Post by oukaes on Jan 8, 2007 10:34:32 GMT -5
NORMAN, Okla. - Oklahoma volleyball coach Santiago Restrepo picked up another award Monday morning as he was named the National Coach of the Year by Collegiate Volleyball Update (CVU.com).
It marks the third Coach of the Year honor for Restrepo as he was named the Big 12 Coach of the Year and the Central Region Coach of the Year earlier this season.
“I believe this award is a reflection of the outstanding coaches, players and support staff that surrounded me this season,” Restrepo said. “I would like to thank the administration and former players that have shown me how to be successful and have done so much for me. However, most of all this award should go to the players and assistant coaches because I did not score one point in a match this season and it was through their efforts that we were able to be successful this year.”
In only his third season leading the Sooners, Restrepo guided Oklahoma to one of the biggest turnarounds in the NCAA this season. After finishing 7-22 overall and 2-18 in the Big 12 last year, the Sooners found themselves in second place at the end of this season, sporting a 17-3 league mark and 28-6 overall record.
That 28-6 mark is the best winning percentage in Oklahoma history, while the Big 12 performance is the best mark in school history as the Sooners went on to play in the NCAA Regionals for only the fourth time in school history and advanced to the Sweet 16 for only the second time in the program’s 32-year existence.
The 15-win improvement in league play was also a Big 12 record, and the Sooners, ranked 12th in the final AVCA Coaches Poll, enjoyed their highest-ever mark in that poll, as well as their first ranking in 18 years.
Receiving honorable mention honors for CVU.com National Coach of the Year were Hofstra coach Lauren Netherby, St. John’s Joanne Persico-Smith, Cal Poly’s Jon Stevenson and Jolene Nagel of Duke
It marks the third Coach of the Year honor for Restrepo as he was named the Big 12 Coach of the Year and the Central Region Coach of the Year earlier this season.
“I believe this award is a reflection of the outstanding coaches, players and support staff that surrounded me this season,” Restrepo said. “I would like to thank the administration and former players that have shown me how to be successful and have done so much for me. However, most of all this award should go to the players and assistant coaches because I did not score one point in a match this season and it was through their efforts that we were able to be successful this year.”
In only his third season leading the Sooners, Restrepo guided Oklahoma to one of the biggest turnarounds in the NCAA this season. After finishing 7-22 overall and 2-18 in the Big 12 last year, the Sooners found themselves in second place at the end of this season, sporting a 17-3 league mark and 28-6 overall record.
That 28-6 mark is the best winning percentage in Oklahoma history, while the Big 12 performance is the best mark in school history as the Sooners went on to play in the NCAA Regionals for only the fourth time in school history and advanced to the Sweet 16 for only the second time in the program’s 32-year existence.
The 15-win improvement in league play was also a Big 12 record, and the Sooners, ranked 12th in the final AVCA Coaches Poll, enjoyed their highest-ever mark in that poll, as well as their first ranking in 18 years.
Receiving honorable mention honors for CVU.com National Coach of the Year were Hofstra coach Lauren Netherby, St. John’s Joanne Persico-Smith, Cal Poly’s Jon Stevenson and Jolene Nagel of Duke
