BEVERLY, Mass. — John Breen has been named the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division III Men's Assistant Coach of the Year, as announced by the association earlier today.
Breen received this year's award for his impact on the Endicott men's volleyball program in the absence of head coach George Chapell '08 due to health reasons.
For a significant portion of the season, Breen stepped into the role as acting head coach of the team allowing Chapell to focus solely on his health.
Breen handled a majority of the day-to-day aspects of the program — with some guidance from Endicott women's volleyball head coach Tim Byram — all while navigating the responsibilities of his full-time job.
Breen also played a major role in fostering the playing development of several student-athletes at various positions despite being hired to work primarily with setters.
"During a time in which I had to step away from the program to focus on my health, our entire staff of assistant coaches, led by the efforts and guidance of Coach Breen, and with help from Coach Byram, stepped up to keep everything running smoothly. I am extremely grateful for the attention that John was able to dedicate to our student-athletes in such an unforeseen circumstance," said Chapell.
He continued.
"Our program's focus and effort under John's guidance never waned, which is a testament to how he was able to keep things steady. I know multiple assistant coaches around the country are worthy of this honor, but to me, none would be more deserving than John."
Breen is the first assistant coach in NEVC history to receive the AVCA D3 Men's Assistant Coach of the Year award.
Created in 2009, the AVCA honors deserving assistant coaches through its National Assistant Coach of the Year awards program. Automatic consideration is given to AVCA member assistant coaches of teams that make the NCAA Tournament
The Gulls finished their 2024 campaign with a 13-12 overall record and a 5-2 mark in New England Volleyball Conference (NEVC) play.
Endicott advanced to the NEVC Semifinals before bowing out to Eastern Nazarene, 3-1.
Aidan Iacovelli (South Windsor, Conn.), Gavin Emenaker (Newton, Mass.), Jake Laborde (Brookline, N.H.), and Dean Warner (Kinderhook, N.Y.) also earned NEVC All-Conference honors.
Iacovelli and Laborde claimed NEVC All-Conference First Team and Second Team for the first time in their careers, respectively.
Emenaker and Warner both garnered NEVC All-Conference Second Team accolades for the second time in the last four seasons.
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(Photo Credit - Karisa Juneau '27)
