Peg Kopec
St. Francis High School
Impact Statement
“If you watched her coach, you would say that she epitomizes what a high school coach should be.”
-Craig Anderson, IHSA Executive Director
Biography
Kopec, who just completed her 33rd season, is Illinois’ all-time leading winner with a career record of 961-219-2. She has led the Spartans to eight state titles, including four in a five-year span this decade (2002, 2003, 2004 and 2006), and her 2007 team posted a 38-4 record and was the Class 3A state runnerup. Kopec’s teams have finished second in the state twice, third three times and fourth once, for a total of 14 state trophies.
Her teams have won 25 regional titles, and none of her last 22 teams have posted fewer than 32 victories, including three 40-win seasons. Over 200 of her players have earned college scholarships. A member of the Illinois Girls Coaches Association and the National High School Athletic Coaches Association Halls of Fame, Kopec was named National Co-Coach of the Year by PrepVolleyball.com in 2006.
Since being honored, Kopec continued to lead the Spartans to success. Kopec’s teams won another four consecutive championships under her watch from 2012 through 2015. After the latest championship Kopec announced her retirement. Their 12th title set a state record.
Over her career 91 of her student-athletes have gone on to play in college. She is the all-time winningest coach in any sport in Illinois state history with a career record of 1,248-260-2.
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