STANFORD, Calif. - The Stanford University Athletic Department
announced Friday that Don Shaw, one of the top coaches in collegiate
volleyball history, has been named head men's volleyball coach.
Shaw, who captured four NCAA Championships and eight Pacific-10
Conference Championships during his tenure as the head coach of
Stanford's women's volleyball program, will solely work with the men's
program. Shaw has been involved with the Stanford men's and women's
volleyball programs since 1980, including the last 16 years as head
women's volleyball coach.
The Stanford Athletic Department will conduct a national and internal
search for a new head women's volleyball coach. "I'm proud of all we
accomplished during my 20-plus years with the women's program," Shaw
said. "There are going to be a lot of things I'll miss as I leave
women's volleyball. On the other hand, I'm really excited to have the
opportunity to shift gears, return to the men's program and take on
new challenges as we attempt to reach the top of men's collegiate
volleyball."
"The hiring of Don Shaw as our men's volleyball coach is a tremendous
step for the program," Stanford Athletic Director Ted Leland said.
"Needless to say, Don is one of the best volleyball coaches in the
nation. He did an incredible job with the women's program, and we
know he will do the same with the men."
Shaw is no stranger to the world of men's volleyball. During his
illustrious playing career, he was a member of the United States
National Team in 1979 and played professionally for the San Jose
Diablos of the International Volleyball Association. Shaw was a member
of three United States Volleyball Association national championship
teams, and was a USVBA All-American. Shaw was also one of the top
beach players in the nation in the 1970's, teaming with stars such as
Karch Kiraly. He earned the highest beach rating possible (AAA) and
competed in the World Beach Championships.
The 1977 graduate of UC Santa Barbara entered the coaching world in
1980 When he was named as Stanford's men's and women's assistant
volleyball coach under Fred Sturm. He served four years in that
capacity (1980-83) before becoming the co-head coach for both programs
with Sturm from 1984-85. The Stanford women were national runners-up
in both '84 and '85 while the men had one of their best years ever in
'85, winning the prestigious UCSB Invitational and achieving their
first ever #1 national ranking. Prior to the 1986-87 season, Sturm and
Shaw split up the head coaching tandem, with Sturm concentrating on
the men while Shaw was named sole head coach for the women.
The rest is history. The Cardinal women went to the NCAA Final Four in
Shaw's first two seasons in charge, and in the 1990's, became the
elite women's volleyball program in the nation. Shaw led Stanford to
its first NCAA Women's Volleyball Championship in 1992, and went on to
build a dynasty with national titles in 1994, '96 and '97 as well.
He owns a career head coaching record of 440-70, and the best winning
percentage in NCAA Division I women's volleyball history at .863. He
won 20 games or more in 15 of his 16 seasons, and never finished lower
than second place in conference competition. Shaw's Pac-10 overall
record is an mpressive 229-23 (.909).
Shaw, who took the 2000 season off to go on sabbatical, is an even
more impressive 183-15 (.924) in his last six seasons on the bench. He
has compiled a 104-4 (.963) Pac-10 record during that tenure, and has
not lost more than one conference match in any of those six seasons.
In NCAA Tournament play, Shaw compiled a 50-12 (.806) record and
guided the Cardinal to 10 Final Fours.
Shaw takes over the reigns of the men's program from Ruben Nieves, who
resigned on May 18 to take a position with Stanford University's
Positive Coaching Alliance. Nieves compiled a 179-92 record in 11
seasons, and guided the program its first-ever NCAA Championship in
1997.
about us
