Penn State men's volleyball coach Mark Pavlik received a text message shortly after leading the Nittany Lions to the NCAA Division I men's volleyball title Saturday night; it was from Penn State women's coach Russ Rose.

"He wanted to be the first to congratulate us on winning the title," said Pavlik, who celebrated his first national title as a head coach. "I sent a message back, that read -- 'Thanks. Tag, you're it.' "

Pavlik was referring to the fact that Penn State is the second school in NCAA history to have both men's and women's volleyball teams claim national titles in the same academic year. The only other school to win both titles the same year was Stanford (1996-97).

"After the women won their title in December, a group of their players and our players got together and watched an ESPN replay of their championship match against Stanford," Pavlik said. "After watching the match, the girls said that it was our turn next. It certainly provided a great incentive."

The women claimed their second title and first since 1999. The men also claimed their second title, with the first coming in 1994 when Pavlik was an assistant to Tom Peterson. Both teams have become regulars in the NCAA tournament. The Nittany Lions' men have made 23 consecutive appearances; the women are one of only two teams in NCAA history that have appeared in all 27 tournaments.

"Mark has developed not only one of the best programs in the East, but one of the most outstanding programs in the nation," said USA Volleyball CEO and former USA men's volleyball coach Doug Beal.

Pavlik, a 1982 graduate of Penn State, began his volleyball career at Derry High School under legendary coach Rich Schall. He also served as Schall's assistant from 1985-88. The Trojans won PIAA titles in 1986 and '88 and made three appearances in the WPIAL title match during that stretch.

"This replaces the 1972 Derry Little League championship for me," Pavlik said, jokingly. "It was great to win a national title in 1994 as an assistant. It's even more rewarding to win as head coach. But I'm still trailing my wife in national titles."

Heather Pavlik is an associate head coach for the Juniata College women's team. The Eagles captured NCAA Division III national titles in 2004 and '06.

"It was more emotional than I thought," Pavlik said. "Having [former Penn State coach Tom] Tait here for me was just a great way to pay him back for everything he's done for all of us."

Tait began both programs at Penn State. Pavlik joined the Penn State men's program as a freshman walk-on and played under Tait for one season. The following year he decided to concentrate on his studies and did not return to the team.

"I rejoined the team the following year as a manager," said Pavlik.

"I always tell coach Tait that I played more as a manager than I did during my freshman year."

Pavlik left volleyball after graduating in 1982 with a degree in ceramic science and engineering to work for the Murata Erie Co.

"Volleyball dropped out of the picture when I started working for Murata Erie [in Carlisle]," Pavlik said. "That changed when I went home for a weekend in 1984. I saw Rich Schall, and he asked me to come to a high school tournament with his team. That rekindled my interest in volleyball."

In '87, he became junior high coach at Central York, 30 minutes from where he lived. That year, Pavlik also coached a 17-and-under boys team from York that placed fourth in a national tournament.

"When I was coming home from the airport after that tournament, I decided to get out of my current profession and get into coaching," he said.

Pavlik has developed a unique coaching philosophy that stresses hard work in practice, a relaxed approach to competition and a determination to develop the well-rounded student-athlete.

"I feel that the coach's role is extremely critical in training and creating the environment in which the team can improve," he said. "I think I am more concerned about practices than I am about matches. I have the philosophy that the team is going to win or lose the match. "

Penn State capped its 30-1 season with a 27-30, 33-31, 30-25, 30-23, come-from-behind win against Pepperdine in the championship. And Pavlik's lineup change played a big part in the victory.

"We played Pepperdine at the start of the season and beat them in five games, but it showed some flaws in what we did," he said. "At that point, we started practicing with a different rotation in which I switched outside hitters Matt Anderson and Jay Stauffer. We only used the alignment once in a match against Juniata, so the change was a surprise to Pepperdine."

Anderson responded with 29 kills and was named the most valuable player of the tournament. And, with the Nittany Lions losing only two player from the championship team, don't be surprised if Pavlik matches his wife in NCAA titles next season.