Vol. 19, No. 20

Feb. 17, 2000

Volleyball coach announces
retirement after 27 seasons

Barbara Viera, whose 27-year tenure as head women’s volleyball coach at UD is the longest in Blue Hen women’s athletics history, announced her retirement Tuesday afternoon in a press conference at the Bob Carpenter Club. Viera’s tenure is the eighth longest of any UD head coach in any sport, and her 682 career coaching victories are second only to baseball coach Bob Hannah’s, who heads into his final year this spring before retiring with a record of 1,016-444-6. She is ranked No. 7 on the active NCAA Division I women’s volleyball coaching list. A national search for Viera’s replacement will begin this spring, and it is hoped the position will be filled by July 1. One of the nation’s most successful and respected volleyball coaches, Viera, 60, posted a 27-year record of 682-429-4 (.613) at Delaware from 1973 until last fall. Her 28-year career as a head coach, including one season at Springfield (Mass.) College in 1970, resulted in a record of 687-434-4 (.612). “Barb has been a great friend and colleague,” Edgar N. Johnson, athletic director, said. “She was instrumental in developing our volleyball program and enjoyed success on both the regional and national level.” “I have so many excellent memories that I know will never fade,” Viera said of her career. “There was nothing I would have rather done than coach and teach. I was fortunate to have been able to stay in one place for so many years, which is a rarity today. The administration has been very supportive, and I know the program will continue to make great strides. I’m proud of the team accomplishments that we have had, and I thank the outstanding group of players who have made it easy to coach. They are all a part of my family. I’ll continue to be a big supporter of all UD athletics.”