E-W coach records his 200th win career win

  • David Pan<br>Enterprise sports editor
  • Monday, March 3, 2008 11:38am

Edmonds-Woodway volleyball coach Mike Pittis isn’t one to crunch numbers.

So it came as a bit of a shock to the longtime coach when he was informed before the season started that he was on the brink of recording his 200th win.

Pittis didn’t have to wait long.

Edmonds-Woodway’s season opening 25-22, 25-9, 25-20 victory over Meadowdale on Sept. 6 gave Pittis his 200th career high school victory.

“I guess it just showed that I’ve been at it for a while,” said Pittis, who is entering his 17th year at the helm of the Warriors and his 34th overall season. “You don’t necessarily expect that kind of longevity to do those kind of things.”

Pittis retired as a teacher four years ago but returned to the classroom as part of the district’s retiree program. He is teaching three International Baccalaureate classes this year.

The coaching milestone was especially meaningful for Pittis because it came against a former player of his, Machen Shrum, who is now the head coach at Meadowdale.

Shrum was a player on the team when Pittis recorded his first victory in 1985. She also was an assistant coach of Pittis’ for 12 years.

Pittis first started coaching at College Place Junior High in the early 1970s as a result of Title IX legislation. He continued at College Place until 1982, took a year off and then was tapped as the Edmonds High School freshman volleyball coach in 1984.

He took over the varsity program in 1985 and then continued his head coaching duties when Edmonds and Woodway high schools merged to form Edmonds-Woodway in 1990.

“It’s probably getting close for me to clear out of the way and let the young folk take over,” Pittis said.

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