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Jose Gandara
A highly-respected teacher who has played and coached at the top levels, Jose "Keno" Gandara enters his seventh season with the Washington program. He assists head coach Jim McLaughlin with all aspects of coaching, including opponent scouting and contributing to the Huskies' defensive package. Gandara has also been instrumental in the development of the team's block and a growing list of All-Americans have learned from Gandara on a daily basis. Last season, junior Bianca Rowland picked up her second consecutive AVCA All-America honorable mention and was named All-Pacific Region. Rowland has hit over .400 the past two seasons and was fifth in the Pac-10 with 1.13 blocks per set last year. Her .456 attack percentage as a sophomore ranks third in Pac-10 history. In 2008, Jessica Swarbrick concluded one of the most illustrious careers of any middle blocker in school history, a career that coincided with the addition of Gandara. Swarbrick was named a Second Team AVCA All-American for the third time and was an All-Pac-10 first teamer. Her 483 career blocks was third-most at UW and her career hitting percentage of .406 was No. 1 all-time. Rowland also showed a bright future, averaging 0.83 blocks per set and making the Pac-10 All-Freshman squad. During the 2007 season, the Huskies enjoyed their highest blocks per game average in over a decade (3.2). Washington out-blocked its opponents by 1.0 blocks per game, and three starters averaged more than one block per game. Jessica Swarbrick, a second-team All-America selection, led the team in blocks (1.42 bpg), followed by Alesha Deesing (1.28), and Becky Perry (1.02). In 2006, Gandara coached two All-American middle blockers in Deesing and Swarbrick. Deesing earned second team All-America honors after posting 121 blocks and 1.03 blocks per game with a .368 hitting percentage. Swarbrick was a third team pick after leading the squad with 1.47 bpg with a .397 hitting percentage. Overall, the Huskies averaged 2.92 blocks per game with three players averaging more than one block per game. Joining Deesing and Swarbrick in that category was outside hitter Janine Sandell who chipped in 1.06 bpg. Gandara's first season saw the Huskies average more than three blocks per set. Three Huskies averaged more than one block per game, including All-Pac-10 players Darla Myhre and Deesing, and Pac-10 Player of the Year Sanja Tomasevic. Myhre ranked third in the Pac-10 with 1.31 blocks per game, while Deesing ranked fifth with 1.29 bpg. Tomasevic fell just outside of the top 10 with 1.11 bpg. "I have known Keno for many years, having both graduated from UC Santa Barbara, as well as having coached him on the 1991 USA Pan American Team in Havana, Cuba and have the highest regard for him personally and professionally," said head coach Jim McLaughlin. "He has quite a bit of coaching experience and has competed at the highest levels having been a member of the USA National Team and playing in the Puerto Rico Professional League. This broad base of experiences brings an added perspective to the program." Before joining the Washington coaching staff, Gandara spent one season at UNLV and five seasons with the UC Santa Barbara men's program. Gandara began his coaching career at UCSB in 1992 as an assistant with the men's team and was an assistant with the women's team in 1994. He also spent one season as a head coach/player with the San Juan Volleyball club in the Puerto Rico Professional League. A San Juan, Puerto Rico native, he graduated from UC Santa Barbara in 1990 after a successful volleyball career with the Gauchos as a middle blocker. Gandara was a first team All-America selection in 1989 and second team selection in 1988 after leading UCSB to the national title match. He was also a two-time all-conference honoree. Gandara has also been inducted into the UCSB Hall of Fame. Gandara is married to Stephanie Cox who was a standout setter at UCSB and played on the AVP Tour. The couple welcomed their first child, a son named Lucas, in April 2011. |
