2009 All-Time Great Coach - Teri Clemens

Teri Clemens
2008 All-Time Great Coach Award - Pioneer Division
NOTE: Award presented at 2009 Boyce Banquet

Teri Clemens offered Washington University in St. Louis a model of consistency for its women's volleyball team in her 14 years leading the Bears program. Some would say she created a volleyball dynasty as her legacy to the program.

As a college student-athlete at Northeast Missouri State University, now known as Truman State University, Teri was a multi-sport standout. She was named her team's most valuable player in softball, field hockey and tennis. To cap off her collegiate playing days, Teri earned the school's Female Athlete of the Year in 1978 before graduating the same year.

Teri's coaching career started in the Missouri prep ranks. She coached St. Louis' Incarnate World Academy for six years and accumulated a 155-15 record. Teri mentored her players to three consecutive Missouri State championships from 1982 to 1984.

With her history of success at the high school level, Teri took the step up to the collegiate level in August of 1985 as she was hired by Washington University. The NCAA Division III program had sub-.500 records in the four previous years before she took over and only four above .500 records in the program's nine-year history.

Teri had one goal when hired - win a national championship within five years of taking the job. Her first season in 1985 was not remarkable on the ledger with a 12-18 record, but it was the most wins the program had since 1980 and established a solid foundation for success.

Washington University catapulted onto the national scene the following season with a breakout 43-8 record in 1986 and 31 more wins than the previous season. The wins kept flowing into the program the rest of her career. And Teri was able to reach her goal with a national title within five years of taking over the program in 1985 as her original recruiting class matured into seniors.

Washington had a 31-3 record in 1990, finishing second, following its first championship season, just missing out on the NCAA title. However, the Bears regrouped for a championship run never seen before in NCAA volleyball at any level.

For the next six seasons, Teri led Washington University to the championship match of the NCAA Division III Tournament, and each time, the Bears walked off the court as the winner. From 1991 to 1996, Washington University averaged 41.3 wins per season and under three losses per year. At one point, the Bears had won 31 consecutive NCAA Division III Tournament matches. In 1992, Teri coached the only undefeated team (40-0) in NCAA Division III history. Over an eight-year period, Washington University won seven NCAA Division III titles.

Teri was honored as the NCAA Division III National Coach of the Year four times - in 1989 and 1992 by Volleyball Monthly and in 1991 and 1994 by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. She coached 19 different AVCA All-Americans who earned a total of 39 All-American certificates. Five of her Bears were named CoSIDA Academic All-Americans and two were selected as Academic All-American of the Year.

Teri served on the AVCA All-America Committee as the chair of the South Region and was an AVCA poll voter. She also served as the NCAA Division III representative on the AVCA Board of Directors from 1990-93. During her time on the board, the AVCA instituted the Division III national poll to provide publicity for schools playing at that level.

Teri finished with a 529-77 record after retiring in 1998. She holds the NCAA Division III record for career winning percentage of .873. Teri led the Bears to first-place finishes in the University Athletic Association (UAA) 11 times in 12 years on the Hilltop Campus, and her staff garnered UAA Coaching Staff of the Year honors 10 times. During UAA play, the Bears held a 136-1 conference record.

During her tenure at Washington University, Teri also gave back to the sport at the national level. She coached in two U.S. Olympic Festivals serving as the head coach for the North squad in 1991 and 1994. Her 1994 team won the bronze medal in St. Louis. 
Teri is no stranger to honors recognizing her long-term success. She was inducted into Truman State University's Hall of Fame in 1995. The AVCA called her name as part of its 2004 AVCA Hall of Fame class. A year later, Teri and fellow All-Time Great Coach awardee Larry Bock were selected as Co-Coaches of the NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball 25th Anniversary Team.

And tonight, she is being recognized with USA Volleyball's All-Time Great Coach award, a fitting honor for a coach who has developed a legacy in the coaching ranks.