Hard work plus perseverance are just part of the equation. A true passion for the sport of volleyball combined with a desire to coach and mentor aspiring players equal the real components that make up the University of Arizona Beach Volleyball Manager Noel Carpio's success story. Carpio has been named one of 10 recipients nationwide of the prestigious 2017 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Diversity Award, https://www.avca.org/awards/diversity-awards.html.
When he got the call said. Carpio was "ecstatic" when he found out he had been chosen. "With a rigorous application process, I felt as if I really had to put a big part of myself, from a personal standpoint, into the application," Carpio said.
"I'm incredibly grateful to receive this award," Carpio stated. "This is a really big honor for me and a big step for my future as a coach."
The AVCA Diversity Award grants aspiring coaches the opportunity to advance their skills, improve, and promote inclusiveness within the sport. The AVCA Diversity Development Chair and Butler University Head Coach Sharon Clark highlight, "2017 brought the deepest pool of talented aspiring coaches in the history of the award." Despite many deserving candidates, "we are thrilled with this year's awardees and look forward to them experiencing an informative and invigorating convention."
As one of a handful of award recipients, Carpio credits the long history of influential coaches in his life for his success. A former college volleyball player himself, Carpio acknowledges that he never would have received the award without all the individuals who inspired him to pursue a career in coaching. "Thanks to my coaches, I learned the essentials of coaching" Carpio said. "My coaches were a huge influence on my success."
"But to be honest, equally significant were the players and their families -- the past, present and future athletes who inspired me to become the best coach I could be," said Carpio.
An aspiring collegiate head coach, Carpio currently serves as head coach and technical adviser for the Southern Arizona Volleyball Academy (SAVA). "I have a huge passion for working with the kids to help them realize their potential and just how many opportunities there are for talented players," said Carpio.
Carpio serves as both the Indoor and Beach Volleyball manager for the Arizona Wildcats. He was part of the program that went to the first ever NCAA Beach Championships in Gulf Shores, Ala. in 2016. He also was the Assistant Tournament Director for the PAC-12 Beach Volleyball Championships hosted at The University of Arizona.
As a recipient of the AVCA Diversity Award, Carpio will learn from veteran coaches and industry leaders at the AVCA Convention. According to the AVCA, Carpio will stand as an empowering and impactful leader on and off the court.
The Association fosters diversity initiatives with the goal to increase opportunities for minorities. The 10 selected volleyball coaches will also participate in activities rooted in professional development in the volleyball community.
Carpio and the other AVCA Diversity Award recipients will be honored at the 2017 AVCA convention in Kansas City, Mo.