Arnie Ball

Armond J. "Arnie" Ball (born November 12, 1944) began his 30th season in 2010 as the head coach of the IPFW Men's Mastodon volleyball program. Coach Ball has established a legacy on the courts of both the Mastodons and the national scenes. One of the longest tenured and most well-respected coaches on the national scene, Ball began the season with 472 career wins and a trophy case filled with honors from around the world.

When not on the court actively coaching a competition, Ball operates Team Pineapple, a volleyball clinic that also features his son, Olympic gold-medalist Lloy Ball.^[1]

Coach Ball and his wife, Sandy, have three children, Lloy, Amy and Jana. They have four grandchildren, Caden, Dyer, Jamison and Mya.

High school coaching career

Following a successful player career at Ball State, Coach Ball became a high school gym teacher. One of his first positions was at New Haven High School, a part of the East Allen County Schools system . In 1973, Ball moved to Paul Harding High School when EACS opened this new high school. He began his coaching career as Harding's first head baseball coach, and he also founded the school's volleyball program as a non-sanctioned, club sport. He led the Hawks to three Indiana Volleyball Coaches Association Championships. In 1978, Ball began coaching at the collegiate level when he introduced volleyball to IPFW. In 1981, Ball made the full-time move to IPFW, taking the helm of both the men's and women's volleyball programs.

IPFW

Ball's tenure at IPFW has pushed the Volleydons to the forefront of collegiate men's volleyball. His resume includes six trips to the NCAA Final Four, seven MIVA Championships and rosters dotted with All-Conference, All-American and U.S. Olympic team selections.

IPFW's finest national finish under Ball came in 2007, as the 'Dons took home a National Runner-Up trophy, falling 3-1 to UC-Irvine in Columbus, Ohio. For the storied season, Ball was named both the AVCA Division I-II National Coach of the Year and Asics/Volleyball Magazine Coach of the Year.

In addition to the Runner-Up season, Ball has led teams to fourth place finishes in 1992 and 1994 and third place finishes in 1991, 1996 and 2006. Fifteen players have been named AVCA All-American, six have been honored as the MIVA Player of the Year and two have gone on to play in the Olympics.

At the helm of the women's team, IPFW captured four Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) championships and earned bids in the NCAA Division II Tournament in 1987 and 1988. He wrapped his eight-year women's team tenure with an overall record of 231-102 (.693).

Despite the national and international travels that Ball has enjoyed in the sport, his local focus has always remained a stronghold in the Fort Wayne community. In 2005, Ball was presented with the prestigious Hilliard Gates Achievement Award for his lifetime accomplishments and contributions to the sporting community of Fort Wayne.

Ball's service to IPFW extends beyond the volleyball court sidelines. Ball served as the school's Athletic Director from 1988–1995.^[2]

National and international activities

During his coaching career, Ball has enjoyed several appointments to US Volleyball coaching staffs:

• In 1983, Ball served as head coach of the North squad at the National Sports Festival in Colorado Springs, Colo.
• In 1985, Ball served as an assistant coach for the World University Games US men's team in Kobe, Japan
• In 1987, 1993 and 1994, Ball took the helm of squads in the Olympic Festival. His 1994 team captured a gold in St. Louis.
• In 1988, Ball was the director of the USVBA Junior Elite Camp in Boulder, Colo.
• In 1993, USA Volleyball appointed Ball as the head coach of the U.S. Team in the World University games. Ball rallied the young team to a 3rd place (bronze) finish after a number of impressive wins, including a five-set victory over France.
• In 2000, Ball had the prestigious honor of serving as a scout for the U.S. National Team, selecting the team for the Olympic Games held in Sydney, Australia.

Notable achievements

• NCAA National Championship Match (2007)
• NCAA Final Four - 3rd place (2006, 1996, 1991)
• NCAA Final Four - 4th place (1994, 1992)

Awards and honors

• Inducted into AVCA Hall of Fame (2012)^[3]
• Dick Lugar Health and Fitness Award (2008)^[4]
• AVCA Division I-II National Coach of the Year (2007)^[5]
• Asics/Volleyball Magazine Coach of the Year (2007)
• Red coat recipient, Mad Anthonys (2007)^[6]
• Inducted into IPFW Athletics Hall of Fame (2006, the inaugural class)^[7]
• Hillard Gates Achievement Award (2005)^[4]

Coaching record

• - Conference member Lewis had all wins vacated for seasons 2001, 2002, and 2003. The records included above reflect the actual outcome of matches with Lewis for those years. If the vacated matches were reflected as IPFW wins, then the IPFW conference record for those years would be 10-6, 7-9, and 12-4, respectively.

References

External links

• https://web.archive.org/web/20100410080913/http://www.gomastodons.com:80/sports/m-volley/mtt/ball_arnie00.html
• http://bulletin.ipfw.edu/content.php?catoid=8&navoid=253
• http://universiade.daegu.go.kr/jpn/games/comm/FOfficialInfo.asp?ad_no=5700704[]
• https://web.archive.org/web/20100502100216/http://www.gomastodons.com:80/sports/m-volley/ipfw-m-volley-body.html
• http://www.mivavolleyball.com/information/standings/2000_standings
• http://www.glvcsports.com/index.aspx?tab=volleyball&path=vball