UW Volleyball Coach Steve Lowe Dies

August 22, 1991 – Madison, WI
Steve Lowe, who built the University of Wisconsin into a national volleyball power in five years, died less than four weeks after learning he had lung cancer. Lowe, a non-smoker, led the Badgers to the Big Ten championship and the national tournament.

Lowe was at the top of his profession when he was hospitalized with a blood clot and breathing problems thought to be caused by pneumonia July 27. He was named Mideast and Big Ten coach of the year in 1990 after leading UW to the Big Ten championship and making his team the hottest sports ticket in town that November. Lowe's team attracted 10,935 fans to the UW Field House for a National Collegiate Athletic Association first-round match against Illinois.

In his five seasons at Wisconsin, Lowe's teams had a 108-64 record and won a title at the 1989 Women's Invitational Volleyball Championship. He was an assistant coach at The University of the Pacific from 1983 to '86. The Tigers won the national title in 1985, then he accepted the Wisconsin position before the start of the 1986 season. Lowe also worked as a consultant with the U.S. national volleyball team.

Twice that summer Lowe was bothered by blood clots in his leg. They didn’t know until later cancer was causing the blood clot.'

A trust fund was established for his sons, Ian (9), and Jeff (5).

The Badgers' Big Ten Conference home opener with Minnesota, Oct. 4, 1991, was designated “Fill the Field House Night” and “Steve Lowe Night “. A portion of the gate receipts for that match will be used to establish the Steve Lowe Scholarship Fund. Donations to this fund will be used to endow a UW volleyball scholarship in his name. The UW won 15-3, 16-14, 15-4.

Steve Lowe (35)