TAMPA, Fla. - Hawai’i coach Dave Shoji has been named 2009 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division I National Coach of the Year it was announced today. This is the second time he has received the award, as he won it in its inaugural year in 1982.
In his 35th season, Shoji has led his team back to the Final Four for the first time since 2003. He picked up milestone win No. 1,000 on Oct. 17, becoming just the second Division I volleyball coach ever to do so. He has coached the Rainbow Wahine to their 28th NCAA Tournament appearance in program history, and the squad will be making its ninth Final Four appearance tonight when it faces off against two-time defending national champion Penn State at 9 p.m. (ET) in the second national semifinal match on ESPN2.
The Rainbow Wahine, currently riding a 28-match winning streak, have posted a 32-2 overall record this season, including a perfect 16-0 mark in WAC play. Hawai’i captured its 14th-consecutive WAC regular-season title and won their 10th-straight WAC Tournament title.