College of Southern Idaho's Ben Stroud Named 1997 Tachikara/AVCA JC/CC National Coach of the Year

Colorado Springs, Colo. -- The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA), in conjunction with Tachikara, is proud to announce that Ben Stroud of the College of Southern Idaho has been selected as the 1997 Tachikara/AVCA JC/CC National Coach of the Year.

Stroud led the Golden Eagles (61-1) to their fifth consecutive national championship dropping just two games in the process.  The College of Southern Idaho held down the top spot in the AVCA/JC Coaches Top 20 poll for the entire season.  The Golden Eagles brought their winning streak to 190 consecutive matches this season, after posting perfect records of 65-0 and 60-0 the last two seasons.

For his career, Stroud has an overall record of 587-110 (.842) in 13 seasons at Southern Idaho.  Over the last four seasons his teams have amassed a 248-4 overall record.  One of Stroud's players has been honored as the AVCA JC/CC National Player of the Year three of the last four years, including this season's honoree Hai Yan Wang.

Tachikara will formally present the Coach of the Year awards on Thursday, Dec. 18, 1997, in Spokane, Wash., at the Tachikara/AVCA Coach of Year banquet.  The luncheon, which will begin at noon at the Spokane Doubletree City Center, is held in conjunction with the 1997 AVCA National Convention.