GRAND RAPIDS, Mi — When Carolyn Peck left the coaching ranks of the Big Ten in 1999 she was at the top of women's collegiate athletics.

Her Purdue Boilermakers clinched its first NCAA Women's Basketball National Championship and she won honors as the Big Ten and Associated Press Coach of the Year.

The current General Manager and Head Coach of the WNBA's Orlando Miracle made a special guest return for the 2001 Grand Tournament Luncheon to kick off this year's Big Ten women's basketball tournament and was honored for her accomplishments and devotion to collegiate and professional basketball.

The luncheon was held in a local botanical garden, and after a short video highlighting her career, Peck took the podium to a robust applause, the smell of fresh tulips lingering and sunlight beaming through plate glass windows behind her. In her voice with a hint of a southern twang, Peck spoke of the state of the college game and what it takes to be successful in life.

"This is to all the young kids who aspire to one day be the Jill Chapman's, the Kelly Mazzante's, the Jessie Stomski's, the Lindsey Meder's or a Katie Douglas," Peck said, mentioning five of the Big Ten First Team selects.

"Because you dream, because you find these role models in sports and want to be like them, that puts the pressure on them and lights a heatunder them."

Peck found her own motivation to succeed as a two-time prep All-American at Jefferson County High School in Tennessee.

From there she went on to play college ball at Vanderbilt where she served as team captain in both her junior and senior seasons.

After a short stint of professional basketball in Japan, Peck joined the Tennessee coaching staff in 1993 and mentored under coaching legend Pat Summitt. Peck would take the head coaching job at Purdue in 1997 and turn the program into a national powerhouse.

Now the 35-year-old who always dreamed of being the first female to coach in the NBA has taken control of the Orlando Miracle and is quickly turning it into a team that could challenge for the WNBA title.

Peck coaches a new breed of professional athletes in what it takes to be a success.

"For everything that I have learned through my coaching experience there are four main points I have counted on — confidence, being part of a team, dream big and the importance of a coach," Peck said.

Not only has Peck demonstrated her coaching abilities to herself, other people have taken notice to her coaching style.

Penn State's own assistant coach, Michael Peck, knows what she can do since she is his older sister. Michael had the opportunity to see his sister advance Purdue in the 1999 season as the Boilermakers defeated the Lions twice.

With the Big Ten tournament going on, Michael said his sister may have mixed feelings in which team to pull for — Penn State or Purdue. However, he believes his sister may be a Lion fan in the end.

"Blood is thicker than water, so she may be pulling for Penn State," Peck said. "When Carolyn coached at Purdue she showed that you can win even if you're a young coach if you use what you were taught by your mentor."

Penn State head coach Rene Portland also appreciated the flair she brought to her short tenure at Purdue. She is especially grateful for the chance to have Carolyn's brother on the coaching staff and credits the Miracle coach for bringing Michael to the Lion family.

"She always had a hell of a team and really helped the competition in the league," Portland said.

In the end Peck looks to her coaching not simply as a job or a career but a way for her to follow a path to achievement and a way to live.

"For me basketball is more than a game, it is a model for life," Peck said. "You have your ups and downs. Sometimes you have to come from behind. But as long as you have time on the clock you have a chance to win."