American Volleyball Coaches Association

The American Volleyball Coaches Association aka AVCA is an organization of nearly 5,000 members, incorporated as a private non-profit educational corporation in 1981, as the Collegiate Volleyball Coaches Association.

*The original members of the AVCA were all intercollegiate coaches who banded together to form this particular coaching body. They have been the backbone of the association's existence and a united voice determining volleyball's future. In 1986, during the San Francisco convention, the membership recognized the growing and developing high school and club communities. The name of the association was then changed to reflect these growing constituencies. The original Collegiate Volleyball Coaches Association was renamed the American Volleyball Coaches Association with the intent of responding to and serving all volleyball coaches.

The organization produces a number of publications including "Coaching Volleyball Magazine", AVCA at the Net, Volleyball Ace PowerTips and VolleyBiz.

Principles

The following principles guide the AVCA in the attainment of its goals:

* To maintain a membership group representative of all levels of competition;
* To promote the game of volleyball within the general philosophical framework of education;
* To encourage participation within the highest standards of competition;
* To develop greater interest, understanding and support of the sport.

History

Although incorporated as a non-profit in 1981, the AVCA began to grow and diversify, and a full time executive director wasn't hired until July 1983. An associate director was hired in April 1986 and an administrative assistant in September 1988.

The Association moved from San Mateo, California, to Colorado Springs, Colorado, in August 1992. The staff has increased to the following positions: executive director, assistant executive director, director of operations, assistant director of events and public relations, manager of awards and membership, manager of communications, sales manager, editor and awards and membership specilist.

In 1986, the Board was increased to 13 members, due to new membership increases averaging out at about 150 per year). In 1988, a boom of 106% new memberships occurred. Since 1986, high school membership has more than tripled. The AVCA has members in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, as well as, numerous international members. At the collegiate level, all major NCAA conferences are represented and membership among the club coaches has risen dramatically.

In July 2006 the association moved its headquarters to Lexington, Kentucky and entered into an association management partnership with IMG College (formally Host Communications). The current president of the AVCA is Mary Wise (head coach - University of Florida). The Executive Director is Kathleen J. DeBoer and the Assistant Executive Director is C. Todd Hamilton.

AVCA Showcase tournament

In 1995, the AVCA found the AVCA Showcase, an annual tournament held in the beginning of each season. Four teams, usually ranked in the top 15, compete for the AVCA Showcase title. As of 2007, the showcase champion went on to the NCAA Final Four 10 times out of 13. The only time the winner failed to advance to the Final Four was Colorado State in 2000, Texas in 2006 and Nebraska in 2007. However, only twice has the showcase champion won the NCAA Championship: Long Beach State in 1998 and Southern California in 2003.

It's current sponsor is Runza Restaurants. Past sponsors include NACWAA and State Farm.

AVCA Awards

Given out annually for Division I, II, and III women and Division I/II (combined) and III for men. Considered the most prestigious honor for each players and coaches. The following is a list of past awards for both men and women.

National Coach of the Year - Women's teams

Denotes best coach in the nation for the respective year, Division I women.

*2007: Russ Rose, Penn State
*2006: Andy Banachowski, UCLA
*2005: John Cook, Nebraska
*2004: Jim McLaughlin, Washington
*2003: Mick Haley, USC
*2002: Bobbi Petersen, Northern Iowa
*2001: John Dunning, Stanford
*2000: John Cook, Nebraska
*1999: Iradge Ahrabi-Fard, Northern Iowa
*1998: Brian Gimmillaro, Long Beach State
*1997: Russ Rose, Penn State
*1996: Mary Wise, Florida
*1995: Chuck Erbe, Michigan State
*1994: Terry Pettit, Nebraska
*1992: Mary Wise, Florida
*1991: Don Shaw, Stanford
*1990: Russ Rose, Penn State
*1989: Andy Banachowski, UCLA
*1986: Terry Pettit, Nebraska
*1985: Mike Hebert, Minnesota
*1982: Dave Shoji, Hawai'i

