Connect with us

Volleyball

DONAN CRUZ HEADED TO BALL STATE

Coach makes the move from NAIA to NCAA Division I

By Patrick Lujan

Inalahan’s Donan Cruz has nothing left to prove at the NAIA volleyball level.

After an undefeated 27-0 season which culminated in another national championship in April, collegiate coach Cruz is taking the leap up to Division I to head the Ball State University men’s volleyball program. It is the highest level of any coach born and raised on Guam.

“Leaving Grand View was a very tough decision for my family and I,” Cruz told GSPN. “The university and the volleyball community in the state of Iowa has really embraced me as a person and men’s volleyball as an emerging sport here.”

After an undefeated and NAIA national championship season, volleyball coach Donan Cruz is taking his coaching skill sets to Division I Ball State University in Indiana.

Ten successful years with the Grand View Vikings saw Cruz and the Iowa team win their first two national titles ever (2018 and 2021), eight conference titles and four national coach of the year awards. Having success year after year only shined the light brighter on Cruz and his coaching career.

Two states and 521 miles due east is where the Ball State Cardinals came calling.

With retiring head coach Joel Walton exiting after 23 years of leading the Cardinals, the time couldn’t have been more perfect for the 37-year-old Cruz to make the leap.

“The opportunity to be a part of a very storied history at Ball State was also something I though was very unique. I will be only the fourth coach in Cardinal history. My goal of going to Ball State is to make my mark on a program that I think can be a national contender.”

Ball State plays in the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association in Muncie, Indiana just north-east of Indianapolis. The top conference contenders are the likes of Ohio State, Loyola Chicago and reigning champion Lewis.

“For me to compete at the highest level is what made this such an attractive place to coach. The facilities are excellent and the staff within the athletic department that I had a chance to already meet has been nothing but great!”

It’s a storied program as Cruz mentioned with 14 conference championships, but none since 2002. Cruz plans to change that. Completing an impressive 211-55 cumulative record with Grand View, his credentials are proof of excellence and Ball State has all the confidence in Guam’s son to take the Cardinals to the next level.

NOTE: Cruz has recruited Guam top high school players Devin Maluwelmeng, Eric Ada and Aiden McDonald to play for Grand View over the years.

Ad

GPS Sports Calendar

February

March 2024

April
SU
MO
TU
WE
TH
FR
SA
25
26
27
28
29
1
2
Events for February

1st

Events for March

2nd

3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Events for March

2nd

No Events
Events for March

4th

Events for March

5th

Events for March

6th

Events for March

7th

Events for March

8th

Events for March

9th

10
11
12
13
14
15
16
Events for March

9th

No Events
Events for March

11th

Events for March

12th

Events for March

13th

Events for March

14th

Events for March

14th

No Events
Events for March

16th

17
18
19
20
21
22
23
Events for March

16th

No Events
Events for March

17th

No Events
Events for March

18th

No Events
Events for March

19th

No Events
Events for March

20th

No Events
Events for March

22nd

Events for March

22nd

No Events
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Events for March

24th

Events for March

24th

No Events
Events for March

25th

No Events
Events for March

27th

Events for March

27th

No Events
Events for March

28th

No Events
Events for March

29th

No Events
31
1
2
3
4
5
6
Events for March

30th

No Events

COMING SOON …

4th Quarter Sports

  • Guam Marathon

QUICK HITS

The Oceanview Knights are your 2024 ISA Middle School Girls Soccer League champions! The Knights beat out the Astumbo Dragons 3-2 in penalty kicks after a scoreless draw after regulation and OT of the championship game.
————————————–
Roque Martinez regains his Deep MMA megaton belt with a unanimous decision win over Ryo Sakai in Tokyo Saturday night.
It was a unification bout in which Sakai won the title after Martinez vacated it in 2019, prior to joining the UFC. Martinez just turned 38 on March 4.

More in Volleyball