After a tough loss against Penn State, Purdue volleyball has been on a winning streak since September 26. After their game with Penn State, coach Dave Shondell vowed to get Purdue back on the winning side, and Shondell has been a man of his word. Yet it wasn’t until the team faced Michigan State that Coach Shondell truly made history and became the team’s winning coach.

So, Purdue did something special to commemorate Dave Shondell reaching the 470-win milestone. On their highly anticipated match day against in-state rival Indiana, the Boilermakers celebrated the veteran coach with a special gift in front of a record 14,876-strong crowd. The volleyball fans who packed Mackey Arena set a new Big Ten Conference regular-season match record.

The massive crowd and the fact that the Boilermakers vs. Hoosiers match broke a 19-year-old attendance record made the occasion even more special. “What better way to honor the winningest head coach in Purdue Volleyball history than a gold hammer?” the team’s official X (Twitter) handle posted. Photographs captured the 66-year-old with the golden hammer as nearly 15,000 fans cheered for him.

“Congratulations Coach,” added the Boilermakers’ X page. Yet, why was a golden hammer the perfect gift for Dave Shondell? That’s because the hammer has been part of Purdue athletics for nearly seven decades. The sledgehammer debuted with the institution’s sports mascot, Purdue Pete, in 1956. Since then, it’s become part of the school’s sporting identity.

The Boilermakers didn’t disappoint their coach or the 14,876 fans inside Mackey Arena. Purdue volleyball put on a dominant display against the Indiana Hoosiers, emerging victorious with a 3-0 sweep. Despite their best efforts, the Hoosiers crumbled against their rivals, losing one set by a staggering 25-9 margin. While Shondell’s official gift was a golden hammer, the team added to it by giving their coach a fifth straight win since their loss to Penn State. The former Big Ten Coach of the Year expressed gratitude for everything.

The Purdue Volleyball coach’s humble reaction to making history

While Purdue volleyball labeled the veteran coach as their GOAT in October, Dave Shondell had an incredibly humble response. Not only did the coach not take any credit, but he thanked everyone who helped him reach the milestone. “Cutting to the chase, I’m so blessed to live my dream and be surrounded by incredible people all the time.” he wrote on Instagram.

“We had a valuable win on Sunday, and I’m thankful for every win – but 1000x more important are the players and coaches who shared those moments. Purdue has been so supportive of our VB program from Day One. Thanks for all the notes. I’m the lucky one and I look forward to many more opportunities. Thanks again to all those who have been part of PurdueVB.” The 66-year-old added.

However, the former AVCA Northeast Region Coach of the Year’s reaction shouldn’t take away from his historic achievement. With his 470th win, the veteran coach surpassed Carol Dewey’s record. The AVCA Hall of Famer led the Purdue Volleyball team to 369 victories between 1975 and 1994. However, Dave Shondell will now set the benchmark as Purdue’s most successful coach.

In fact, only Nebraska’s John Cook has better stats than Shondell in the Big Ten Conference. However, the Indiana native has no plans to retire anytime soon. How long do you think it will take the Golden Hammer winner to reach 500 wins? Let us know in the comments!