Binghamton University Athletics

50th Anniversary of Women's Athletics at Binghamton University

Profile: Jeanne Mathias, department member, 1970-98, volleyball coach, 1973-91

Brief: After earning a bachelor's degree at Taylor College (Ind.) and a master's degree in physical education at Penn State University, Jeanne Mathias arrived on campus in 1970. She initially coached women's swimming swim, club field hockey and tennis before taking over the volleyball program in 1973. She coached 644 matches spanning 19 years before stepping away after the 1991 season. Her teams qualified for the state tournament 14 straight years and reached double-figure wins 15 times. Mathias' 1987 squad won 31 matches and she was selected as SUNYAC Coach of the Year. A decade earlier, her 1975 team went 23-6-1 in a season that included a New York State title and berth in the Eastern AIAW Regional. After her coaching tenure ended, Mathias served the department as its director of wellness. She served in numerous leadership roles within the sport of volleyball and was president of the New York State Women's Collegiate Athletic Association (NYSWCAA) from 1988-90. In retirement, Jeanne and her husband Dave live in Pennsylvania.



Get to know Jeanne Mathias ...

What made you take the position at Binghamton in 1970?

I took the job at Binghamton because it allowed me to teach a variety of sports as well as coach women who desired to be involved in a competitive team.

What were your early goals coaching volleyball in the 1970s?

I wanted to strive for the best team possible made up of talented ladies who wanted to work together to be the best possible team and competitor. We strove to be a unified competitive team and to have individual skill improvement.

What achievements are you most proud of?

I'm glad we all worked together to be the best we could be. I believe each of us helped advance women's athletics. We showed you could be very competitive and still be a lady.

You coached for 19 years ... the longest tenure of any female coach in Binghamton history heading into this year. How were you able to direct that volleyball program for so long and what changes did you witness/help create in the athletics department during your long tenure, in terms of improvements and opportunities for female student-athletes?

I continually sought to learn from other coaches who were better than I. I continually attended workshops and clinics to stay updated on techniques, skills, strategies, etc. Year after year the level of play improved. In the beginning if they played in high school that was good. Then eventually women also played off season on club teams and then they were outstanding players on their teams, and eventually we started to recruit players - at times for specific positions.

_______________________

Reflections from former captain and program standout Donna Lund '94 ...

In reflecting on my time as a volleyball player at Binghamton, I feel great pride in being part of what would become a very transitional time for the program. There were so many distinct pieces that made up my time there. And Jeanne Mathias was a very significant piece.

In fact, Coach Mathias set the stage for my “first career”... as a high school volleyball coach, and I am so glad that you invited me to reflect on her part in what would be a passion of mine for many years that followed (until I was sidelined by a bad car accident.) 

Her compassion and kindness made me feel a very deep comfort for the sport.  Taking on my first semester at college and my first time away from home, and jumping right into a collegiate sport, could have been very overwhelming, and may have even caused a little anxiety beforehand. But it all just fell into place and felt like “home” when there was a coach there who kept it all in perspective. 

Her impact on me was more than just athletic.  It was personal as well.

In reflecting on Coach, I recognized that in the years since, when I share stories about my time as a volleyball player at Binghamton, I more often mention things that touched me as a “person” than as an athlete.  She was more than just a coach.  She was kind of a mom, who treated us all as a bunch of daughters.  And that made us feel like sisters.

I recall the school being closed for Jewish holidays, when campus was closed (except sometimes for one dining hall with limited hours,) but our team had to stay at school to practice and be able to go to away tournaments where school was in session.  This could have been tricky if we were left to “fend for ourselves.”  But Coach would have the team to her home so that we would be well-fed and not alone on campus.  We would be spending time together, as a team, and a family.  And not just that... she would come with the school van to our dorms to collect us so we had easy transport.  She would even arrange that I could be last to be picked up so I could attend mass over at the Newman House and be back in time to catch up with the van...sometimes having to wait a few minutes for me to hop aboard.

Another thing I speak of when I think of my Binghamton volleyball time, is how Coach would always make sure that our team tournament cooler was stocked with peanut butter and bananas and even wheat bread, because she had asked us what we would want to eat between games so she could shop for us, and I once shared that peanut butter and bananas on wheat bread was a favorite of mine.  Every weekend we would sit down between matches, and upon opening the cooler, there sat the ingredients for my favorite sandwich, to tide me over during longs days at the gym. ‘Just another thing to make playing under her leadership, feel like “home.”

She may not even had known, but those kinds of little things meant so much.  I’m not really sure I even appreciated those seemingly effortless touches as much then as I do in reflecting on them, and I probably never really expressed it appropriately, but I can tell you that when I began coaching, I did those little extra things for my players... in big part because Coach Mathias had made it seem like it was just what a coach does.  (And as a mom of athletes, I have learned that it just isn’t part of the “job description” for most!) Coach was just a sweet woman who cared for us as people in those kind of subtle ways, that in hindsight were anything but subtle.  She was gentle and gracious and just plain kind. 

Sure, she shared her volleyball knowledge with me, but it is her kind spirit that has stuck with me almost 30 years later.  I had many coaches with many different personalities over the years, and I can say for sure that I was lucky to learn from Jeanne Mathias. What I learned was more than just volleyball— I learned how to make my players know I cared for them as people, on and off the court. For that feeling then, and for what I took on in life from my time as a Binghamton Volleyball player under Jeanne Mathias, I am very grateful.

What a really wonderful lady to be honoring!