Gandara Ties for Second-Most Wins in UM History

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Jose “Keno” Gandara reached 116 wins at the helm of the University of Miami volleyball program with a five-set victory over UCF, tying him for the second-most wins in Miami history. 

In his seventh season with the Canes, Gandara is now tied with Cheryl Holt, who coached the Canes from 1978-1981, for the second-most wins in program history. Gandara reached the milestone with Miami’s 3-2 win over UCF on Sept. 21. Miami improved to 5-0 all-time against the Knights and Gandara remains undefeated against UCF. 

“It’s an honor to be a coach at the University of Miami and to have had the opportunity to coach these athletes in enough matches to win this many matches,” Gandara said. “I don’t take wins for granted and I know we have worked hard, but the credit goes to the players. They have trusted us and have committed to our culture and that is the key to our success.” 

While at Miami, Gandara has taken the Canes to four NCAA Tournament appearances, coached AVCA All-America honorees Savanah Leaf, Emani Sims, Olga Strantzali and Haley Templeton and produced two ACC Players of Year in Leaf and Strantzali, as well as the 2014 ACC Freshman of the Year with Templeton. Gandara has produced 16 All-ACC honorees over his first six seasons at the helm of the program, including current outside hitter Elizaveta Lukianova.

He also has emphasized an importance in academics, as Leaf and Strantzali were both named ACC Volleyball Scholar-Athlete of the Year and Miami has had 14 All-ACC Academic selections in his tenure in Coral Gables.

“Keno was one of my favorite and smartest coaches I’ve ever played for,” Templeton said. “I think he truly deserves this accomplishment and I’m so proud of him.” 

With his next victory, Gandara will take sole possession of second place in the program’s all-time wins list behind Nicole Lantagne-Welch, whom preceded Gandara as head coach at Miami for 12 seasons from 2001-2012.