Assistant coach Don Flora enters his second season with New
Mexico State after 11 seasons as the head coach for the University of La Verne
in La Verne, Calif. His responsibilities to the program include directing
recruiting activities, daily practice instruction with the student-athletes and
involvement in daily program growth and development.
Flora led ULV to be one of the most prominent programs in the country. He
coached them to the 2001 NCAA Division III Championship along with five West
Region titles from 2001-2008, and a NCAA Runner-up finish in 2008.
While at ULV, Flora led the team to nine consecutive Southern California
Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) titles (2000-08), while reaching
the NCAA Championship game in 2001 and 2008. Under his instruction, the team
also made five appearances in the NCAA semifinal round in 2001, 2003, 2004,
2005 and 2008. While coaching one of just three programs to finish ranked in
the top 10 from 2000-08, Flora compiled a 242-56 record.
Flora earned the honor of being named AVCA National Coach of Year in 2001 and
was named AVCA West Region Coach of the Year on four occasions, in 2001, 2003,
2006 and 2008. He coached two national players of the year. The first was Ryan
Winn in 2001, who was selected by Volleyball Magazine. The second was Amy Smith
in 2003 and she was selected by the AVCA. He also coached seven SCIAC Players
of the Year and numerous AVCA All-American athletes during his tenure as ULV's
coach.
From 2003-07 while at La Verne, he was also the Assistant Athletic Director for
development and oversaw athletic department fundraising. From 1993-08, he was
the ULV volleyball camp director, promoting and directing all facets of the
youth summer camp. He was also the head coach for the men's volleyball team
from 1993-1997.
Flora and his wife, Jeanne, have two daughters, Annika, 6, and Alexis, 4.
