World University Games coach chosen

[hwy101]

from the USA Volleyball website:

For Immediate Release
March 19, 2003

IPFW's Arnie Ball Selected as USA Men's World University Games Head Coach

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Veteran collegiate volleyball coach Arnie Ball has been selected as the head coach of the 2003 USA men's World University Games team that will compete in Daegu, Korea, from Aug. 21-31, USA Volleyball announced Wednesday.

Ball, who is now in his 23rd year as the head coach of the Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne men's team in Fort Wayne, Ind., began the season ranked sixth on the men's all-time NCAA wins chart with
369 victories. IPFW has won or shared five of the last nine Midwest Intercollegiate Volleyball Association championships and advanced to the NCAA Final Four in 1991, 1992, 1994 and 1999.

"I am very appreciative of (Team USA) Coach Doug Beal, USA Volleyball, the United States Olympic Committee and IPFW," said Ball, who was also the head coach of the USA WUG team in 1989 and a WUG assistant in 1985, 1991 and 1997. "They have been very gracious in giving me the opportunity to take some time away from my current job so that I my represent the United States at the World University Games in Korea."

At the last summer World University Games in Beijing, China, in 2001, the United States, led by current national team members Dave McKienzie, Jim Polster, Chris Seiffert and Mac Wilson, went undefeated (7-0) en route to winning its first-ever gold medal at the event.

"It's a tremendous honor for me to get a chance to work with these world-class athletes at the collegiate level and to be involved in an event such as this magnitude, because it's truly a world event," added Ball, who was an assistant coach on the only other USA volleyball team to earn a WUG medal (1991 silver medallists in England). "First and foremost we are going over to Korea to be the repeat winners of the gold medal."

Ball will be assisted by Andy Read, who is currently in his seventh season as an assistant coach for the Long Beach State men's volleyball team. Read is a former head coach with the USA Men's Junior National Team.

"It was a pretty easy decision once Arnie told me he would be available," said Beal. "He is a very, very talented and qualified head coach, and he is particularly good with this age group. I think Arnie and Andy will be
a nice pair. I look forward to working with them this summer in preparation for the World University Games."

Once it is selected, the team will begin training in late June at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., along with the USA men's national team.

[vballmom]

Go Coach Read ;D

[Loco]

Looks to be two great coaches. Also, a quick question. All kids who graduate this year eligible for the games or do you have to be in college at the time of the games? ANy thoughts on who will be on the team?

[vballmom]

As long as you are an American who was attending a university/college in 2002-2003 school year, you are eligible.

[My 2 Sense]

Point of clarification..... I'm reasonably certain that it also allows for incoming college players. Here's the link to the eligibility info on the USAVB site, and the actual text for it is pasted below.

www.usavolleyball.org/natteams/wugselection.pdf

STUDENT ELIGIBILITY:
The following is an excerpt from the FISU Regulations (November 2000), which outlines
student eligibility for the World University Games.

5.2 Participation

5.2.1 Only the following may participate as competitors in the Universiade:
a) students who are officially registered for and pursuing a full time course of
study at a university or similar institute whose status as a university is
recognized by the appropriate national academic authority of their country;
b) former students of the institutions mentioned in a) who have obtained their
academic degree or diploma in the year preceding the event.
5.2.3 All competitors must satisfy the following conditions:
a) be a national of the country they represent;
b) be at least 17 and less than 28 years of age on January 1st in the year of the event

[vballmom]

So if you register for Fall classes in June, you would be eligible. I hope they don't take any high school players with all of the talent available in the college ranks.

You could take 1/2 of Pepp's team, 1/2 of UH and add a couple from here and there - BYU, LBSU, UOP, etc. - and have a great team.

[Eater]

Guest-Loco said:

Looks to be two great coaches. Also, a quick question. All kids who graduate this year eligible for the games or do you have to be in college at the time of the games? ANy thoughts on who will be on the team?

Players who graduated last year are also eligible for this years games.