Colorado Springs, Colo. ­ The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA), in conjunction with Tachikara USA, Inc., is proud to announce that Duncan McFarland of the University of California at San Diego has been selected as the 2001 Tachikara/AVCA NCAA Division II National Coach of the Year.

This marks the second time in his career  McFarland has earned the honor, as he was tabbed the 1997 Tachikara/AVCA Division III Coach of the Year after leading the Tritons to their seventh national title.

Just two years removed from NCAA Division III play, Duncan McFarland led UC San Diego to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight Tournament semifinal round before losing to eventual national champion Barry in three games, 30-23, 30-24, 30-26. UC San Diego, without an AVCA All-American on the team, posted a 25-7 overall record and 17-4 mark for the runner-up slot in the California Collegiate Athletic Association. UC San Diego completed the season ranked ninth in the AVCA Division II Coaches Top 25 Poll.

The Tritons posted wins over No. 10 Cal State, San Bernardino (twice), No. 13 Metro State, No. 23 Cal State-Bakersfield (twice) and No. 24 Cal State L.A., and 17 of the Triton's 25 victories on the season were sweeps.

The Triton mentor has posted a 150-37 record (.802) in six seasons at UCSD and never failed to make an NCAA Championship field.

Duncan earned both bachelor's and master's degrees in physical education from San Diego State University, where he was an All-American Volleyball player for the Aztecs. He was a member of the 1973 NCAA National Championship team and played for the U.S. National Team from 1967-1975.

Tachikara will formally present the National Coach of the Year awards on Thursday, Dec. 13, 2001, in San Diego at the Tachikara/AVCA Coach of the Year banquet.  The brunch, which will begin at 10 a.m. at the San Diego Marriott Hotel and Marina, is held in conjunction with the 2001 AVCA National Convention.