BlueWhiteIllustrated.com - Rose nabs BWI Coach of Year honors

June 29, 2009

Mary Jo Haverbeck

Note: This article appears in the latest, special 'Year in Review' issue of Blue White Illustrated, which you can read now at BlueWhiteOnline.com!

Don't miss this very special issue of BWI, packed with a look back at Penn State Athletics' most memorable moments from the 2008-09 seasons!

To read the latest issue before it comes in the mail, take special advantage of www.BlueWhiteOnline.com, where the latest issue is already posted and available for download in its entirety!

To subscribe, click here!

By Mary Jo Haverbeck
Blue White Contributor

You can stop in at the Fraser Street Deli in State College and order a Russ Rose Salad.

Just don't expect Blue White Illustrated's Coach of the Year to have his chest puffed out because his name is on the menu.

Rose, the Penn State women's volleyball coach, isn't one to tout himself.

He'd rather have a tooth extracted than talk about what he's accomplished.

Last year, Rose shared Blue White Illustrated Coach of the Year recognition with Penn State men's volleyball coach Mark Pavlik when both won national titles.

This year Rose stands alone having completed a history-making 2008 season by winning a second straight NCAA Division I championship.

That's one of many reasons the 56-year-old skipper of Nittany Lion women's volleyball gets the nod from our staff.

Rose owns the Big Ten Conference, sweeping Coach of the Year honors for the sixth straight season and 10th time overall.

His name also is prominent nationally, earning National Coach of the Year recognition from his peers in the American Volleyball Coaches' Association for the second straight season.

His 2008 team registered an undefeated season under intense pressure from the elite schools in the sport, marching into the postseason without losing a game.

That was a first in NCAA history.

When his Lions withstood all comers and advanced to the NCAA Final Four, he took on an upstart Nebraska women's team playing in Omaha in front of thousands of rabid Husker fans. Nebraska had won 96 straight matches playing in its home state.

The Big Red proved as formidable as expected, ending the Lions' streak of 111 straight victories without losing a set but Rose's team won the match and kept the ship sailing to a championship by sweeping Stanford in the title game.

When asked if he thought Nebraska should become a permanent host for the NCAA finale, Rose responded with an answer that is typical for a man his players describe as "a very straight forward guy."

Rose thinks giving Nebraska that advantage as a permanent host would push the Cornhuskers ahead of the pack in recruiting.

And he's not interested in playing permanently at a location where weather forces him to spend time outside scraping his windshield.

No problem with the weather next year. If the Nittany Lions advance to attempt a three-peat in 2009, they will be playing in Tampa, Fla.

Here's a look at this issue's table of contents:

4 - Mailbag
5-6 - Phil's Corner
8-10 - Up Close and Personals: Sean Stanley, Mark Arcidiacono and Mike Wallace
- Get to know the next generation of Penn Staters before they hit the field this fall!
11-21 - The Year in Review
- Take a look back at all the memorable (good and bad) moments from Penn State's athletics programs during the 2008-09 seasons. From another Women's Volleyball National Championship to Joe Paterno's second Big Ten title in four years, to Ed DeChellis and the men's basketball team reaching new heights, BWI examines it all!
22 - Newest Verbal Commitments
- BWI recruiting analyst Sean Fitz breaks down the newest Nittany Lions to join the fold
25-26 - Football Recruiting
- As the summer months get into full swing, BWI recruiting analyst Sean Fitz takes a closer look at the needs the Lions need to fill to gain momentum heading down the home stretch this fall and winter.
27-31 - Football All-Star Games
- With Penn State's newest class of recruits set to enroll, BWI has all of the local summer all-star games covered. Find out how each future Nittany Lion fared!
32-33 - Wrestling
- BWI contributor Eric Thomas takes an in-depth look at how new Penn State wrestling coach Cael Sanderson is adjusting to his new role with the Nittany Lions

Plus, as always, don't miss Varsity Views, Scorecard and The Tail End!

To order a subscription, click here.

Penn State NEWS

[More]

Latest Headlines:

Resources:

Font Size:

FEATURED PRODUCT