AVCA Men's National Coach of the Year Awards
Division I-II Coach of the Year | Division III Coach of the Year | NAIA Coach of the Year
2012 AVCA Division I-II Men's National Coaches of the Year
Bill Ferguson - University of Southern California
Brian Rofer - UCLA
LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 8, 2012) - The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) is proud to announce that the University of Southern California head men's volleyball coach Bill Ferguson has been selected as the 2012 AVCA Division I-II Men's National Coach of the Year, while UCLA assistant coach Brian Rofer has been tabbed the AVCA Division I-II Men's National Assistant Coach of the Year.
In his sixth year as head coach of the Trojans, this could arguably be his best coaching performance. In what many described as a rebuilding year after losing AVCA First-Team All-Americans Riley McKibbin and Murphy Troy, Ferguson led his team to a No. 1 seed in the MPSF Tournament and a No. 2 final ranking in the AVCA Coaches Top 15 Poll. After sputtering early in the season losing three in a row on the road, USC went on to win 22 of the next 25 matches all of the way to the NCAA Championship Match. This was Ferguson's third appearance in the championship match and third NCAA Final Four appearance in four years.
Southern California ended 2012 with a 24-6 overall record, and a regular season MPSF champion. They were at or near or the top-5 of the poll throughout the season until April 2nd when they reached No. 1 for four consecutive weeks. Ferguson mentored four AVCA All-Americans, including AVCA National Player of the Year Tony Ciarelli. It's his second consecutive Player of the Year after Murphy Troy won it a year ago.
Ferguson holds a career record of 109-64 during his time with the Trojans, and has now twice been honored as the AVCA Division I-II Men's National Coach of the Year, the first time coming after the 2009 season.
Rofer recently completed his 22nd season under Al Scates as the assistant coach of UCLA. He helped the Bruins to a 22-7 record in 2012, including a 16-6 mark in the highly-competitive Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, while guiding the team to the No. 5 seed in the MPSF Tournament. In addition, UCLA was ranked in the top-five of the AVCA Men's Division I-II Coaches Top 15 Poll the duration of the season, reaching as high as No. 1 four different weeks.
The AVCA will formally present both coaches their award at the 2012 jostens Coaches Honors Luncheon in Louisville, Ky. on Thursday, December 12. The luncheon is held in conjunction with the 2012 AVCA Annual Convention.
2012 AVCA Division III Men's National Coaches of the Year
Charlie Sullivan - Springfield College
Kevin Burch - Springfield College
LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 1, 2012) - The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) is proud to announce that Springfield College men's volleyball coach Charlie Sullivan has been selected as the 2012 AVCA Division III Men's National Coach of the Year, while his assistant coach, Kevin Burch, has been named the AVCA Division III Men's National Assistant Coach of the Year. This is Sullivan's second honor in three years after winning it in 2010.
Sullivan led the Pride (33-5) to a record-setting 33 victories in leading them to the inaugural NCAA Men's National Championship. Prior to this year, Springfield had taken home six Molten Division III National Championships. After leaving the Division I heavy EIVA to become independent, they dominated the DIII level earning the overall No. 1 seed in the NCAA Men's Tournament, which they also hosted. Despite the tough competition, Springfield swept through Baruch, Hunter then Carthage in the championship match never losing a set. In fact, they haven't lost a match since falling at Juniata on February 24th and have only dropped three total sets in their final 14 matches.
The Pride have been ranked in the top-3 of the AVCA Coaches Top 15 Poll all season, ending the regular season at No. 1. In Blake Arena they loved the home cooking going a perfect 18-0 really using the boisterous home crowd to their advantage. It was also SC's first NCAA Division III team title in any sport, and their first NCAA team title since the 1994 men's lacrosse won it when they represented Division II before being shifted to Division III in 1995-96.
With the 33-5 showing this season, Sullivan is now 224-155 in his 14 years coaching men's volleyball at his alma mater. He mentored two 2012 AVCA Men's Division III First-Team All-Americans and placed three on the NCAA Division III Men's All-Tournament Team, including MVP Mike Pelletier.
Burch became the assistant coach after coaching the 2011 DI-II National Championship Ohio State's blocking and defense. However, now a member of the Pride, his primary responsibility is with the offense preparing scouting reports through scouts and video, reviews game plans with setters and attackers and implements or makes changes as necessary during the match. He also has a strong hand in the Special Olympics by facilitating, coaching and officiating a Special Olympics Volleyball Tournament. Sullivan claims Burch to work harder than any other assistant coach he's ever had and has a "ton of potential."
The AVCA will formally present both coaches their award at the 2012 jostens Coaches Honors Luncheon in Louisville, Ky. on Thursday, December 12. The luncheon is held in conjunction with the 2012 AVCA Annual Convention.
2012 AVCA NAIA Men's National Coach of the Year
Mike Talamantes - Park University
LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 2, 2012) - The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) is proud to announce that Park University men's volleyball coach Mike Talamantes has been selected as the AVCA NAIA Men's National Coach of the Year.
Park is coming off a great run that saw them land their third Tachikara-NAIA Men's Volleyball National Invitational Tournament Championship in school history with a four set win over No. 1 ranked St. Ambrose. The Pirates now have the second most NAIA Men's Volleyball national championships in NAIA history with three after winning in 2003 and 2008. In just his first year at the helm of both the men's and women's programs, Talamantes coached senior Fray Arteaga to his second AVCA All-American appearance.
With a 21-7 record this season, Park clearly had a season to remember. The Pirates saved their best volleyball until the end of the season winning eight of their final nine matches.
Before joining Park as head coach, Talamantes was the head women's volleyball coach at Occidental College where spent three seasons. In 2010, Talamantes put his finishing stamp on the Occidental women's volleyball program, leading the Tigers to a 25-8 record, one of the most successful seasons in school history.
The AVCA will formally present Talamantes his award at the 2012 jostens Coaches Honors Luncheon in Louisville, Ky. on Thursday, December 12. The luncheon is held in conjunction with the 2012 AVCA Annual Convention.