Dec. 13, 2007
> Coach Rose's Hall of Fame Induction Speech
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) is proud to announce that Penn State University head women's volleyball coach Russ Rose was selected as the 2007 AVCA Division I National Coach of the Year. The award was presented today at the Jostens Coaches Honors Luncheon in Sacramento, Calif., as part of the 2007 AVCA Annual Convention. During the luncheon, Rose also was inducted into the AVCA Hall of Fame.
Rose's 2007 Nittany Lions squad enters tonight's NCAA semifinal match against California as the No. 1 team in the CSTV/AVCA Division I Coaches Top 25 Poll. Penn State has compiled a 32-2 record this season and was a perfect 20-0 in Big Ten play. On Sept. 21 when his squad beat Michigan State, Rose became only the third coach in Division I history -- joining UCLA's Andy Banachowski and Hawai`i's Dave Shoji -- to pass the 900-career win plateau.
In 29 years at the helm of the Nittany Lion program, Rose has guided his teams to a 923-159 record, giving him an NCAA-best career winning percentage of .853. Rose-led teams are a fixture in NCAA postseason play, as Penn State is one of only two schools to make the last 27 NCAA tournaments. This year's appearance in the NCAA semifinals marks the sixth time Penn State has reached the round of four and the 1999 squad earned the school's first Division I women's volleyball title. His teams have won 25 conference championships -- 11 Big Ten and eight Atlantic 10 -- including the last five Big Ten crowns. Additionally, Rose was named the AVCA National Coach of the Year in 1997 and 1999.
"I am very appreciative of receiving this honor," said Rose. "Our team has found ways to play together well and it has been a good year. Our staff has done a good job of coming together, too, and we've had great support from our boosters and administration. Volleyball continues to be a great game, and it has allowed me to meet some outstanding athletes and coaches and to do something I love."