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AVCA Hall of Fame to induct UD’s Barbara Viera

11:40 a.m., Dec. 17, 2003--Former University of Delaware volleyball head coach Barbara Viera will be inducted into the inaugural class of the American Volleyball Coaches Association Hall of Fame on Wednesday night, Dec. 17, in Dallas.

Viera, who retired after the 1999 season, posted a career record of 682-433-4 in 27 seasons at the helm of the Fightin’ Blue Hen volleyball program. Her teams had 22 winning seasons, including 21 seasons of 20 or more victories and eight seasons of 30 or more victories.

She led Delaware to four postseason national tournaments, taking the 1975 and 1979 teams to the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) championships and the 1992 and 1994 squads to berths in the National Invitational Volleyball Championships in Kansas City, Mo. Her teams captured the North Atlantic Conference championship tournament titles in 1992 and 1994 and the regular season championships in 1994 and 1995.

"When I was in college, I was thinking in terms of coaching," Viera said during a 1992 interview with the Wilmington News Journal. "I looked at different sports but I didn't really have an opportunity to play myself. I wanted to find a sport in its infancy where I could have an impact and influence the sport and its development."

Viera earned four conference coach of the year awards during her career, once in the East Coast Conference (1986), twice in the North Atlantic Conference (1992 and 1994) and once in the NAC’s successor, the America East Conference (1996).

Viera is a 1963 graduate of the University of Massachusetts and earned her master's and doctoral degrees at Springfield College, where she began her coaching career.

In 1991, Viera received the National Association for Girls and Women in Sport Pathfinder Award, which is presented to association members who have provided significant leadership in the creation and promotion of opportunities for girls and women in sport. Additionally, she received the 1999 Patti Snyder Award given to select individuals from the college coaching community who have contributed to the growth and development of junior volleyball.

"The establishment of the American Volleyball Coaches Association Hall of Fame marks an important juncture in the recognition of coaching excellence for the volleyball community," AVCA President Stephanie Schleuder said. "Induction into the AVCA Hall of Fame will become synonymous with reaching the pinnacle of success as a professional coach. In addition to honoring coaches, the AVCA has established other important categories, such as education and administration, where we honor individuals for their vital professional contributions to the growth of volleyball. We are truly excited to be inducting our first class at the convention in Dallas."

Viera served as a member of the AVCA board of directors and on USA Volleyball's educational foundation, member relations and human resources committees.

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