BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The Gulf South Conference is saddened to learn the passing of former head volleyball coach Matt Peck. 

Peck had a distinguished career leading Wayne State (Mich.), North Alabama and Middle Tennessee. He amassed a 751-340 career record with a .688 win percentage over a 32-year career, ranking 46th all-time in wins. He also garnered AVCA National Coach of the Year laurels in 2003 and received AVCA Region Coach of the Year recognition in 1998 and 2003. 

Hired in 1995, he spent nine seasons in Florence, Ala., quickly turning North Alabama into a Division II powerhouse program. Under his direction, the Lions compiled a 312-61 record, made eight consecutive NCAA appearances from 1996-2004. During that stretch, Peck advanced to four Elite Eights, appeared in four national semifinals, and was the 2003 NCAA Division II National Champion. It was the first national title for a women’s sport in UNA history and is GSC’s lone volleyball national title.

Peck won nine straight GSC East Division titles and eight GSC tournament crowns. A four-time GSC Coach of the Year award and later named GSC East Division Coach of the Decade, Peck compiled a 112-10 record in conference play. The Lions went undefeated five times in league play, while posting 30 or more overall wins each season under his guidance, including a 44-4 record in 1996 and a 40-3 mark in 2000. As a result of his teams’ success, Peck is the GSC coaching career leader in win percentage (.836) and ranks ninth in career wins (312). 

His head coaching career began in 1984 at Wayne State (Mich.), compiling a 231-135 record and two NCAA postseason appearances over 11 seasons. In 2004, Peck moved to the Division I ranks as was named head coach for Middle Tennessee. He went on to become the winningest coach in program history notching a 208-141 record across 12 seasons, while helping the Blue Raiders to six NCAA postseason trips and four Sun Belt Tournament titles.

After departing MTSU, Peck continued to grow the sport of volleyball devoting time at youth level sharing his love of the game.