Mater Dei volleyball coach Fred Rakers proudly displays his award from the National High School Coaches Association for being named National Coach of the Year in Volleyball.

Mater Dei volleyball coach Fred Rakers has been notified that he has been selected by the National High School Coaches Association (NHSCA) as the National High School Volleyball Coach of the Year for 2011.

“The coaches we are honoring are outstanding examples for successful high school coaches in their sports,” NHSCA executive director Bob Ferraro, Jr., said. “They place a high value on the teamwork skills their players learn for success in the classroom and on the field, and we are proud to be honoring them.”

Rakers brought a sterling 35-year coaching career to an end last fall when his Lady Knights compiled a 41-1 record and took home the Illinois 3A state championship, his sixth state championship of his career at Mater Dei.

The NHSCA is a not-for-profit service organization founded in 1989 to provide support and leadership for the nation’s 500,000 high school coaches. The entire list of Coach of the Year winners can be found on the organizations website at www.nhsca.com.