Mullen family honored at TAC Banquet of Champions

The Tacoma Athletic Commission held its 2016 Banquet of Champions on Thursday night at the Exhibition Hall at the Tacoma Dome, where several people with strong Puyallup ties were honored for their achievements.

As Puyallup’s own Mike and Chris Egan hosted the event as masters of ceremony — and Seattle Seahawks Doug Baldwin and Jermaine Kearse played it up for those in attendance — it was a special night for many but mainly Pierce County at large.

Pat Mullen, Emerald Ridge High’s boys basketball and track and field coach, and his family were selected for the First Family of Sport Award.

“It was really cool. It was a great honored to have,” Pat Mullen said. “You look at the families before us — you know, the Westerings (2009), the Huards (2010) and the Tingstads (2011), who I grew up with — it was kind of cool just to be mentioned with those guys. It was a great honor.”

The Mullen family has been one to give back to the sporting world around us and our neighbors, as Mike (Bethel, basketball, 1978-1996) and Rosie (Mount Tahoma, volleyball, basketball and softball, 1977-1991) started the fire, and where their children continued to carry the flame in coaching.

Pat is all that’s left coaching from the Mullen family as sister Molly (volleyball) left coaching at Renton High, and brother Nick (2007-2015) just stepped down as Timberline’s head football coach to instead take on the role of athletic director at the school.

“(It’s about) continuing that tradition. Taking over (basketball) for my dad at Bethel High School, when he had coached there for 17 years, and hopefully continuing on that tradition,” Pat said.

Pat and his and his wife, Jill Fox-Mullen, a volleyball coach, have spent their lives giving back by coaching.

“I don’t coach for wins and losses — I love coaching kids,” he said. “Helping kids get to college and teaching life lessons. That’s what we do it for.”

Pat’s daughter, Jenna, was selected as co-Female Amateur Athlete of the Year Award, along with Curtis High graduate Morgan Weaver, and Josh Garnett (current San Francisco 49er and Stanford University/Puyallup High graduate) was selected as the Male Athlete of the Year.

“It was a great honor for both the Mullen family and (myself). It was really cool,” Jenna said. “Now we’re just kind of (letting it) sink in (and) soaking it up.”

Volleyball coaching greats Kevin Aoki (Pacific Lutheran University) was awarded The Frosty Westering Excellence in Coaching Award, and Jan Kirk (Fife) — who founded the Puget Sound Volleyball Club, providing many opportunities local girls have enjoyed since 1989 — was elected into the Hall of Fame along with Puyallup graduates Damon Huard (football) and Stevie Mussie (volleyball), and Olympic gold medalist Megan (Quann) Jendrick (swimming, Emerald Ridge).

“It’s totally crazy going to an event like that and seeing so many people connected to (our family) and connected with volleyball,” Jenna said. “Especially seeing Jan and Kevin, too. Both are great coaches and great people.”

With coaching the family business, is this the course Jenna Mullen is heading toward after college?

“I always hope to (someday). I always give my mom a hard time telling her to stick it out, so I can come back and so I can take over her job (coaching volleyball at Emerald Ridge),” Jenna joked.

It’s a tradition Jill Fox-Mullen would surely want to pass down to her daughter.

A self-described leader by example, she has time to wait and enjoy the moments like Thursday night. A volleyball player with the penchant to rain down thunderous kills on opponents, Jenna is sure to enjoy many more awards, such as her Female Athlete of the Year award.

But Thursday it was just a little extra special for her and her family.

This story was originally published June 28, 2016 at 12:00 PM with the headline "Mullen family honored at TAC Banquet of Champions."