UTAH VALLEY STATE COLLEGE'S SAM ATOA NAMED 2000 TACHIKARA/AVCA JUNIOR/COMMUNITY COLLEGE NATIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR

Colorado Springs, Colo. - The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA), in conjunction with Tachikara USA, Inc, is proud to announce that Sam Atoa of Utah Valley State College has been selected as the 2000 Tachikara/AVCA Junior College/Community College National Coach of the Year.

Atoa led No. 5 Utah Valley State College to a 37-8 record and third-place finish at the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) national tournament. UVSC defeated No. 2 ranked Western Nebraska to reach the semifinals.

Atoa guided the squad to the Region 18 conference championship with a 13-1 record and won the District I championship. He was tabbed Region 18 NJCAA Coach of the Year and District I Coach of the Year after just missing the playoffs in 1999.

 Tachikara will formally present the National Coach of the Year award on Thursday, Dec. 14, 2000, in Richmond, Va., at the Tachikara/AVCA Coach of the Year banquet.  The brunch, which will begin at 9 a.m. at the Richmond Marriott Hotel, is held in conjunction with the 2000 AVCA National Convention.

Photo By: Pete Wright