The ISU women’s basketball players doused their coach with water bottles, soaking Bill Fennelly from head to toe. He broke into a quick smile before wiping the water off his face to watch the final seconds tick off the clock for his 400th career victory.

To everyone else it was a milestone, but to Fennelly, it was just another win.

“I’m glad it’s over, to be honest with you,” Fennelly said. “I think I had about 100 speaking engagements last year, and every one of them was about getting 400, and now we can get past that.”

As much as he is glad to be past the milestone, he was grateful for the opportunity the milestone gave him.

“I think what it does, though, is give you time to reflect on so many good players, so many good coaches,” Fennelly said. “I’ve worked at two great places that have treated me and my family with great respect.”

Following the game he was joined by his family as Iowa State honored him with a special video board presentation, and Athletic Director Jamie Pollard presented him with the game ball.

“It was totally surprising, because I made a point to tell Coach Roberts that if we won, I don’t need anything,” Fennelly said. “But our administration, they are good people, and I think they want to recognize not just me, but I think they want to recognize what the program stands for.”

Even though this milestone doesn’t mean much to Fennelly, it shows just how much he has done for the ISU women’s basketball program. Before his arrival, the program had only five winning seasons in 22 years and was coming off an 8-19 season.

He completed the biggest turnaround in the history of the ISU women’s basketball program, going 17-10 in the 1995-96 season, his first. In his 18 seasons as coach, he’s led the team to nine postseason appearances, with a .679 winning percentage en route to becoming the winningest coach in ISU women’s basketball history.

“It just shows that he’s done what he’s done for years and years, and he hasn’t shied away,” said senior Lyndsey Medders. “He’s a phenomenal coach, but even more so, he’s an amazing person.”

For all the wins and everything Fennelly has done for the program, there is still something he values more than any win milestone – the people he’s been with along the way.

“When you get to my age, and you get to take a step back, it’s about the people in your life,” he said. “Coaching is such a great profession because I’ve met and been around some of the best people in my life.”

So will Fennelly have any repercussions for the players after they drenched him with water?

“Seniors get away with a little bit more,” Fennelly said with a laugh. “I think the freshmen would have never done it, but Lyndsey [Medders], [Megan] Ronhovde and Abby [Reinert] have been with me for four years, and they’ve done a lot for me . ah well.”

As much as he tried to downplay his 400th win, he said he was truly grateful for the memory it will leave.

“I think the fans were great about it,” Fennelly said. “It was nice, very touching, one of the moments in your life that you’ll always remember.”