A little more than a year ago, his Oklahoma volleyball team off to a fast start, Santiago Restrepo said his team hadn’t done anything yet. When the Sooners win the Big 12 Conference, it will have done something, he said.
Well, the Sooners finished second to back-to-back national champion Nebraska, but perhaps Restrepo has done something himself. Monday, after already claiming conference coach of the year honors, he was named national coach of the year by College Volleyball Update (cvu.com).
After that fast start in 2005, the Sooners hit injury problems and endured another long season, finishing 7-22 and just 2-18 against conference competition. But in 2006, after being picked in the preseason to finish 10th (of 11 teams) in the Big 12 by the coaches, Restrepo led a huge turnaround as the Sooners finished 28-6 overall and 17-3 in the conference, only losing to the national champion Huskers (twice) and at Texas.
The regular season was followed by a run to the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 before UCLA ended the Sooners’ season. It was only the second time in the program’s 32-year history the Sooners had advanced so far. Also, the win differential from one season to the next (plus 15) is a conference record.
Restrepo did his best to give all the credit away Monday.
“I believe this award is a reflection of the outstanding coaches, players and support staff that surrounded me this season,” Restrepo said. “I would like to thank the administration and former players that have shown me how to be successful … However, most of all, this award should go to the players and assistant coaches because I did not score one point in a match this season, and it was through their efforts that we were able to be successful this season.”
In the final volleyball poll of the season, the Sooners were ranked a best-ever 12th.
OU Sports
Restrepo handed national honor
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