Feb. 16, 2001
Head Volleyball Coach Becky Pike Turns Reins Over to Her Assistant, Qi Wang
Truman Director of Athletics Jerry Wollmering announced today a coaching change for the Bulldog volleyball team. Head coach Becky (Eggering) Pike has decided to step down as the taskmaster of the Bulldog volleyball team, but will now focus her attention on serving as the assistant coach. Pike is turning the reins over to her assistant Qi Wang (pronounced Chee Wong) who will become head coach effective April. 1.
"This was a decision I didn't take lightly, but one I felt was best for me and the Truman volleyball program," Pike said. "I have a tremendous amount of respect for Qi and his abilities as a coach. I'm just at a point in my life when I need to devote more time to my family, and as head coach, I don't feel I could give the same attention to the team as I have in the past."
Pike recommended the change to Wollmering, who decided to support her recommendation contingent on Wang's willingness to accept the role as head coach.
"Becky and Qi have done an outstanding job recruiting quality student-athletes the past four years, and I have complete faith the academic and athletic success of the volleyball program will continue with Qi as head coach," Wollmering said.
Pike will continue to serve as senior woman administrator for the Bulldog athletics program, a position she took in the summer of 2000.
Wang just finished his fourth season as assistant coach to Pike and brings an impressive background of volleyball coaching experience with him.
Wang began his volleyball career as a player on the Chinese National Young Men's Volleyball Team in 1973. The team won the Champion of Asian Young Volleyball honor while he was a member. In addition to the national team, Wang also competed for the Liaoning Province and Beijing University of Physical Education men's volleyball teams.
Wang earned a bachelor's degree in physical education from Beijing University of Physical Education in 1983 and received his master's in coaching and teaching theories and methods of physical education from there in 1987. He earned another master's degree in coaching of sport from Eastern New Mexico University in 1996.
Wang started his coaching career in 1983 in China with men's and women's volleyball teams. He coached at the Dalian University of Technology of China, which is the leading university in technology and sports in China, from 1987 to 1994. He also served as the coach of the women's volleyball team of the Liaoning Province and Chinese National University Volleyball team until he moved to the U.S. in August 1994.
Wang has published and presented numerous scholastic and scientific papers relating to volleyball, sports science and physical education at conferences and in leading China and international professional journals.
"Qi's an incredible motivator and an outstanding teacher of the game of volleyball," said Pike. "He is a fun coach and a wonderful person to be around, and I consider myself extremely fortunate to be able to continue working with him. I have no doubt that as head coach, Qi will bring even greater success to our program."
Wang and his wife, Xiao-Xin, have an 14-year-old son, George.
"I appreciate the opportunity to lead the Truman volleyball team," Wang said. "Of course Becky will continue to play an integral part in coaching the team."
Pike, with Wang's assistance, led the Bulldogs to 20-win seasons all four years on the job, including a 30-6 record in 2000. This past season, the Bulldogs also claimed a share of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association title with a 15-1 record, the first team other than Central Missouri to win a conference championship in the 19-year history of the league's sponsorship of volleyball.
In addition, the 2000 Bulldog volleyball team advanced farther than any other Truman squad, finishing the season as the NCAA Division II South Central region runner-up.
Pike was 96-43 (.691) during her four seasons as a collegiate head coach at Truman, her first head coaching job.
She currently ranks first on the program's all-time winning percentage list and is second in all-time victories.
Pike was named the volleyball coach at Truman in the spring of 1997 and began her coaching career here in July of that year. Before coming to Truman, she had been an assistant volleyball coach at the University of Iowa since August of 1996.
Pike is a 1993 graduate of the College of William and Mary (Va.) where she earned a bachelor's degree in English. She also completed a master's degree in physical education and health from Murray State University (Ky.) in 1997.
Prior to joining the Iowa staff, Pike was an assistant volleyball coach and taught volleyball at Murray State.
After receiving her bachelor's degree, Pike spent nine months in Vienna, Austria, as the varsity boys volleyball and junior varsity girls basketball coaches, in addition to substitute teaching. She also played for an Austrian professional volleyball team in 1993 and 1994.
At William and Mary, she was a four-year starter the school's volleyball team. In 1989, Pike earned all-Colonial Athletics Association honors and was a CAA all-tournament selection for the Tribe. She was an academic all-league choice and earned AAU all-America recognition in '89.
The 30-year-old Pike is a native of Old Monroe, Mo., and attended St. Dominic High School in O'Fallon where she graduated as the salutatorian and received scholar-athlete honors.
Pike and her husband, Steven, are expecting their first child in April.