In its final award for the year, the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) announced on Wednesday that it has chosen to award the men’s volleyball National Coach of the Year honor to John Kosty, head coach of Stanford men’s volleyball team.

Kosty completed his fourth season as Stanford’s head coach this past spring. He guided Stanford’s program to its first NCAA championship since 1997 with a straight-set win over Penn State at Maples Pavilion in the title match.

When he took over in 2006, Kosty inherited a program in disarray. His team went 3-25 in his first season and finished last in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF). This season, Kosty engineered a 21-win turnaround.

In making its announcement, the AVCA said, “The taskmaster was able to gradually build his program each year, successfully completing a ‘worst to first’ journey.”

In his four years at the helm, Kosty has compiled a 62-53 overall mark.

Kosty’s award is another in a long line of honors bestowed upon the Cardinal by the AVCA this year. Senior setter Kawika Shoji was named the AVCA National Player of the Year prior to the NCAA Tournament, becoming the second Stanford player to earn the distinction.

Four Stanford players also earned All-America honors from the AVCA. Kawika Shoji, sophomore libero Erik Shoji and sophomore outside hitter Brad Lawson all won first-team honors, while senior opposite Evan Romero received second-team honors.