Volleyball: Win No. 1,000 for Fremd's Pinley especially satisfying
When coaching his last volleyball match for Fremd in the fall of 2019, Curt Pinley had the Vikings playing in the Final Four of the Class 4A girls state finals in Normal.
When it comes to winning, that's a normal theme when girls or boys teams are playing under Pinley.
On Tuesday night, the Fremd art teacher won his 1,000th match combined between his two programs.
He won his 505th girls match in 22 seasons at Fremd with a 24-12, 25-14 triumph at Hoffman Estates in the Mid-Suburban West opener.
He also has a combined 495 wins as the head boys coach at Fremd (22 years) and Palatine (7 years).
"When I started, I had no idea this would happen," said Pinley, now 505-259-5 with the girls. "It's been a great run and it's awesome we've been able to do it with what's happening in today's society."
Certainly not normal circumstances under the COVID-19 protocols.
"You can be a good coach and you can be a good person," said senior libero Deme Yianas, who served the Vikings' final 7 points in Set 1. "And coach Pinley is both. His character is what really drives us to play well and it helps us be a team. He knows his players well. He knows what to do when we need him."
Assistant Nick Vassos, who has been alongside Pinley for 20 years on the girls' side and eight on the boys', knows Pinley better than anyone.
"I couldn't ask for a better coach to be an assistant for," Vassos said. "He does an awesome job. He knows how to coach his players, Regardless of the game and all, he knows how to bring out the best in them by his enthusiasm, his energy and his caring nature."
Pinley said Vassos has been along for at least 800 of the wins.
"For us to be together that long is pretty amazing," Pinley said. "This is really because of the coaches I've been with. I don't really celebrate myself. I celebrate it as Fremd volleyball as the reason I'm able to be at this number."
Coincidentally, No. 500 on the girls' side also came against Hoffman in the New Trier regional in 2019.
"Obviously, we knew from that season that Fremd is a great team," said Hawks coach Pat Moran. "Curt does a great job over there. You don't get to 1,000 wins just by coincidence. He runs a great program."
Senior Niyah McAllister had 2 kills and classmate Emma Essex added 5 digs for the Hawks while juniors Rylen Reid and Claudia Wala each put down 6 kills for Fremd. Classmate Sarah Graham added 4 and Rian Baker handed out 10 assists.
"The boys' and girls' games are a little different but the passion the athletes have for the sport is identical," Pinley said. "So I really enjoy both. I think the level of play has risen in both over the years."