Dec. 7, 2005

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The American Volleyball Coaches Association announced today that Janice Kruger was selected as the Tachikara/AVCA Division I East Region Coach of the Year. The award marks the fifth time Coach Kruger has received the honor (1990, 1996, 1997, 2003 and 2005).

Kruger led the Terrapins to a 28-5 overall record this season, including a 14-0 start, and a .848 winning percentage for the year. The Terps lost four starting seniors and adjusted their strategy with a 6-2 offense from a 5-1. Maryland was unranked in the national poll, ranked seventh in the ACC Preseason Poll, ultimately landing as high as #24 in the CSTV/AVCA poll this year.

In her 18th season with the Terps, Kruger has amassed a 350-218 record in College Park and is the ACC's winningest volleyball coach in history. Coach Kruger led the Terps to a co-championship this year and back-to-back ACC Championship titles in 2003 and 2004. She also guided Maryland to seven NCAA Division I Tournament appearances. She surpassed her 700th career victory in September.

Four Terrapins on the 2005/2006 team were named All-ACC.

Other honorees include John Cook, University of Nebraska, Central Region; Geoff Carlston, Ohio University, Mideast Region; Mitch Jacobs, Marshall University; Debbie Brown, University of Notre Dame, Northeast Region; Jon Wallace, Santa Clara University, Pacific Region; Travis Hudson, South Region, Western Kentucky University; and Dave Shoji, University of Hawaii, West Region.

Each of the honorees will represent their region on the Tachikara/AVCA National Coach of the Year ballot. The awards will be officially presented at the Tachikara/AVCA Coach of the Year and Victory Club Awards banquet in San Antonio on Thursday, Dec. 15, at the 2005 American Volleyball Coaches Association Annual Convention.