Paco Labrador Inducted into Miami of Ohio's Prestigious Cradle of Coaches

            OXFORD, Ohio--Women's volleyball head coach Paco Labrador was inducted into Miami University's Cradle of Coaches on September 16, 2016. Coach Labrador joins the ranks of other notable coaches with Miami roots, including Woody Hayes, Bo Schembechler, and John Harbaugh. The Cradle of Coaches was started in 2002, recognizing more than 100 active Miami graduates who hold coaching and administrative positions within professional and collegiate levels across the nation. Upon receiving the award, Labrador was humbled; "It's a huge honor to be considered in the same class as all of the members in the Cradle of Coaches.  Thanks to the committee and to Miami's head volleyball coach Carolyn Condit for giving me my first opportunity to coach in college and for nominating me for the award.  To this day, I still hold true to the words Carolyn and Miami helped instill, 'Love and Honor'."

CRADLE OF COACHES

• Miami's Cradle of Coaches includes 21 National Coaches of the Year recipients at both the collegiate and professional levels.
• Notable coaches include: Woody Hayes, Bo Schembechler, Ron Zook, John Pont, Randy Ayers, Thad Matta, John Harbaugh, and Sue Ramsey.
• Coach Labrador holds a master of science from Miami University in sport studies, which he earned in 1997. He came to Wittenberg after four years as an assistant coach at Miami University, where he was active in all phases of the program, including scouting and game preparation, recruiting, skill development and summer camps.

TRADITION OF SUCCESS

• Labrador is the winningest coach in all of NCAA Division III collegiate volleyball and second across all divisions (.868 winning percentage).
• Entering his 13^th season at the helm for the Tigers, Labrador has accumulated 36 NCAA Division III tournament wins including one National Championship title (2011) and one National Championship Runner-Up title (2015).
• Labrador has also earned multiple top coaching honors, including; two Great Lakes Region Coach of the Year awards (2004, 2007) and seven NCAC Coach of the Year awards.

COACHING TREE

• Monica Wright – Head Women's Volleyball Coach, Otterbein

A 2005 Wittenber graduate, who blossomed as a two-time All-American outside hitter under Labrador's tutelage, Wright helped the Tigers reach four NCAA Division III tournaments, and two Elite Eight appearances.

Wright is currently the head coach at Otterbein University, and has brought the program to new heights. The ex-Tiger led the Cardinals to four consecutive NCAA tournament appearances from 2010-2013 and received OAC Coach of the Year Honors in 2010.

• Hallie Donathan – Head Women's Volleyball Coach, Muskingum

A 2013 Wittenberg graduate, Donathan was a member of Labrador's staff from 2013-2015 before being named the head coach at Muskingum University in 2016. The Tipp City native helped the Tigers win four straight NCAC conference titles under Labrador and landed four NCAA postseason appearances, including a national title in 2011. As an assistant coach, Donathan helped guide the Tigers to the National Championship with Labrador, finishing as National Runner-Up in 2015.

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING

• "It is truly an honor to work alongside Paco.  I have never met a coach who has accomplished so much and yet is so humble.  Paco displays incredible conviction, pride and self-discipline in what he does and despite all his personal and team accolades, he still challenges himself and his women each day to get better and better.  Paco is a gift – to our University, to our athletes, and to the sport of volleyball.  I could not be more proud to serve with him and I am thankful that he has allowed all of us to share in his life and career.  On behalf of our department and the University, we congratulate Paco, his wife Jill and daughters, and all of the special people in his life for this honor.  Paco embodies all that it means to 'Tiger Up', and we as a school, an athletic department, and as people are made better because of his example and leadership."

-Dr. Gary Williams, Athletic Director, Wittenberg University

• "As a young coach Paco proved to be a fine teacher of the game and was one to think 'out of the box'.  Many words describe him; innovative, organized, precise, patient, professional, amusing and highly competitive! I knew he was headed toward greatness and when he guided Wittenberg to its first national title, I was not surprised.  As a graduate and volleyball coach at Miami, Paco belongs in our prestigious Cradle of Coaches."

                  -Carolyn Condit, Head Women's Volleyball Coach, Miami University