Wallace signs for 5

By Jeremy Herb

Volleyball head coach Jon Wallace signed a 5-year deal with Santa Clara last week, capping the most successful year in the history of Bronco volleyball.

On April 13, Athletic Director Dan Coonan announced the deal, which will keep the coach on the Bronco bench through 2010.

"To me, it was a no-brainer," Coonan said. "He has built this program into a national powerhouse."

The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Wallace's team earned a spot in the Final Four for the first time in Santa Clara history, and received its best-ever final season ranking of No. 4, according to the American Volleyball Coaches Association.

"The Athletic Department is very committed to women's volleyball, so it makes a lot of sense to me," Wallace said. "The hard part was, if I did want to move on, there would be opportunity."

Wallace was heading into the final year of his previous contract, but he said he wanted his contract issues resolved now. "Nobody likes to go into the last year of a contract with uncertainty," he said.

Wallace earned Volleyball Magazine's honor as National Coach of the Year for his 2005 effort, and is only six wins shy of the school record for most victories in volleyball history. In his 7-year tenure at Santa Clara, he has led the Broncos to an overall record of 156-58, and a winning percentage of .729, the highest in school history.

"He could have had his pick of jobs that opened up," Coonan said. "He knows that. Yet he chose to stay at Santa Clara."

Keeping Wallace around for another five years, rather than a shorter time, was "logical," Coonan said. "It puts the issue of having him leaving in three years away."

A 5-year deal will also allow the university to pitch their coach in a new way to prospective athletes, who can be assured that they will most likely have the same coach leading them for most, if not all, of their collegiate careers.

"A lot of kids make a decision based on the school and academics, and a lot do on the coach," assistant coach Dustin Moore said. "He can say, 'I signed 5, I'm gonna be there.' If an athlete is choosing based on a coach, it's a huge advantage for us."

Wallace has taken the Broncos to the NCAA Tournament every year he has been at the helm, and has won two conference titles.

"My dad knew before I did," sophomore middle blocker Anna Cmaylo said. "I was so excited, he's just fun to work with. It's not hard to look forward to going to the gym."

Santa Clara's 2006 campaign includes matches against nine 2005 NCAA Tournament teams.

The schedule also includes a rematch with Stanford. Santa Clara upset the Cardinal for the first time in school history in the NCAA Tournament last season en route to its Final Four appearance.

Contact Jeremy Herb at (408) 551-1918 or jmherb@scu.edu.