Independent file photo Marshall volleyball coach Dan Westby speaks to the crowd during a ceremony on Nov. 15 celebrating the team’s state championship. Westby was recently named an AVCA Region Coach of the Year and will be recognized at the AVCA Convention on Dec. 17 in Columbus, Ohio.

MARSHALL — Marshall volleyball head coach Dan Westby was recently selected as one of the American Volleyball Coaches Association’s Region Coaches of the Year. Westby is one of 38 total coaches in the country to receive the award and said he views the recognition as a team award.

“It’s like a lot of the other things that we talk about, I guess I would view it as a program honor, not an individual honor,” Westby said. “Those things don’t happen unless your team does well and this year our kids had a great season and as a result it’s kind of an ending point in the program so the coach gets recognized but that’s how those things happen.”

This year’s recipients will be recognized at the AVCA Convention as part of the High School/Club Awards Celebration on Dec. 17 at 5:15 p.m. in Columbus, Ohio.

“Dan has a legendary record of coaching success,” Marshall Activities Director Rick Purrington said in a press release. “His teams have made history by practicing hard, playing hard and winning with class. Our entire community is proud of Coach Westby and this deserving, national recognition.”

Westby led the Marshall volleyball team to an overall record of 33-2 this season, with MHS winning the Class AAA championship in a 3-0 victory against Kasson-Mantorville on Nov. 13. The championship is Westby’s seventh as a head coach at Marshall during his 18 years at MHS and ties a state record for most championships overall.

“I’ve always been really proud of the program here and the success it’s had over the years and just to be part of that,” Westby said. “To have our program be recognized is probably what’s most gratifying.”