Division II Coach of the Year

SCOTT KNEIFL, WAYNE STATE COLLEGE (NE)

• Led his team to a 31-2 mark and another appearance in the quarterfinals of the Division II Championship
• His Wildcats spent nine-consecutive weeks as the nation’s top-ranked team
• Helped squad go 18-0 with 14 sweeps—dropping only six sets—in NSIC regular-season play
• Their conference schedule was a daunting one, as it featured six teams ranked in the top 10 of the AVCA Poll
• Picked up his 450th career coaching win when the Wildcats beat Nebraska-Kearney in last weekend’s regional semifinal
• Took over as the head coach at Wayne State in 2005

 

Division II Assistant Coach of the Year

BRIAN IMPERIALE, UNIVERSITY OF TAMPA

• Is enjoying a memorable 10th season as an assistant at Tampa
• Guided the Spartans to wins in their first 24 matches this season and a 19-1 record in conference play that led to the program’s third-straight league title
• 2023 team returned to the Elite Eight of the Division II Volleyball Championship
• During his tenure, has been part of three national championships: 2014, 2018, and 2021
• Directs recruiting efforts and opponent scouting, as well as assisting with all aspects of coaching

 

AVCA NCAA DIVISION II COACHES OF THE YEAR

1982: Sue Gozansky, UC-Riverside
1983: Janice Kruger, University of Nebraska-Omaha
1984: Walt Ker, Cal State-Northridge
1985: Samye Johnson, Mississippi University
1986: Janice Kruger, University of Nebraska-Omaha
1987: Peggy Martin, Central Missouri State
1988: Cathy Olson, North Dakota State
1989: Debby Colberg, Cal-State Sacramento
1990: Kim Hudson, West Texas State
1991: Chris Catanach, University of Tampa
1992: Jeff Mozzochi, Portland State University
1993: Jim Moore, Northern Michigan University
1994: Mary Kaminski, Michigan Tech University
1995: Leonid Yelin, Barry University
1996: Rose Shires, University of Nebraska-Omaha
1997: Debbie Hendricks, West Texas A&M
1998: Zaundra Bina, North Dakota State
1999: Wilfred Navalta, BYU-Hawai’i
2000: Reyden “Tita” Ahuna, Hawai’I Pacific University
2001: Duncan McFarland, UC-San Diego
2002: Qi Wang, Truman State University
2003: Matt Peck, University of North Alabama
2004: Jim Boos, University of Minnesota-Duluth
2005: Deanne Scanlon, Grand Valley State University
2006: Chris Catanach, University of Tampa
2007: Brady Starkey, Concordia University-St. Paul
2008: Kim Cherniss, Cal State University San Bernardino
2009: Jody Butera, University of Indianapolis
2010: Brady Starkey, Concordia University-St. Paul
2011: Brady Starkey, Concordia University-St. Paul
2012: Wilfred Navalta, BYU-Hawai’i
2013: Shelton Collier, Wingate University
2014: Chris Catanach, University of Tampa
2015: Bob White, Palm Beach Atlantic University
2016: Chris Green, University of Alaska Anchorage
2017: Kevin DesLauriers, Molloy College
2018: Chris Catanach, University of Tampa
2019: Tracy Rietzke, Rockhurst University
2021: Chris Catanach, University of Tampa
2022: Kendra Potts, West Texas A&M University
2023: Scott Kneifl, Wayne State College (NE)

AVCA NCAA DIVISION II ASSISTANT COACHES OF THE YEAR

2009: Danny Scott, Cal State University San Bernardino
2010: Stephanie Gravel, Hillsdale College
2011: Jeff Lamm, University of Tampa
2012: Christyn May, University of Minnesota Duluth
2013: Heather Roberts, Colorado School of Mines
2014: Heather Roberts, Colorado School of Mines
2015: Bouaketh Chanthavisouk, Gannon University
2016: Sheldon Carvalho, University of Alaska Anchorage
2017: Chris Keen, Florida Southern College
2018: Lauren Ramatowski, Washburn University
2019: Danny Scott, Cal State University San Bernardino
2021: Haley Kindall, University of West Florida
2022: Casey Shingler, West Texas A&M University
2023: Brian Imperiale, University of Tampa