Concordia Athletic Director Ivan Marquez to be Inducted into EIVA Hall of Fame

Bronxville, NY – Concordia College Athletic Director Ivan Marquez has been chosen to be inducted into the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA) Hall of Fame. Marquez joins five others named to the inaugural class which will be recognized at the EIVA Championship match on April 28 at Penn State University.

Founded in 1971 as the Eastern Collegiate Volleyball League (ECVL), the league has a rich history in men’s volleyball on the East Coast. The name was changed to the EIVA in 1985 and in 2003 Ivan was named the first Executive Director after being involved with the administration since 1996.

"Although I believe the committee should have their heads examined, I am deeply humbled to be thought of on the same amazing level as these great volleyball men,” stated Marquez. “As the EIVA continues to prove to be at the forefront of NCAA Conferences, it has been my privilege to be part of this great league. As Commissioner, I would like to proudly salute each and every student-athlete who has worn an EIVA jersey at all of our schools for the past 40 years.”

Ivan, a graduated of SUNY-Brockport, was the head coach of the Clippers’ men’s volleyball team from 1995 until the team’s final season in 2003. Over his coaching career at Concordia, Marquez compiled a 108-142 record and back-to-back trips to the EIVA Championship match in 2000 and 2001. His teams played some of the top programs on the West Coast which included UCLA and close friend Al Scates, head coach of the Bruins.

“First of all, [Ivan] can be inducted as either a coach or an administrator,” explained Scates. “He was an outstanding coach at Concordia. He would bring his teams to the West Coast and challenge all of the teams out here. And we visited him at Concordia and he had the gym packed and we were looking for innovative scoring systems and so we played the first game to 100 by quarters, which was pretty exciting.”

Scates continued, “His word is his bond. I’m not sure we ever had any contracts when we brought our team out there, we just shook hands on it. He’s a man that when he says something, you believe him and you trust him. With Ivan I was very comfortable with him the first time I met him. He’s someone you can trust, bottom line.”

Marquez, a native of Condado, Puerto Rico, previously held a graduate assistant position with the University of Southern California’s women’s volleyball program before arriving at Concordia on January 17, 1995 to be the head coach of the men’s volleyball team. During the ’95-’96 academic year he served as head coach of the men’s and women’s volleyball programs as well as the Assistant Athletic Director. The following year he would be promoted to Athletic Director while maintaining his coaching positions.

“The past 17 years have been a blessing” stated Kathy Laoutaris, Associate Director of Athletics/Senior Women’s Administrator and head softball coach at Concordia. “Ivan has been a great mentor, I have learned so much from him. I am so happy that he is finally being recognized for all his hard work.”

Laoutaris added, “The EIVA and Concordia are truly fortunate to have Ivan on our side. He works tirelessly daily and puts the needs of our student athletes first. Ivan is a great role model, boss, mentor and friend. Congrats on a well-deserved honor.”

“Ivan is truly one of the great commissioners in all of collegiate sports.” says Concordia Assistant Athletics Director Craig Boston. A former head coach at EIVA member Sacred Heart University and Columbia Union College, Boston adds “The improvements and growth that the EIVA has seen over the past 9 years with Ivan as commissioner is tremendous and a tribute to his professionalism and dedication in making the EIVA the premiere men's volleyball conference in the NCAA.”

While reflecting on his career in volleyball Marquez stated, “There is a special place in my heart for Uvaldo as he, along with Pav, Larsen, Shayka, Restrepo, Bonilla, DeNure, Nelson, Treibitch, DeCurtis, Ball, Hansen, McGown, and Scates, welcomed and inspired me to be the best. The genuine fellowship among men's volleyball coaches, officials, and administrators is second to none and a true joy to devote a lifetime with; I am extremely fortunate and sincerely grateful."

(Source courtesy of: Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association)