Bev Plocki
Encyclopedia
Beverly "Bev" Plocki formerly known as Beverly Fry, is an American gymnastics
coach. In 22 years as the head coach of the Michigan Wolverines
women’s gymnastics team (1990-2011), her teams have a record of 417-110-1 and have on 18 Big Ten Conference
championships, and advanced to 13 straight NCAA championship tournaments from 1993-2005.
. 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. 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. The Michigan gymnasts improved to 7-15 in Plocki's first season. Plocki's conversion of the Michigan gymnastics program received a major boost when she succeeded in recruiting Toledo, Ohio
, native Beth Wymer
to Michigan. 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." 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. 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.
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. In 1993, Plocki's squad made its first appearance in the NCAA championships and finished ninth. In 1994, Michigan finished fourth in the NCAA championship and improved to No. 2 in 1995. 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. After missing the Big Ten championship in 1998, Plocki's teams started a new streak of seven straight conference titles in 1999. The 1999 team also finished No. 2 at the NCAA championship.
In all, Michigan won 15 of 17 Big Ten championships between 1992 and 2008. Plocki's teams also advanced to the NCAA championships 16 straight seasons between 1993 and 2008.
Gymnastics
Gymnastics is a sport involving performance of exercises requiring physical strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, and balance. Internationally, all of the gymnastic sports are governed by the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique with each country having its own national governing body...
coach. In 22 years as the head coach of the Michigan Wolverines
Michigan Wolverines
The Michigan Wolverines comprise 27 varsity sports teams at the University of Michigan. These teams compete in the NCAA's Division I and in the Big Ten Conference in all sports except men's ice hockey which competes in the NCAA D1 Central Collegiate Hockey Association, and women's water polo, which...
women’s gymnastics team (1990-2011), her teams have a record of 417-110-1 and have on 18 Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
championships, and advanced to 13 straight NCAA championship tournaments from 1993-2005.
Biography
Plocki was an All-American gymnast on the balance beam at the University of AlabamaUniversity of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
. She began her coaching career as a graduate assistant at West Virginia University
West Virginia University
West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;...
while studying for a master's degree. Plocki applied for an open coaching spot at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
at age 23 and got the job. 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. The Michigan gymnasts improved to 7-15 in Plocki's first season. Plocki's conversion of the Michigan gymnastics program received a major boost when she succeeded in recruiting Toledo, Ohio
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
, native Beth Wymer
Beth Wymer
Beth Wymer is a former NCAA champion gymnast. While attending the University of Michigan, she won the NCAA event championship in the uneven bars three consecutive years from 1993-1995 and was a first-team All-American four times in the uneven bars, twice in the all-around, and once in the balance...
to Michigan. 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." 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. It is monumental what she did for this program." In 2001, Plocki landed another blue-chip recruit when Elise Ray
Elise Ray
Mary Elise Ray is an American gymnast who represented the United States at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney and the 1999 World Championships.-Biography and early career:...
, captain of the 2000 U.S. Olympic gymnastics team committed to Michigan.
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. In 1993, Plocki's squad made its first appearance in the NCAA championships and finished ninth. In 1994, Michigan finished fourth in the NCAA championship and improved to No. 2 in 1995. 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. After missing the Big Ten championship in 1998, Plocki's teams started a new streak of seven straight conference titles in 1999. The 1999 team also finished No. 2 at the NCAA championship.
In all, Michigan won 15 of 17 Big Ten championships between 1992 and 2008. Plocki's teams also advanced to the NCAA championships 16 straight seasons between 1993 and 2008.
Coaching record
| Season | Overall Record | Big Ten Record | Big Ten rank | NCAA Tournament |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989–90 | 7-15 | 2-10 | 6 | -- |
| 1990–91 | 13-12 | 9-5 | 3 | -- |
| 1991–92 | 20-3 | 11-0 | 1 | -- |
| 1992–93 | 25-3 | 9-1 | 1 | 9 |
| 1993–94 | 27-1 | 13-0 | 1 | 4 |
| 1994–95 | 24-2 | 12-0 | 1 | 2 (tie) |
| 1995–96 | 21-6 | 10-3 | 1 | 6 |
| 1996–97 | 20-5 | 9-0 | 1 | 4 |
| 1997–98 | 15-6 | 8-2 | 2 | 8 |
| 1998–99 | 19-4 | 10-1 | 1 | 2 |
| 1999–00 | 22-5 | 9-0 | 1 | 6 |
| 2000-01 | 15-7 | 9-0 | 1 | 3 |
| 2001-02 | 25-3 | 11-0 | 1 | 7 |
| 2002-03 | 17-6 | 9-1 | 1 | 5 |
| 2003-04 | 14-6 | 8-1 | 1 | 5 |
| 2004-05 | 22-2 | 13-0 | 1 | 5 |
| 2005-06 | 15-5-1 | 7-3 | 4 | -- |
| 2006-07 | 17-5-1 | 8-2 | 1 | 6 |
| 2007-08 | 24-1 | 9-0 | 1 | 8 |
| 2008-09 | 21-7 | 10-0 | 1 | -- |
| All seasons | 383-104-2 | |||