Volleyball Coaching Legend Mike Hebert Passes Away

 

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado, Oct. 22, 2019 – USA Volleyball is saddened to learn of the passing of legendary volleyball coach Mike Hebert. He passed away last night in San Diego at the age of 75.

 

Coaching volleyball was a labor of love for Hebert, who coached 35 seasons at the collegiate level and four decades lending his expertise to the U.S. Women’s National Team and USA Volleyball’s High Performance pipeline. He was named USA Volleyball’s Donald S. Shondell All-Time Great Coach in 2011.

 

“Mike Hebert was a special man and a special coach, and our volleyball world will miss him dearly,” U.S. Women’s National Team Head Coach Karch Kiraly said. “He served USA Volleyball at so many levels over many years, both players and coaches, and his wisdom, perspective and humor were unique.  Any day spent with Mike was a day that made us better, and made us grateful. We’re sending prayers for strength and comfort to all of Mike’s family and friends.”

 

Hebert served as the head coach for the U.S. Women’s Team at the 1987 World University Games in Yugoslavia. He traveled to the 1989 Canada Cup and 1990 Cuba Cup as part of a series of assignments with the U.S. National Team. In 1991, he pulled double duty coaching teams at both the World University Games in England and the Pan American Games in Cuba. In 2003, he served as head coach of the U.S. Women’s National Team that claimed bronze at the Pan American Games. Eight years later, he served as an assistant coach on the 2011 U.S. Women’s National Team that won bronze at the Pan American Games.

 

“Exactly eight years ago I was at my first tournament for Team USA winning my first medal in the Pan Am Games,” said Cassidy Lichtman, former U.S. Women’s National Team player and current member of USA Volleyball’s Board of Directors. “One of the coaches guiding that young team was Mike Hebert. I met Mike when he was recruiting me to Minnesota and even though I went elsewhere he was so supportive for my whole career.

 

I got to hang out with him more after he retired and moved to San Diego and when he’d come along with the National Team sometimes. The knowledge he dropped in those moments will stay with me. The volleyball world has lost a great coach and the world has lost a wonderful human being. I’m grateful I had a chance to know him. RIP Mike and thank you.”