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The 2008 season marks Sam Atoa's 10th year as the head coach at Utah Valley. During his tenure, the Wolverines have posted a 215-93 record overall including a 77-62 mark in five NCAA Division I season. Atoa led his team to its most successful NCAA season in 2007 as the Wolverines set a school record with 21 wins while winning its second Division I Independent Championship. For the success, Atoa was named the Independent Coach of the Year for the second time as UVU swept all four major year-end independent awards. Utah Valley breezed through the 2007 Independent Championship under Atoa, sweeping each of its three opponents en route to its second title in three seasons. 2007 marked the third consecutive season that an Atoa-coached player was named the Independent Setter of the Year. Kristi Lindley received that honor after current assistant Lacee Koelliker won the award in both 2005 and 2006. Atoa's spikers finished 17-11 in 2006, following up a school record 18-11 season and a Division I Independent Championship in 2005. During that Independent Championship season, UVU won 10 of its last 11 matches and Atoa was named the Division I Independent Coach of the Year. In its second season as a Division I program in 2004 the Wolverines finished with an 11-16 record that included wins over Memphis, Central Florida, Montana, Portland State, and Boise State. As well as two wins each over fellow D-I Independent teams: Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Texas Pan American. In the first year of D-I competition in 2003, Atoa led the Wolverine volleyball program to a 10-14 record, including wins over D-I opponents, Boise State and Pac-10 power Washington State. Atoa took over the reins of the UV volleyball program in 1999 after six years as an assistant to former head coach Lori Richards. In his first season at the helm of the UV volleyball program Atoa led the Wolverines to a 32-12 record. UV just missed a trip to the national tournament with a tight, five-set loss in the district championship. Then, in just his second season at the helm, Atoa led UV to the national tournament and a third place finish in the nation. The third place finish equalled UV's best showing ever at nationals. Atoa was named Tachikara/AVCA Junior College National Coach of the Year and Region 18 Coach of the Year. In 2002, Atoa led the Wolverines to a sixth place finish at nationals. Atoa played for Brigham Young University from 1984 to 1988, and was named a Collegiate Club All-American. Nicknamed "Sam the Wham", Atoa led the Cougars to three consecutive National Collegiate Club Championships. He was an assistant coach for the BYU men's program from 1989 to 1991. He has also directed his own summer volleyball camp program, "Atoa Volleyball Camps," for several years. His camps are designed for high school and junior high players, and have been conducted in Utah, Arizona, Nevada, and Idaho. Atoa has also taught physical education classes at UVSC, and directed the intramural sports program from 1993-2001. He was also the tournament director for the NJCAA national championships in 1997 and 1998. Atoa was born and raised in Apia, Samoa, and has a rich cultural and athletic background. He is highly honored and respected in his country, having received the Papalii or "Son of the King" title from the Head of State of Samoa, His Highness Malietoa Tanumafili II. Atoa went to high school at the Church College of Western Samoa, but developed his volleyball skills in church and government leagues, because the school did not have a varsity volleyball program. Atoa played rugby, soccer, tennis, and basketball in these leagues too. But the bulk of his time was devoted to volleyball and basketball, which were very popular in the Islands. With his advanced talent and size, he found himself playing on adult teams in these leagues, while he was yet in his early teens. "I learned a lot by playing with older, more experienced players," said Atoa. "I also learned the proper fundamentals as a youngster, thanks to the influence of a number of American teachers and instructors. Most of the teachers at our school were from the States." After graduating from high school, Atoa went to BYU Hawaii and played volleyball for two years at the NAIA level. He was named his team's Most Improved Player. He earned his way through school by entertaining and dancing at the Polynesian Cultural Center. In 1982, he left for a two-year LDS Church mission to San Jose, California. After that, he landed at BYU and earned a spot on the club team that went on to attain national prominence. Atoa and his wife, Lori, reside in Orem and are the parents of six children: Sam, Bradley, Devri, Andrew, Darci and Saini. |
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