Harlan Cohen

Harlen Cohen was the first full-time head coach for the USA women’s national volleyball team. He coached them at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, and the 1967 Pan American Games and World Championships. He had been an assistant coach for the US men at the 1966 World Championships and served in that role again at the 1972 Olympics.

Cohen was head coach of the Pepperdine University men during the 1970s, leading them to a 1976 runner-up finish at the NCAA Tournament. He left Pepperdine in the 1980s but returned as an assistant coach in the 1990s, helping them win the 1992 NCAA title. He was later honored with USA Volleyball’s All-Time Great Volleyball Coach Award in 2000 and its George J. Fisher Leader in Volleyball Award in 1999.