Tampa’s Chris Catanach Selected Division II National Coach of the Year

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) is pleased to announce that University of Tampa Head Women's Volleyball Coach Chris Catanach has been selected as the 2014 AVCA Division II National Coach of the Year, while Colorado School of Mines Assistant Coach Heather Roberts has been named the AVCA Division II National Assistant Coach of the Year.

Chris Catanach has established himself as one of the top coaches in the nation in his 31st year at the helm of the Spartans program. Culminating in an NCAA Championship at the Division II Festival, he went 34-1 in this year's campaign and a perfect 16-0 in the Sunshine State Conference. It was Tampa's and Catanach's second championship with their first coming in 2006.

The championship matchup was anything but ordinary. They faced Southwest Minnesota State, who handed the Spartans their lone loss of the season back on September 12th in the Colorado Premiere Tournament. This time Tampa was ready, sweeping the Mustangs while holding them to a .139 hitting percentage.

Catanach coached the AVCA Division II Player of the Year in Berkley Whaley as well as fellow first-team All-Americans Marissa Lisenbee and Jessica Wagner and second-team All-American Kahley Patrick. They also totaled five players on the AVCA South Region Team with Catanach earning AVCA Region Coach of the Year, which was his unprecedented 17th career honor. As a team, they've been ranked No. 1 in the AVCA Coaches Poll every week since September 15th.

This marks his third AVCA Coach of the Year honor after winning in 1991 and 2006.

Roberts, now in her seventh season as an assistant coach at the Colorado School of Mines, has helped the Orediggers become one of the top Division II squads in the nation. They tied for first in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference and reached their sixth consecutive NCAA Tournament. She also helps out off the court, serving as the Operations Christmas Child Coordinator for the Mines volleyball team and the Dig Pink Weekend co-Coordinator. This marks her second consecutive AVCA Division II Assistant Coach of the Year honor.

The AVCA formally presented their awards at the 2014 Jostens Coaches Honors Luncheon in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma earlier today. The luncheon was held in conjunction with the 2014 AVCA Annual Convention.

The AVCA, with its headquarters in Lexington, Ky., is managed by Associations International. The mission of the AVCA is to advance the sport of volleyball with AVCA coaches at the epicenter of leadership, advocacy and professional development. With a membership of over 6,400 and counting, the AVCA provides a professional network for those individuals and companies dedicated to enhancing and promoting the sport. Members include collegiate, high school, club, youth and Olympic coaches, as well as volleyball club directors. The AVCA provides education to volleyball coaches, recognition of elite players and coaches, promotion of volleyball competitions throughout the world, and networking opportunities for volleyball products and services providers. Further information is available at www.avca.org.