Jeff McCorvey a Job Well Done

Watch Live SWAC Bowling Championship

NORMAL – As the 2014 Southwestern Athletic Conference bowling championships gets under way. A&M would like to take a look at the person who started the Lady Bulldog program.

Jeff McCorvey first joined the Bulldog family in 1998 as the assistant bowling coach. Ever since then he has left his mark on the Maroon & White athletic family.

As second in command for the first two years with the Bulldogs, Jeff helped A&M achieve an eight-and eight record. The '98-'99 season saw the team win just two of eight games while the '99-'00 season saw the team lose just two of eight games. This turn around in the second year of the programs existence earned the team a first place Eastern Division finish, their first appearance in post-season play, and a third place overall finish.

The very next season '00-'01, Jeff McCorvey took over the reins and became the head coach of the Lady Bulldog Bowlers. In his inaugural season, Jeff had great success. He led the team to a perfect undefeated regular season Eastern Division title, winning eight of eight contests. The following six season, the Lady Bulldogs continued to thrive under the leadership of McCorvey. They were crowned regular season champions five out of six years and amassed a 73 win and 18-loss record.

During the 2004 season, the team earned their way into the national spotlight. A 68-25 record earned a national Tenpins Coach Association ranking of 11. The following season, a 33-17 tally earned them a sixth place ranking.

In 2007, McCorvey and the team won their first Southwestern Athletic Conference post-season title. The team was a perfect eight for eight in post-season play to bring home the Conference title to "The Hill". Along with winning the coveted SWAC title, the team again placed among the nations best. Winning 61 of 92 games earned the team a second consecutive top ten finish, this time coming in ninth.

The Bulldog bowlers continued their winning ways for three subsequent seasons. Over the three-year span, the team won 85 of 106 contests. Maintaining their place in the national ranks each year (10^th, 9^th, and 13^th), the Bulldogs also remained atop the SWAC grabbing two of three regular season titles. During the 2009-10 season, Jeff McCorvey again led his team to a post-season title. Title two came in similar fashion to title one, with the team-rolling blemish free through eight matches to victory.

The 2009 season began a streak that has yet to be broken for the Maroon & White. Every season since 2009, the Lady Bulldogs have earned the Eastern Division Regular season crown. This five-year streak of victories has brought the programs grand total to 12 titles in 15 years of existence.

"The great thing about being a bowling coach is you can bowl for the rest of your life. Beyond your collegiate years it's not the same intensity level, but a great deal of my players continue to bowl," mentioned MCorvey

"I always felt like teaching players to bowl was the lower priority. Seeing that they graduated, and became good young woman, successful in their careers was always more important and took precedence over actual bowling and winning championships," said McCorvey.

Coach McCorvey has not only made a great impact athletically with the Maroon & White bowlers but he has also had a strong academic influence.

Over his tenure, Coach McCorvey's teams have always remained in good academic standings. The A&M bowling team's Academic Progress Rate never fell under 875, and they have recorded perfect scores of 1000 during six seasons.

"We've had very good success. We continually post one of the highest APRs and have been recognized nationally. Last year we won the award for the highest team GPA in all of collegiate bowling. We have had a lot of academic All-Americans and I'm very proud of that," smiled McCorvey.

McCorvey's lists of accomplishments on "The Hill" are unmatched. He has brought great esteem to Alabama A&M after receiving the following titles, awards, and honors:

SWAC Eastern Division Champions 1999-2000 – second year of program

SWAC Eastern Division Champions 2000-2001 with undefeated regular season

SWAC Eastern Division Champions 2002-2003 with undefeated regular season

SWAC Eastern Division Champions 12 times in 15 seasons

Fourteen consecutive trips to SWAC Championship

Runner up NCAA Championships – 2006

SWAC Champions – 2007, 2010

All Conference – 18 different players – 40 times

SWAC Freshman of the Year – Smith 2005, DeCarlo 2009, Collins, 2011

SWAC Player of the Year – Smith 2005, McIntyre 2006, Pointer 2010, DeCarlo 2012

All Americans – Whitney Smith (three times), Addileen Pointer

Six time selectee "Top 100 Bowling Coaches"

"I take the most pride in the accomplishments they have made off the lanes," added McCorvey. "It's hard to believe when I look back at some of the players how they've grown up now."

"These have been 15 of the best years of my life… I didn't take this job because it was a job; I took it because it was a passion. That is what drives me toward bowling and collegiate bowling in particular."

Jeff McCorvey is an outstanding man, and Coach. His impact and influence on "The Hill" are like no other, and his presence will be missed. Congratulations to Coach McCorvey on his retirement. The Bulldog Family is proud to call you one of their own.

Print Friendly Version