National Player of the Year - Women's

Since 1985, the AVCA has recognized national player(s) of the year. Here is a list of Division I. Stanford leads all universities with 8 total selections (three co), followed by Long Beach State with 6 selections (one co), Nebraska with 4 selections (one co) and Hawai'i with 4 selections.
*2007: Foluke Akinradewo, Stanford
*2006: Sarah Pavan, Nebraska†
*2005: Christina Houghtelling, Nebraska
*2004: Stacey Gordon, Ohio State; Ogonna Nnamani, Stanford†
*2003: Kim Willoughby, Hawaiokinai
*2002: Logan Tom, Stanford
*2001: Logan Tom, Stanford
*2000: Greichaly Cepero, Nebraska
*1999: Lauren Cacciamani, Penn State; Kerri Walsh, Stanford
*1998: Misty May, Long Beach State†
*1997: Misty May, Long Beach State
*1996: Angelica Ljungquist, Hawaiokinai
*1995: Cary Wendell, Stanford; Allison Weston, Nebraska
*1994: Laura Davis, Ohio State
*1993: Danielle Scott, Long Beach State
*1992: Natalie Williams, UCLA
*1991: Antoinnette White, Long Beach State
*1990: Bev Oden, Stanford
*1989: Tara Cross, Long Beach State; Teee Williams, Hawaiokinai
*1988: Tara Cross, Long Beach State
*1987: Teee Williams Hawaiokinai
*1986: Mariliisa Salmi, BYU
*1985: Kim Oden, Stanford† Also won Honda-Broderick Cup Award

National Freshman of the Year

For Division I, the highest honor for a freshman, denotes best collegiate freshman female volleyball player. Some years unknown

*2007: Juliann Faucette, Texas
*2006: Megan Hodge, Penn State
*2005: Nicole Fawcett, Penn State
*2004: Sarah Pavan, Nebraska
*2003: Kanoe Kamana'o, Hawai'i
*2002: Kim Glass, Arizona
*2001: Stacey Gordon, Ohio State
*2000: April Ross, Southern California
*1999: Logan Tom, Stanford
*1998:
*1997:
*1996: Kerri Walsh, Stanford
*1995: Demetria Sance, Texas

National Coach of the Year - Men's Teams

For Division I/II men. Stanford (1991-92) and Penn State (2007-08) are the only schools in which both the men and women teams coaches won the award in the same academic year.

*2008: Mark Pavlik, Penn State
*2007: Arnie Ball, IPFW
*2006: John Speraw, UC Irvine
*2005: Marv Dunphy, Pepperdine
*2004: Alan Knipe, Long Beach State
*2003: Dave Deuser, Lewis
*2002: Mike Wilton, Hawai'i
*2001: Carl McGown, BYU
*2000: Tom Hanson, Ohio State
*1999: Carl McGown, BYU
*1998: Al Scates, UCLA
*1997: Ruben Nieves, Stanford
*1996: Al Scates, UCLA
*1995: Don Shondell, Ball State
*1994: Tom Peterson, Penn State
*1993: Al Scates, UCLA
*1992: Ruben Nieves, Stanford
*1991: Ray Ratelle, Long Beach State

National Player of the Year - Men's

Long Beach State, Hawai'i, Penn State, Stanford, BYU, and UCLA are the only universities in which a male and female volleyball player was named the AVCA NPOY. Pepperdine leads with five selections, followed by Hawai'i and UCLA with three selections each.

*2008: Matt Anderson (Penn State); Paul Lotman (Long Beach State)
*2007: Jonathan Winder (Pepperdine)
*2006: Jayson Jablonsky (UC Irvine)
*2005: Sean Rooney (Pepperdine)
*2004: Carlos Moreno (BYU)
*2003: Costas Theocharidis (Hawai’i)
*2002: Brad Keenan (Pepperdine)
*2001: Costas Theocharidis (Hawai’i)
*2000: Donald Suxho (Southern California)
*1999: George Roumain (Pepperdine)
*1998: George Roumain (Pepperdine)
*1997: Ivan Contreras (Penn State)
*1996: Yuval Katz (Hawai’i), Stein Metzger (UCLA)
*1995: Jeff Nygaard (UCLA)
*1994: Jeff Nygaard (UCLA)
*1993: Canyon Ceman (Stanford)
*1992: Brent Hilliard (Long Beach State)
*1991: Bryan Ivie (Southern California)

External links

*http://avca.org