U.S. MARINES CORPS/AVCA NAIA NATIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR

Head Coach of the Year: Matt Hanson, Dordt College
Assistant Coach of the Year: Makani Cantor, Grand View University

Lexington, Ky. - (December 7, 2017) - The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) is proud to announce that Dordt College Head Women's Volleyball Coach Chad Hanson has been selected as the 2017 USMC/AVCA NAIA National Coach of the Year, while Grand View University Assistant Women's Volleyball Coach Makani Cantor has been tabbed as the 2017 AVCA NAIA National Assistant Coach of the Year.

The AVCA will formally present both coaches their awards at the 2017 Jostens Coaches Honors Luncheon in Kansas City, Missouri on Thursday, December 14. The luncheon is held in conjunction with the 2017 AVCA Convention.

CHAD HANSON'S FAST FACTS

• This season marked his seventh leading the Defenders
• Finished with a 34-8 overall record and 14-2 in the Great Plains Athletic Conference
• NAIA National Championship Runner-Up
• Went 5-2 in the NAIA Championship Tournament
• Finished the season ranked No. 2 in the NAIA Final Coaches Poll.
• Mentored two AVCA NAIA First-Team All-Americans
• Took home the NAIA's "Champions of Character Team"
• A career record of 168-66 at Dordt
• Hanson's squad won the tournament's champions of Character Award

MAKANI CANTOR'S FAST FACTS

• Tenth season as the Vikings assistant coach
• Finished with a 34-8 overall record and 19-0 in the Heart of America Conference
• Ended the season ranked first in the NAIA for total blocks (393)
• Helped lead Vikings to two consecutive regular season conference championship and conference tournament titles