OCTOBER 25, 2004
Andrew Bengs, Executive Director
Fort Wayne Sports Corporation
260-461-6153
Andy@FWSportsCorp.org


Arnie Ball to be Honored by the Fort Wayne Sports Corp.

Fort Wayne, IN- On November 18, the Fort Wayne Sports Corporation will honor local college coaching legends Arnie Ball and Kevin Donley at the Allen County Memorial Coliseum. Aside from receiving the FWSC’s top honor, the Hilliard Gates Achievement Award, Coach Ball and Coach Donley will share the stage as keynote speakers.

“The Fort Wayne Sports Corporation is proud of the lifetime achievement of our two most notable coaches and we’re excited to honor them – they’re more than deserving,” said FWSC Board President Phillip E. Houk. “They’re both program-builders who have achieved a level of national success; Coach Ball has even achieved international success.”

Success has been the constant that has followed Coach Ball and catapulted his dream of building a powerhouse men’s volleyball program in the Midwest into reality. The drive to reach the top, and eventually bring the NCAA Championship to his Division-I program, has led his clubs to capture or share five of the last 10 Midwest Intercollegiate Volleyball Association Championships. Ball’s Mastodons have made NCAA Final Four appearances in 1991, 1992, 1994, and 1999.

Ball also has a wealth of international coaching experience. When USA Volleyball needed a coach to lead the 2003 U.S. World University Games team to Daegu, South Korea, they didn’t have to look long. Ball was the choice to lead a young and somewhat inexperienced team. Team USA responded, winning the Bronze Medal.

Entering his 25th year at the helm of the men’s volleyball program, Ball has amassed a record of 398-282, which ranks him sixth on the all-time NCAA wins chart.

The cost to attend the banquet is $40 per person or $280 per table (8 people) for Members of the FWSC and $45 per person and $315 per table (8 people) for non-members. Call 461-6153 for reservations. This year ’s banquet will be in the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum EXPO I with a cocktail hour starting at 5:30; the dinner program begins at 6:30.

In addition to Ball and Donley, CYO Football, Metro Football, PAL Football and the Fort Wayne Volleyball Club will receive Community Service Awards for their long-standing excellence in providing football and volleyball programs for area youth. Also, the Fort Wayne YMCA Volleyball Team is receiving a Special Achievement Award for earning a spot in the National YMCA Hall of Fame.

Past FWSC Banquet keynote speakers include Peyton Manning and Bill Polian from the Indianapolis Colts, legendary sports broadcaster Dick Enberg, Fort Wayne native and Olympic heptathlete DeDee Nathan, Indiana University Soccer Coach Jerry Yeagley, Purdue University Head Women’s Basketball Coach Kristy Curry, Valparaiso University Men’s Basketball Coach Homer Drew, and Northrop High School alum and Cleveland Indians Manager Eric Wedge.

The mission of the Fort Wayne Sports Corporation is to promote the development of Fort Wayne area through sports, as well as to further the quality of life of its citizens through the promotion and awareness of sports.

~Dons~