SLIPPERY ROCK — Jeff Messer knew win No. 1,000 would come.

When it did for the longtime Slippery Rock University baseball coach Thursday in a 17-9 slugfest victory over Franklin Pierce University in Cary, N.C., the reaction still took him by surprise.

“I think it means as much to (the players) as it did to me,” Messer said.

And it meant a lot to him.

“It's very exciting. It's a proud moment for my family, the university and alumni,” Messer said. “I've been answering texts from former players (all Thursday) and that's nice. That makes you feel good.

“I look at this more as a program accomplishment than an individual one.”

Messer began his coaching career 34 years ago and wondered if he'd even make it to a second season, he said with a chuckle.

“We came from Massachusetts for a teaching and coaching job and every year got better and better,” Messer said. “I had opportunities to leave, but it was very difficult to leave. We love the area.”

So Messer and his wife Mary stayed in Slippery Rock. He had two sons, Matt and Billy, who played baseball for The Rock. Billy is now an assistant coach under his father for the SRU baseball team.

Messer also has a daughter, Michelle, who attended SRU.

Messer's first win for The Rock came in 1986 — in Wilson, N.C.

“It's ironic my 1,000th win and my first win came in the same state,” Messer said.

The 1,000th win came at just the right time, at the end of The Rock's spring trip.

SRU will open the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference schedule March 22.

“It was a perfect ending to the spring trip,” Messer said. “I think it's good to get it over with before the PSAC schedule started.”

Of the 1,000 wins, Messer said there were many that were memorable.

One, though, jumped out — a win late in 1989 that came down to the final pitch that got The Rock into the playoffs.

SRU got hot in the postseason and rode that wave all the way to the NCAA Division II World Series.

“Any time you get to the World Series is special,” Messer said. “There are so many wins that have been special.”

Messer said one year in particular stands out for him.

“Probably for me, personally, having both of my sons on the team during the same year (2008) was special for me,” Messer said.

“There have been a lot of good ones,” Messer added. “And hopefully more to come.”