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Steve Spurrier reacts to retirement of Mary Wise

FaceProfileby:Thomas Goldkamp•02/10/25
Legendary Florida Gators head ball coach Steve Spurrier talks with members of the media during a ceremony to officially opening his new restaurant Spurrier's Gridiron Grille in Celebration Pointe, in Gainesville, Fla., Aug. 10, 2021. SpurriersRibbonCutting03
Legendary Florida Gators head ball coach Steve Spurrier talks with members of the media during a ceremony to officially opening his new restaurant Spurrier's Gridiron Grille in Celebration Pointe, in Gainesville, Fla., Aug. 10, 2021. SpurriersRibbonCutting03

Late last week major news emerged in the world of women’s volleyball when Florida coach Mary Wise announced her retirement after 34 years with the Gators.

She will exit as one of the most decorated coaches in school history.

Mary Wise also earned a rare title from former Florida football coach Steve Spurrier, who is now an ambassador for the program.

“Of course Mary Wise’s resignation this past weekend was a big story,” Spurrier said on Another Dooley Noted Podcast. “She and I go back to the early ’90s. I got here in ’90, I think ’92 was her first season. I remember I used to call her the best coach on campus. She was winning SECs every year. We weren’t winning it every year, but we were winning a bunch of them.”

During her time with the Florida Gators, Mary Wise racked up 987 wins and guided the SEC program to the NCAA Tournament in every season. That was good enough for the third-longest streak in Division I history. Wise’s teams also won 25 Southeastern Conference Championships and had a winning season in every season she was at the helm.

It’s a remarkable record.

“One time she went I think 11 seasons without losing an SEC match,” Spurrier said. “Quite a record and she just sort of said, ‘You know, I’ve done it long enough. This NIL, I’ll let somebody else fight it out a little bit better than I want to fight it out.’ But that’s a big part of the game now.”

Mary Wise also issued a statement in her farewell from the program.

“Gator Nation, it has been an honor to serve as your Head Volleyball Coach the past 34 seasons. I look back on my career with such gratitude for the assistant coaches, staff members, administrators, and especially the incredible women who said yes to being a Gator,” Mary Wise said on Thursday.

“This is such a special place and there was never going to be an easy time to walk away, but after 43 years in the arena, the time to step away is now. College volleyball has risen to a whole new level with participation, attendance and TV exposure. I cannot wait to see what’s next for the sport at a view from my new seat.

“To the Gator fans that helped elevate our program with their support, the Gainesville community that helped Mark and me raise our sons, and to the entire Gator Nation that allowed me to represent the orange and blue, thank you.”