Jose “Keno” Gandara accepted the position of head volleyball coach at the University of Miami on March 20, 2013, becoming the second head coach since the program returned in 2001.
The Hurricanes returned the NCAA Championship in 2017 for the fourth time in five seasons under Gandara’s leadership. Miami won its first postseason match since 2014, defeating the College of Charleston in the opening round of the tournament in a Gainesville, Fla. The Canes fell to No. 2 Florida in four sets in an exciting second round matchup to close the season 22-6 and finish with their best winning percentage since 2012.
Senior outside hitter Olga Strantzali was named ACC Player of the Year and AVCA East Coast Region Player of the Year. Strantzali was joined by redshirt junior setter Haley Templeton on the All-ACC First Team and AVCA All-East Coast Region team. Strantzali and Templeton topped off a memorable season with AVCA All-America Honorable Mention recognition. The Canes both started and finished the campaign strong, winning the first nine matches and the seven contests prior to falling to second-seeded Florida. Miami topped the ACC in service aces with 1.71 per set and finished the season in the top three of two additional categories – hitting percentage (second with .246) and kills (tied for third with 13.64 per set).
In 2016, Gandara led a resilient Miami squad that proved to rise to the occasion when it stepped into an opponent’s gym. The 2016 Hurricanes won 11 matches away from Coral Gables, picking up big road wins at Notre Dame and Louisville. Junior outside hitter Olga Strantzali developed into one of the best players in the country, receiving AVCA All-America honorable mention and earned AVCA All-East Coast Region and First Team All-ACC honors. Strantzali and freshman setter Hannah Sorensen were named to the All-ACC Academic Team in recognition of their success on the court and in the classroom.
Gandara led the Hurricanes to three straight NCAA Tournaments in his first three seasons at the helm of the Miami volleyball program. The Canes were selected to the 2015 NCAA Tournament, where they faced Iowa State in a first round match in Madison, Wis. The Canes finished the season 21-10 and 14-6 in the ACC, while Miami’s 21 wins marked the second consecutive 20-win season under Gandara’s leadership. The Hurricanes saw seniors Alexis Mourning and Taylor Scott, as well as sophomores Olga Strantzali and Haley Templeton, named to the 2015 All-ACC Second Team with Strantzali and Templeton also earning AVCA All-East Coast Region Honorable Mention.
Miami reached the NCAA Tournament for the sixth consecutive season in 2014 and seventh time in program history. The Hurricanes, who finished the season 22-9, defeated UCF in five sets in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The victory was Gandara’s first NCAA Tournament win as a head coach. Miami’s 22 wins also gave Gandara his first 20-win season at the helm of the program.
The Canes reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament before falling to No. 8 Florida in four sets. But Gandara helped develop several players to reach unprecedented levels of success.
Senior outside hitter Savanah Leaf was named 2014 ACC Player of the Year and a second team AVCA All-American, while freshman Haley Templeton earned ACC Freshman of the Year honors. Leaf was joined by senior middle blocker Emani Sims on the All-ACC First Team, while Templeton was picked for the All-ACC Second Team and the All-ACC Freshman Team. The accolades continued for the trio as Leaf and Sims were named AVCA East Coast All-Region selections and Templeton was tabbed as the AVCA East Coast Region Freshman of the Year.
The 2013 season was filled with firsts for Gandara. He secured his first win as a NCAA head coach on Aug. 30, when Miami defeated Austin Peay, 3-1. Gandara collected his firs ...