SAN DIEGO -- John Dunning, the head women's volleyball coach at Stanford University, has been selected as the 2001 Tachikara/AVCA Division I National Coach of the Year.

Dunning, who accepted the Cardinal position on July 6, 2001, did not skip a beat in his first year at Stanford following a 16-year tenure as head coach at the University of the Pacific. He led his team to the Pac-10 championship with a 17-1 league mark and a spot in the weekend's NCAA Tournament semi-final round with an overall record of 31-2.

The Cardinal are 11-2 against teams currently ranked in the USA Today/AVCA Coaches Top 25 Poll, which includees wins over No. 4 Arizona (twice), No. 5 USC, No. 9 Colorado State, No. 12 Pacific, No. 14 UCLA (twice), No. 15 Texas A&M, No. 17 Penn State and Santa Clara. The only setbacks on this year's schedule were against top-ranked Long Beach State on Sept. 25 and USC on Oct. 12. Stanford has a 17-match win streak heading into the Cardinals' NCAA semifinal match against Nebraska.

Dunning was named the Pacific-10 Conference Coach of the Year last month. He has improved the Cardinal by 12 matches already from 2000.

Dunning notched his 450th collegiate career win on Oct. 7 and now has 468 to date. Prior to his arrival at Stanford, he led Pacific to two national titles and 16 consecutive post-season tournaments. Among his distinctions includee being one of two coaches to win national titles at the collegiate, high school and club level.

A member of the USA Volleyball CAP CADRE of Coaches, Dunning is on a national committee that trains volleyball coaches throughout the nation. In January 1993, he began a two-year term as president of the AVCA. He has also served the AVCA as Division I representative to the AVCA Board from 1991 to 1992. Dunning, a member of the AVCA All-America selection committee, served as interim athletic director at Pacific in 1999-2000.

Dunning earned his bachelor of arts degree in mathematics and economics from San Diego State University in 1973. He coached volleyball at Fremont High School from 1973 to 1980, then moved on to Saratoga High School from 1980 to 1983. Dunning returned to Fremont High School in 1984.

Dunning earned his bachelor of arts degree in mathematics and economics from San Diego State in 1973. He coached volleyball and taught at Fremont High School from 1973 to 1980, then moved on to Saratoga High School, working in the same capacity from 1980-83. He returned to Fremont High School in 1984.

The 2001 Tachikara/AVCA National Coach of the Year award was presented Dec. 13 at the Tachikara Coach of the Year Banquet, held in San Diego in conjunction with the AVCA National Convention.

- AVCA -