Juan Carlos Núñez appointed Head Coach of Puerto Rico Women's National Team

Juan Carlos Núñez appointed Head Coach of Puerto Rico Women's National Team

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, March 28, 2024 - The Puerto Rican Volleyball Federation announced the appointment of Juan Carlos Núñez, who returns for the third time as the head coach of the Senior Women's National Team.

Núñez will be back in the position he held until 2016, after leading Puerto Rico to its first Olympic qualification in women's indoor volleyball, securing a spot in the Rio Olympics.

Núñez, who has been the most successful coach in the women’s National League, will assume the role of head coach of the national team for the third time (2005-2008 / 2015-16).

It was informed that the Senior Women’s National Team has scheduled the NORCECA Final Four (June 5-10) in Puerto Rico this summer, followed by the NORCECA Final Six (June 21-30) in the Dominican Republic; the FIVB Volleyball Women’s Challenge Cup in July, and the Women’s Pan American Cup (August 21-31) in Mexico.

Núñez replaces Fernando Morales, who was announced last week as the head coach of the South Korean National Team.

“I'm a bit surprised because after the 2016 Olympics, I wasn’t involved in anything related to the National Program. I was away until last year when they called me to coach the women’s Under-17 team, which was the project I wanted to get involved in, and we managed to qualify for the World Championship in this age-group last year in Honduras, which will be held this year from August 17 to 24 in Lima, Peru” said Núñez.

“Since there is no conflict between the tournaments of the women’s Under-17 national team and the Senior team, this opportunity arose, and I am grateful to the Puerto Rican Volleyball Federation”, said Núñez, who will lead both teams. “I have always said that there are two difficult positions, with a lot of pressure, criticism, and controversy, which are: being the head coach of the National Basketball Team and the Senior Women’s National Volleyball Team. And I accept this with great seriousness and responsibility as I am accustomed to” he emphasized.

Núñez's coaching staff includes José Mieles as his assistant; Sheila Alicea (statistics); Félix Gordillo (physiotherapist), and Roberto Rivera (fitness coach).

“Now comes the process of meetings to schedule and set start dates to work towards the upcoming tournaments like the Final Four, which will be held in Puerto Rico in June”, Núñez concluded.