2010 Dr. James E. Coleman USA National Team Award - Rudy Suwara
2010 James E. Coleman USA National Team Award
Rudy Suwara
Rudy Suwara, born into a volleyball family in New York City on Nov. 19, 1941, has had a lasting legacy on the sport of volleyball.
Through his parent’s involvement with the West Side YMCA and New York Turners, Suwara received his initial exposure of the game of volleyball. He played his first tournament at the Brooklyn YMCA in 1957 competing for the West Side YMCA of New York City. One year later, Suwara suited up for his first USA Volleyball Nationals in 1958 at Scranton, Pa.
Suwara’s participation in the USA Volleyball events earned him 11 consecutive years of USA Volleyball All-America honors from 1964 to 1974. During his USA Volleyball career, Suwara competed for several prestigious clubs. He spent tenures with Westside Jewish Community Center, LA Tigers, Los Angeles YMCA, United Sporting Goods, San Diego Chart House, Santa Barbara VBC and Santa Monica Sand & Sea Club. Along the way, his teams won numerous USVBA Open and National Championships.
In international competitions, Suwara contributed heavily to Team USA’s success in the 1960s and 1970s. He was a member of the U.S. team that competed in the FIVB World Championship in 1966 and 1970. Suwara played a key role on the U.S. Men’s National Team which won the 1967 Pan American Games gold medal. He later went on to compete for the U.S. at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City. That team was the first U.S. squad to beat the former Soviet Union. Suwara represented again represented the U.S. at the 1971 Pan American Games. He and his teammates made national headlines at the 1972 NORCECA qualifier held in Havana, Cuba.
After his international playing days, Suwara turned to coaching. After a tenure assisting at UCLA, he served as the head coach at UC Santa Barbara for four years. During those four years, the Gauchos finished among the top four in three of those years. In 1974, UC Santa Barbara won the USVBA Collegiate and Open Division National Championships, the only college team to ever win those two titles during the same year.
After UC Santa Barbara, Suwara ventured south to become a player/coach for the San Diego Breakers for the IVA professional volleyball league. His style of play earned him the nickname of the Tasmanian Devil as one of the top players in the league.
In 1976, Suwara was appointed the head coach of the men’s and women’s volleyball programs at San Diego State. He produced several All-Americans, most notably Laurel Brassey and Angela Rock, both of whom went on to play for the U.S. Olympic Teams.
Suwara continued to compete as a player even during his coaching career. He played on several masters teams at the USA Open National Championships and was an active participant on the beach.
Among his most memorable triumphs was a family affair in 1991. The entire Suwara family teamed together to win the 1991 American Turner National Championships held in St. Louis. The team consisted of himself, his four brothers and father, while his wife Colleen coached the team and mother Erna was the manager. Grandsons Randy, Billy and John Jr. rounded out the roster.
USA Volleyball has recognized Suwara on many occasions. He earned the All-Time Great Player Award and Medallion of Merit in 1976. Suwara later was presented the George J. Fisher Leader in Volleyball Award in 1994. As part of USA Volleyball’s 75th Diamond Celebration in 2003, Suwara was included on the USA Volleyball 75th Anniversary All-Era Team for the 1953 to 1977 time period.
And now, Rudy Suwara will have his name associated with the James E. Coleman USA National Team award.
