Char Morett could not have expected the turnout she received when she recorded her 300th victory as the head coach of the Penn State field hockey team.

Former players and teammates, along with parents of former and current players surrounded Morett after a victory that she tried hard to downplay earlier this week. The group of loyal supporters presented Morett with balloons, signs, flowers and even earrings.

"Everyone just made it so special. The kids played so well today, I'll take a victory like that any day. I feel very honored to be at Penn State and get that," Morett said.

For players and assistant coaches, it must have been a relief to see Morett acknowledge her accomplishment with such joy.

"She seemed pretty overwhelmed and very happy," forward Annelise Legel said.

For many, reaching the tri-century mark in wins for one school would pump enough pride into its ego to poke a hole in the cloak of humility. Morett, however, is a coach truly dedicated to her craft and her team.

"She was pretty much thanking everyone else for her accomplishment and said she couldn't have done it without everyone else," Legel said. "She tried to give everyone else the credit, but it's her accomplishment."

If not for the constant media reminders, Morett may have never even realized she was approaching the 300-victory mark at Penn State.

In 2002, Morett was surprised when she eclipsed 300 wins as a Division I college coach.

"They gave me 300 for my overall career and I didn't even know. For me, it's let's get this team winning game by game and getting the 'W,' " Morett said.

The first thing that many people notice about Morett is her unwavering love and intensity for field hockey. Her players and assistant coaches say she is always hungry to learn and is never completely satisfied after a victory.

"She's always learning the game and sharing it with us," tri-captain Natalie Berrena said. "She travels around the world to watch the sport. We are all really lucky to have her."

Assistant coach Lisa Bervinchak-Love was a starter as a junior when Morett began her coaching career. She said Morett came into the program under a lot of pressure.

Prior to Morett becoming the coach, Penn State had 17 consecutive winning seasons. There was also the added weight of being a three-time All-American, the captain of an undefeated 1978 Lions team and a two-time Olympian as a player. With all of Morett's accolades, expectations were high.

Bervinchak-Love said she remembers the players all knew what kind of player Morett had been and were enamored with her competitive spirit.

"Char came into Penn State as an intense player and came back with that same intensity as a coach," Bervinchak-Love said.

Morett's Nittany Lions finished her first season 14-5-2 and went to the first round of the NCAA tournament. Since the beginning of Morett's Penn State coaching career, she has accumulated a record of 300-105-16 and has a winning percentage of .740. At no point during her career has a Penn State team fallen below .500, and only once has a team been below .600.

Even more defining than her intensity, Morett's altruism is what makes her leadership so successful.

"She doesn't look for star players," tri-captain Molly Schriver said, "She wants people who are selfless."

Even after the biggest win in Morett's coaching career, a 3-2 victory in the Final Four beating top-ranked Old Dominion, a win that would advance the Lions to a championship game, Morett would take no credit.

"I remember hugging her after the game and I said, 'My god, you deserve this so much.' She just kept saying it's all about the team. She's always been that way," Bervinchak-Love said.

On the field, Morett brings out the best of her players and coaches, but they admire her even more for her off-the-field role. The fifth-year senior Berrena said Char has been like a second mother to her and to the other girls on the team.

"I know I can always go to her off the field. I would have never come back a fifth year if I didn't appreciate her," Berrena said.

The coaches notice Morett's commitment to the players as human beings over athletes as well.

"More than anything, she cares about her players -- win or lose. I see that more and more each year," Bervinchak-Love said.

First year assistant coach and former player Tara Maguire said coaching for Morett was a dream come true.

"I've always wanted to come back and coach with her. Even as a coach, you learn something new every day. She still has that passion and desire. She's on fire every day," Maguire said.

After it was all over yesterday, Morett reflected and said she was looking forward to more action with the Lions this season and beyond.

At least, for a little bit longer.

"I think it's guaranteed I won't be playing into my late 70's," Morett said. "I mean Joe Paterno is inspirational, but I don't think I can't take it that long."