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.
Most recently, he led Miami to one of the program’s most impressive seasons in 2025 despite returning only five players from the previous year’s roster. With five transfers and five freshmen, the Hurricanes opened the season 15-1, matching the program’s best start since 2002, highlighted by a win over No. 4 Pitt. Miami earned its 14th NCAA Tournament appearance overall and fifth straight under Gandara while climbing to No. 13 in the AVCA Poll, the program’s highest ranking since 2021.
The Hurricanes finished 15-2 at home, earned ranked wins over Pitt and UNC, and closed the season just outside of hosting position for what would have been the first NCAA host opportunity in program history. Miami also produced two All-ACC First Team selections in Flormarie Heredia Colon and Ariana Rodriguez.
Heredia Colon became the program’s first AVCA National Player of the Year Semifinalist, broke Miami’s career and single-season kills records, and set the ACC record with seven ACC Offensive Player of the Week honors in a season. Rodriguez led the NCAA in total aces during the regular season with 76, ranked fourth nationally in aces per set and totaled 1,181 assists while earning three consecutive ACC Setter of the Week honors.