78–11st10th
201824–2–18–11st4th
201923–5–19-01st
Total749–252–3289–45
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References
  1. https://www.facebook.com/WVUGymnastics/posts/congratulations-to-bev-fry-plocki/10160400324705058/
  2. Corey Roepken (2006-04-20). "Plocki enjoys fruits of her labor". Ann Arbor News.
  3. Jo-Ann Barnas (1997-04-16). "Worst to Best: U-M Gymnasts Set Sights on NCAA Title". Detroit Free Press.
  4. Jo-Ann Barnas (1997-04-04). "U-M's Cain Floors Competition as a Freshman". Detroit Free Press.
  5. Angelique S. Chengelis (2000-04-13). "Gymnasts vying for U-M's first women's title". The Detroit News.
  6. "U-M gymnasts seek to extend Big Ten dynasty". Ann Arbor News. 2006-03-20.
  7. Antoine Pitts (2007-01-08). "U-M gymnasts aim for 15th bid to NCAA meet". Ann Arbor News.
  8. Antoine Pitts (2008-04-24). "U-M gymnasts have depth, balance". Ann Arbor News.
  9. Blevins, Ben (March 27, 2018). "Bev Plocki Reflects on Winning Record 23 Big Ten Titles". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
  10. "U of M Women's Gymnastics". University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library. Retrieved 2009-01-28.
  11. "Bev Plocki Bio". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. March 27, 2018. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
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