Sports
Darien's LaRusso Named National Coach Of The Year
The veteran coach has guided the Darien's girls volleyball team to 15 state championships.
Longtime Darien girls volleyball coach Laurie LaRusso has been named the National High School Coach 0f The Year in her sport by the National High School Coaches Association (NHSCA).
Under LaRusso's guidance, the Blue Wave boasts one of the most dominant volleyball programs in the country, winning state championships year after year.
In 2009, Darien posted its second 25-0 season in the last three years. Not only did the Blue Wave go undefeated in both seasons, but they didn't lose a single set in either year.
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Since taking over in 1982, LaRusso's teams have compiled a record of 536-79, with 11 unbeaten seasons. Since 1993, her teams are an astounding 412-10, with six of the losses coming in the 2000 season.
Darien once owned a 139-match winning streak and is riding a current 49-match winning streak, dating back to 2008.
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LaRusso has guided Darien to 19 FCIAC titles and 15 Class L state crowns, including 11 straight in each category.
She was named national Coach of the Year by PrepVolleyball.com in 2007—the first coach from an East Coast school to receive the honor—and the Connecticut Sports Writers Association named her the Doc McInerney Female Coach of the Year in 2009.
In addition, LaRusso was inducted into the Connecticut High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2007.
The NHSCA, which names coaches of the year in 20 boys and girls sports, announced its selections on Tuesday.
"The coaches we are honoring today are outstanding examples for successful high school coaches in their sports," NHSCA executive director Bob Ferraro Jr. said. "They place a high value on the teamwork skills their players learn for success in the classroom and on the field, and we are proud to be honoring them."
