One day after her team suffered a loss in the semifinals, San Diego Mojo head coach Tayyiba Haneef-Park was named Pro Volleyball Federation Franklin Sports Coach of the Year.
Haneef-Park guided her team to a 13-11 regular season record and a No. 3 seed in the PVF Championship postseason tournament. The Mojo started the season by losing five of their first six matches, but showing calmness and the ability to make adjustments, coach Haneef-Park led them to win 12 of their final 18 regular season matches.
The Mojo competed in the inaugural season for the PVF, the first professional women’s volleyball league based in the United States in many years. The league attracted many top college players, as well as professionals with years of experience, and former Olympians.
On Wednesday in Omaha, Haneef-Park’s Mojo lost in five sets to the Omaha Supernovas, missing an opportunity to play for a $1 million team prize in Saturday’s final.
Haneef-Park played for the U.S. Olympic team in three Olympic Games, in 2004, 2008, and 2012. She won two silver medals. She was also a silver medalist in the world championships in 2002, and won several other medals in international play.
The job with the Mojo is the first head coaching position for the 45-year old Haneef-Park, a native of Laguna Hills, California.
