Valorie McKenzie: National Girls Volleyball Coach of the Year (2018-19)

The NFHS is proud to name Valorie McKenzie of Horizon High School in Scottsdale, Arizona a****s the 2018-19 Girls Volleyball Coach of the Year!

Valorie takes her role as a coach seriously - both on and off the court. She has used her precision and skill on the court to help other volleyball coaches hone their crafts. Serving on athletic boards and associations since the 1980s, Coach McKenzie knows the value of professional development and how it can create a fantastic coaching career. Her commitment to her student athletes and her sport makes the NFHS proud to name her the 2018-19 NATIONAL Girls Volleyball Coach of the Year!

School: Horizon High School

Seasons Coaching: 40 | State Championships: 3

Coaching Highlights: AIA Division I All Division Coach of the Year (2011, 12), AIA Division I - Section III - Coach of the Year (2011, 12), Paradise Valley District Volleyball Coach of the Year (2015, 16, 17), National Coach of the Year – National High School Athletic Coaches Association (2014), Western Region Coach of the Year – National High School Athletic Coaches Association (2014), Big Schools Coach of the Year – Arizona Republic (2009), National High School Athletic Coaches Association Western Region Coach of the Year (2005), Arizona Coaches Association 5A Coach of the Year (2004, 05, 07, 08), 5A Pima Region Coach of the Year (2007, 08), Arizona Republic Northeast Valley Coach of the Year (2000, 03), City of Scottsdale/Tribune Coach of the Year (1997, 98, 00), 5A Desert Valley Region Coach of the Year (1987, 90, 92, 98, 03, 04, 10, 16), and 5A Conference Northeast Valley Region Coach of the Year (2017, 18)

2 runner-up finishes, 9 semifinalist finishes, 34 postseason appearances, 15 region championships, over 60 former players received college scholarships to play volleyball

Pave The Way Award – United Dairyman Association and AZ Coaches Association (2018), Arizona High School Athletic Coaches Hall of Fame (2013), Women’s Equity Leadership Award – AIA Admin Association (2009), Most Valuable Coach – Over 1,000 Matches – Horizon HS (2011), Cambridge Who’s Who – Professional Member Award (2007-09), Who’s Who Among Teachers (2006-07)

AVCA All Star Coach (1987, 92, 97), American Volleyball Coaches Association Team Academic Award (2017, 18), American Volleyball Coaches Association – Victory Club Award for 900 wins (2018), Arizona Coaches Association – Distinguished Service Award (2000)

Philosophy of Athletics

Coach McKenzie's program sets high expectations for herself and her athletes, striving for improvement and process-oriented play, as opposed to winning being the end product necessary for success. She encourages communication at all levels—player, coach, parent, administrator, and community—and impress on all these groups the importance of this “total team” to function in a way to produce success and pursue excellence. She encourages athletes to believe in themselves and develop character, demonstrating confidence and personal qualities to get them through the challenges of life in and out of the sports realm. Practices are a safe learning environment which are challenging and fun for all players. She creates an environment that conditions, develops good techniques, sound fundamentals, mental toughness and concentrated effort. Her priorities are family, academics, then athletics.

See all of the 2018-19 National Coach of the Year recipients in our press release.