John Kessel Selected as 2019 Frier Recipient
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado December 12, 2018 – John
Kessel has placed footprints all over volleyball’s three
disciplines – indoor, beach and sitting – and his imprint has
been felt around the globe.
For his five decades of volleyball development, Kessel has been
selected to receive the 2019 Harold T. Friermood “Frier” Award,
USA Volleyball’s top honor bestowed on an individual for
lifetime achievements. He will be inducted into the USA
Volleyball Hall of Fame on May 22, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio, along
with 24 other individuals in categories honoring players,
coaches, officials and other leaders within the sport.
“As someone who speaks a lot because of my passion to grow
volleyball together around the world, getting this award and
joining so many USAV leaders who have been my role models,
simply leaves me speechless,” Kessel said. Over his career, he
has strived to help all coaches become more efficient,
effective, positive and creative, no matter what level – from
the elementary school level to national team programs – while
having fun and always learning in the process.
Kessel, who currently serves as USA Volleyball’s director of
sport development, has conducted thousands of seminars and
clinics in all 50 states and in over 60 nations. He has been an
FIVB Level IV instructor since 1986 and helped advance the sport
worldwide through his teachings. Passionate about athletes with
disabilities, Kessel has also served as the director of
development and board member for World ParaVolley since 2012.
An announcement on other inductees into the USA Volleyball Hall
of Fame will come in January.
Kessel will receive the Frier Award at the Dorothy C. Boyce
Banquet in Columbus on May 22. |