FARGO, N.D. | Volleyball Head Coach Ray Gooden broke NIU’s career wins record with win number 267 on Friday.

The win moved Gooden past Pete Waite former head coach from ‘88 to ’98 when the Huskies (5-1) defeated Bradley University Friday in straight sets, 28-26, 25-20, 25-12, in the first match of the North Dakota State University Classic in Fargo, North Dakota.

When he’s not coaching the Huskies, Gooden helps out with the United States National Men’s and Women’s Volleyball Camps.

Gooden helps with camp tryouts every year and received a shoutout during an NBC broadcast in the 2016 Olympics.

“[It’s an] incredible feeling to know that when you’re allowed to wear the letters you represent [signify] more than just a team, you represent a country,” Gooden said when describing the feeling of working with U.S. volleyball.

Gooden has helped out at camps, officiated numerous games and assisted with many clinics.

Gooden said of all the highlights in his career, the most important are the relationships he has formed here with the players and staff.

He will always feel fortunate for his first win and first Mid-American Conference championship, Gooden said.

Gooden was aware he was coming close to beating the record for career wins, but what really mattered was for the team to succeed.

To Gooden, this record is just a number, never a goal. His goal was to come to NIU to teach and help the program grow.

“To get a final four, to be in that position is awesome,” Gooden said.

There is no doubt that the goal of reaching the final four isn’t attainable, Gooden said.

Gooden has developed relationships with countless players over the years.

Lauren Zielinski, redshirt senior middle blocker, describes playing for Gooden as fun and competitive.

“As you get older you understand [Gooden] more, it is hard as a freshman, but [freshman] look to the upperclassmen and it brings the team closer,” Zielinski said.

Sophomore middle blocker Meg Wolowicz said Gooden is a unique coach who gets to know you as a person and a player.

“He breaks down the game and tells you specifics to get better,” Wolowicz said. “The way he communicates is different.”

Although it is just a record, an explosion of effort will be seen from the Huskies, Gooden said.

Gooden looks to add to his career wins midnight Saturday as the Huskies travel to Honolulu for the Outrigger Resorts Volleyball Challenge to face University of Hawai’i.