2009 All-Time Great Coach - Larry Bock

Larry Bock
2009 All-Time Great Coach - Contemporary Division

Larry Bock has been the only head women's volleyball coach Juniata College has ever employed since the program started in 1977. And for good reason.

Larry graduated from Penn State University, just a short drive from the Huntingdon-based Juniata campus, in 1971. In July of 1995, he was named as Juniata's athletic director. At that time, he resigned from one of his two volleyball posts, that of leading the Eagles' men's volleyball program from 1991-1995 compiling a five-season record of 100-91.

However, Larry has become a living legend coaching the women's program to success year-after-year and has become one of the most accomplished collegiate coaches in the sport of volleyball, regardless of division. He holds 1,182 wins against 182 losses in 32 seasons leading the Eagles' women's volleyball program, an impressive 86.7 winning percentage. No NCAA women's volleyball coach has more wins than Larry.

With him leading the program, Juniata has not shied away from playing other higher Division opponents. The Eagles have won 67 of 89 matches against NCAA Division I opponents for a 75.2 winning percentage, along with a 207-42 record versus NCAA Division II competition for an 83.1 winning percentage.

Even with its competition against top opponents, Eagles players have enjoyed 30-plus win seasons in every year since 1980. Within conference action, Juniata has won 28 straight league titles and has a 305-match unbeaten streak in conference play since 1981.

Adding his 100 victories in leading the Juniata men's volleyball program, Larry has a total of 1,282 victories on the volleyball court as a coach. That is more than any other collegiate volleyball coach when combining both sport genders. His Eagles' men's volleyball team earned three EIVA Division III titles from 1992 to 1994.

Among Larry's major accomplishments include being selected the American Volleyball Coaches Association Division III National Coach of the Year five times in three different decades. He earned his first National Coach of the Year honor in 1984 in his eighth year with the program. Larry has also been awarded the National Coach of the Year honor in 1989, 1993, 2004 and 2006. All told, he has been awarded the AVCA Region Coach of the Year 10 times.

Aside from total victories and national acclaim, one of the true marks of Larry's coaching ability has been guiding Juniata far into the NCAA Tournament on a consistent basis. The Eagles have never missed making the NCAA Division III Tournament in the 28-year history of the event, and never failed to reach at least the quarterfinal round. But that is only part of the story. Juniata has reached the NCAA Division III Tournament semifinals in 22 of those 32 years, or 68.8 percent of the time. Larry and the Eagles finally broke through with their first NCAA title in 2004, and followed that up with another championship in 2006.

With all the success on the court, Juniata has needed to keep the steady stream of talent coming into the Eagle program. Larry's ability to evaluate talent and recruit players to the small, central Pennsylvania college has allowed a status quo of success.

Under Larry's coaching, Juniata has produced 34 AVCA All-Americans receiving a total of 59 AVCA All-American certificates. Further, he has coached four of the last five AVCA Division III National Players of the Year.

And while the players have left Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, with fond team memories, NCAA title runs and individual accolades, Larry has instilled the value of education into his players. Two players have earned Academic All-American of the Year as selected by College Sports Information Directors of America. In addition, five players have earned CoSIDA Academic All-American First-Team honors and 19 have been named to the CoSIDA Academic All-American First, Second or Third Teams.

Larry has also cultivated the coaching bug within many of his players, which helps perpetuates the sport into the future. A total of 16 past Eagles players are currently involved in their own coaching career. Among this group includes Melissa Myers, who is the head coach of NCAA Division I Illinois State University, Juniata Associate Head Coach Heather Blough Pavlik, York College Head Coach Sue Gelston Dumars and Dickinson College Head Coach Carli Dale.

The NCAA recognized Larry for his long-term success by naming him as co-head coach of the NCAA Division III 25th Anniversary Women's Volleyball Team. He was also inducted into the AVCA's inaugural Hall of Fame in 2003, which followed up his 2000 selection as an AVCA Founder's Award recipient. He is also a charter member of the Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

Away from the Juniata campus, Larry resides in Huntingdon with his wife, Lyn. The couple has two daughters, Anne and Laura. As an avid golfer, many would even claim that Larry is most proud of the fact that he is a three-time club champion at Standing Stone Country Club.

But his legend as a volleyball coach will always live on.