John Dunning is an American volleyball coach who was the head women's coach at Stanford University and the University of the Pacific . In 32 seasons of collegiate coaching, he guided his teams to five NCAA championships – second most of any Division I women's volleyball coach – and compiled an overall record of 888-185. He is one of only two Division I college volleyball coaches to have won NCAA championships at two different schools.
Early years
Before taking the position at the University of the Pacific, Dunning taught math and coached both basketball and volleyball at Fremont High School in Sunnyvale, California. His volleyball teams compiled a record of 283-32 and won six CIF-Central Coast Section championships as well as a California state championship. In 1980, Dunning founded Bay Club, a USA Volleyball junior club. His 17-and-under team won the national championship at USA Volleyball Nationals in 1984.
At UOP, Dunning led the Tigers to two NCAA championships, a runner-up national finish, five Big West Conference championships and 16 consecutive NCAA tournament appearances, where his teams compiled a postseason record of 43–15. Dunning was named Big WestCoach of the Year four times while at UOP and was inducted into the University of the Pacific Hall of Fame in 2007. He coached 16 All Americans at UOP, including two-time Olympian Elaina Oden and 2008 Olympian Jennifer Joines.
In 16 seasons as Stanford's head coach, Dunning guided the Cardinal to three NCAA championships, a 58–13 record in the NCAA tournament and seven national championship match appearances. He was inducted into the AVCA Hall of Fame in 2011, chosen the AVCA National Coach of the Yearin 2001 and 2016 and shares the NCAA Division I record for coaching in the most women's volleyball championship matches with Penn State coach Russ Rose. Dunning announced his retirement on January 9, 2017. Dunning coached 52 AVCA All Americans at Stanford, including four-time Olympian Logan Tom, who was a two-time AVCA National Player of the Year at Stanford, two-time Olympian Ogonna Nnamani, winner of the Honda-Broderick Cup in 2004 as the NCAA's top female athlete, and two-time Olympian Foluke Akinradewo, the AVCA Player of the Year in 2007 and the “Best Middle Blocker” at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
Coaching education
In 2011, Dunning partnered with three-time USA Olympic volleyball coach Terry Liskevych and Penn State University women's volleyball coach Russ Rose to create The Art of Coaching Volleyball, an educational organization that teaches coaching methodology through clinics and online resources. Since its founding, AOCVB has put on 43 clinics in 31 cities and created an online library with more than 3,000 video tutorials.
Year-by-year career record
Year
School
W
L
Pct.
Conference Finish
NCAA Finish
Final Ranking
1985
Pacific
36
3
.923
15-1/1st
1st
2
1986
Pacific
39
3
.929
17-1/1st
1st
2
1987
Pacific
30
4
.882
16-2/2nd
t-5th
1
1988
Pacific
22
13
.629
14-4/2nd
t-5th
10
1989
Pacific
29
5
.853
14-4/2nd
t-9th
3
1990
Pacific
30
7
.811
14-4/3rd
2nd
5
1991
Pacific
24
6
.800
15-3/2nd
t-9th
4
1992
Pacific
27
6
.818
16-2/2nd
t-5th
4
1993
Pacific
21
10
.667
12-6/4th
t-9th
11
1994
Pacific
23
7
.767
14-4/3rd
t-9th
11
1995
Pacific
21
9
.700
14-4/3rd
t-17th
19
1996
Pacific
27
7
.788
14-2/1st
t-9th
12
1997
Pacific
23
9
.719
12-4/3rd
t-17th
16
1998
Pacific
26
6
.813
13-3/3rd
t-9th
10
1999
Pacific
32
3
.914
15-1/1st
t-3rd
3
2000
Pacific
28
4
.875
15-1/1st
t-9th
8
2001
Stanford
33
2
.943
17-1/1st
1st
1
2002
Stanford
32
5
.865
15-3/2nd
2nd
2
2003
Stanford
25
7
.781
14-4/2nd
t-9th
10
2004
Stanford
30
6
.833
15-3/2nd
1st
1
2005
Stanford
26
6
.813
14-4/2nd
t-17th
13
2006
Stanford
30
4
.882
16-2/1st
2nd
2
2007
Stanford
32
3
.914
16-2/1st
2nd
2
2008
Stanford
31
4
.886
17-1/1st
2nd
2
2009
Stanford
23
8
.742
14-4/1st
t-9th
7
2010
Stanford
27
4
.871
15-3/1st
t-5th
5
2011
Stanford
22
8
.733
15-7/4th
t-17th
14
2012
Stanford
30
4
.882
19-1/1st
t-5th
4
2013
Stanford
27
6
.818
17-3/2nd
t-5th
5
2014
Stanford
33
2
.943
19-1/1st
t-3rd
2
2015
Stanford
23
7
.767
16-4/3rd
t-17th
14
2016
Stanford
27
7
.794
15-5/2nd
1st
1
Totals
32 Seasons
888
185
.828
13 Conference Titles
5 NCAA Titles
24 Top-10 Finishes
Honors and awards
AVCA National Coach of the Year: 2001, 2016
AVCA Hall of Fame: 2011 induction
University of the Pacific Hall of Fame: 2007 induction
Pac-12 Coach of the Year: 2001, 2007, 2008, 2012
USA Volleyball All-Time Great Coach Award: 2005
Big West Coach of the Year: 1986, 1996, 1999, 2000
Volleyball Monthly National Coach of the Year: 1985
California Coaches Association Prep Coach of the Year: 1980
