West Delaware volleyball coach Brett Mather earns his 1,000th career win

West Delaware just plays volleyball differently than most teams.

It starts with floor defense, then transitions into a fast-paced attack that is difficult for opponents to simulate.

Success has been constant for 29 years, ever since Brett Mather came aboard.

“Year in and year out, he is able to develop phenomenal teams,” athletics director Matt Weis said.

Ranked No. 3 in Class 3A, West Delaware (30-4) won two of three matches Thursday night at Cedar Falls. The last match, a victory over Waverly-Shell Rock, was a milestone match.

Mather became the seventh coach in Iowa history to earn 1,000 career victories.

“I guess the thing that I’m most proud of is the consistency we’ve had,” he said. “We haven’t been great every single year, but we’re never bottom of the barrel.”

Consider this ... in the 16 years before Mather took over, West Delaware was never above .500 in volleyball. In his first season (1996), the Hawks were 18-8, and all 29 of his seasons have been winning seasons.

Mather, 54, is 970-234 at West Delaware. Add his two years at Wellsburg-Steamboat Rock, and he is 1,000-256 overall.

“It all goes back to the fact that we have great club coaches that put the girls at a higher level coming in,” Mather said. “The consistency from our club program to our high school program is huge.”

In addition to the varsity, Mather coaches the eighth-grade team while Shea Putz is in charge of the seventh-graders.

West Delaware has advanced to 15 state tournaments, winning championships in 2015 and 2021. Five teams were state runners-up.

“I’m still passionate about it,” said Mather, who still plays competitively at the co-ed level. “Between high school season through club season, from August through April, it gets to be a grind. But I don’t think I’ve lost any fire.”

A Greenfield native, Mather graduated from the University of Northern Iowa. He teaches geometry at West Delaware.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com