Women's Volleyball

John Kessel of USA Volleyball Conducts Clinic at Harwood Arena

UNION, N.J. (8/20/06) - John Kessel, the internationally renowned player, coach, author, administrator and clinician for USA Volleyball, conducted a coaches' clinic at Harwood Arena on Sunday, August 20. The clinic, organized by Kean University volleyball coach Bridget White, drew an audience of 55 high school and college coaches, as well as the Atlantic Volleyball Club of Westfield, N.J. They came to hear Kessel, the director of membership development and disabled programs for the United States Volleyball Association who is widely regarded as the No. 1 ambassador of the sport in America. White's current Cougar volleyballers provided demonstrations to accompany Kessel's instructions.

"It's very exciting for Kean to be able to collaborate with Volleyball USA and the Atlantic Volleyball Club at this clinic," said White, who is beginning her 19th year at the helm of the Cougars. "The knowledge and experience that John Kessel brings, along with the resources and ideas we were able to share with each other, made it an extraordinarily successful day. It also makes me very proud as the volleyball coach at Kean to showcase the outstanding facilities we have at Harwood Arena to the coaches in the area."

Kessel was named one of the 50 most important people in the first 100 years of the sport by Volleyball Magazine in 1995. A coach since 1971, he captured National Women's Open titles in 1986 and 1987. From 1982 to 1990, Kessel was also the director and coaches' coach of the Albuquerque Junior Olympic Volleyball Program, and served as the tournament director of the USA Junior Olympic Volleyball Championships from 1987 to 1991. Kessel was on-staff for the 1984, 1988 and 1996 Olympics, and was the producer of the 1996 Paralympics Sitting Volleyball Venue.

Currently at work on a new youth volleyball book, entitled The Coach Who Cares, Wins, Kessel's primary goal is to help make coaches more efficient, positive and creative, whether they're coaching elementary school programs or national team players. He challenges old ways of thinking and helps coaches create what they need, ever mindful that having fun is the most important thing. The United States Volleyball Association, or USA Volleyball, is the national governing body for the sport of volleyball in the United States and is recognized by the Federation International de Volleyball and the United States Olympic Committee. USA Volleyball is committed to and works toward opportunity for all to participate and is an advocate for all Americans, endeavoring to assure universal access to opportunities at all levels of the game.