Remembering the laughter and passion
September 22, 2010 | Volleyball
Sept. 22, 2010
• Steve Lowe Photo Gallery 
| Coach Waite talks about Lowe 
MADISON, Wis. -- When you ask people what they remember most about Steve Lowe, they will usually say one of two things - his laughter or his passion for the game of volleyball.
"What I remember most about Steve was his passion for the game and his fun-loving personality," says Lisa Boyd Piekarski, the 1990 Big Ten Conference Player of the Year. "He could be very intense and yet we would laugh a lot also."
Sue Wohlford, an All-Big Ten outside hitter, remembers two things, "His laughter and determination. Steve was full of life, loved to have fun and was incredibly competitive. He cared so very much about his family, friends and his players. He created a family atmosphere. He received all these wonderful characteristics from his parents, who are truly amazing human beings, and I know he passed them on to his two incredible sons."
Lowe served as the Badgers' head coach from 1986-90. He is credited for turning around the Wisconsin program that was one of the worst in the Big Ten to the program's first conference championship and NCAA tournament appearance in 1990.
Lowe, who never smoked, was diagnosed with lung cancer during the summer of 1991. He passed away on Aug. 22, 1991, just before the start of the season. He was 35.
| Honoring Steve Lowe vs. Ohio State - Sept. 24 7 p.m. |
| • Free Wisconsin Volleyball wristbands will be presented to fans at Friday night's match while supplies last. • The Steve Lowe Memorial Scholarship will be presented to senior Allison Wack prior to the match by Lowe's sons Ian and Jeff. • Fans may receive half-price tickets through a Facebook offer. |
Every season, the Badgers celebrate Lowe's legacy during their Big Ten home opener with Steve Lowe Night. In addition, the Steve Lowe Memorial Scholarship is presented to a UW volleyball player who exemplifies Lowe's passion for the game. This season's recipient is senior Allison Wack.
"Steve was unforgettable," says Liz Tortorello Nelson, an All-Big Ten setter in 1990. "He made an impression on everyone he met. He was constantly working on his coaching methods with us. He would bring in Chinese National team consultants, former national champions - anyone he had connections with to look at us and help him with his coaching. We all respected his work ethic. He taught us to play for the school, not for him - most coaches confuse the two."
Lowe came to Wisconsin from the University of the Pacific, where he served as the top assistant coach for the Tigers. Pacific won the 1985 NCAA championship and advanced to the final four in 1983 and 1984. Lowe also worked with the United States National Women's Volleyball team, teaching techniques on goal-setting, concentration and motivation.
In his first season at UW, Lowe took a team that went 7-24 the previous season and led the Badgers to a 16-18 record. That would be his only losing season as a head coach.
After a 19-10 record in 1987 and a 16-16 mark in 1988, Wisconsin won 26 matches in 1989 and claimed the inaugural National Invitational Volleyball Championship. The next season, the Badger would go 29-8, win the Big Ten and advance to NCAA regional play.
"It takes a long time to build a program at any level and Steve was able to do it within four years," says Tortorello. "He reached out to the adult community in Madison to stir up interest in the game and to get them playing in leagues and grass tournaments in the summer.
"As far as winning the Big Ten, Steve's recipe for greatness was recruiting and through his personality and coaching style, he was able to land two great recruiting classes in a row to play for Wisconsin."
"Steve sought out people that were a lot like him," explains Wohlford. "We all wanted to see each other and the program succeed but wanted to have fun along the way."
Fans may remember the fun Lowe had on the bench. His players certainly do.
"He would stretch out his whole body, toes behind the line, so he could bang his fists on the ground and coach us from the sideline without getting penalized from the officials," says Tortorello. "Sue would tell me not to look at him or I would start laughing."
Boyd Piekarski agrees, "Sometimes it was just as fun to watch Steve on the bench as it was (to watch) the game. He would jump off his chair, spin around and all sorts of other things."
Even after 20 years, the former Badgers had no trouble remembering Lowe or the incredible journey they went on with him.
"I will always cherish the memories he and the team I played on created," says Wohlford. "Going from last to first in the Big Ten, being nationally ranked and recognized, entering our first NCAA, hosting our first NCAA, gaining tremendous community support and having the most loyal fans in the country will always be a magical time in our lives. The fun we had on that ride is something I can't even describe. I know every one of us continually say thank you to Steve and everyone involved for giving us such a tremendous life opportunity."
