This is one in a series previewing the inductees going into the International Volleyball Hall of Fame in Holyoke, Massachusetts, on Saturday.
This year there are nine inductees, two indoor players in Italian Andrea Zorzi and Cuba’s Regla Bell; two beach players in American Tim Hovland and Brazilian Ana Paula Henkel; Brazilian coach Jose “Ze” Roberto and ParaVolley coach Hadi Rezaei of Iran; two officials in Argentinian Juan Angel Pereyra and American Sue Lemaire; and Italian Giuseppe Panini, who is going in as a leader.
There are also three special honoree categories recognized this year: John Kessel is receiving the Mintonette Medallion of Merit Award; Bill Kauffman and Ed Chan are being honored posthumously with the inaugural Award for Media Excellence; and Michael Kane, Mike Knapik, Aaron Vega and Don Humason are receiving the Mayoral Award of Excellence.
In a country where volleyball holds a deep and storied tradition, being recognized as a legend is a remarkable achievement. Yet, there are a few who rise even above legendary status, and José “Zé Roberto” Guimarães is one of those exceptional individuals. His unparalleled contributions to Brazilian volleyball have cemented his legacy as one of the sport’s greatest coaches, both nationally and globally.
Zé Roberto holds the unique distinction of being the only coach in volleyball history to win Olympic gold medals with both men’s and women’s teams. This incredible feat alone sets him apart, but his impact on the sport extends far beyond these victories.
“He gets his teams to play incredibly hard,” USA women’s Olympic coach, also one of Roberto’s best friends. “One of the hallmarks of his teams is they rarely make the unwise or dumb mistake. He coaches them to be very patient .If they don’t have the swing, they will tip to the right area. Tactically and technically they are always a sound team. Their fundamentals are very sound.”
Zé Roberto’s journey in the Olympics began not on the sidelines, but on the court. He first competed as a player in the 1976 Montreal Olympics, where he represented Brazil. His transition from player to coach marked the beginning of a legendary coaching career. Over eight Olympic appearances, Zé Roberto has guided his teams to five Olympic medals, demonstrating his enduring excellence and adaptability over nearly five decades. His first Olympic coaching triumph came with the Brazilian men’s team, which captured gold in Barcelona in 1992. He later led the Brazilian women’s team to back-to-back golds in Beijing (2008) and London (2012), a silver in Tokyo (2020), and most recently, a bronze in Paris (2024).
Kiraly noted how badly Brazil did in the 1996 Olympic semifinals, “Then Ze guided the women to two straight gold medals in ’08 and ’12 in Beijing and London … (when Brazil won the Olympic) suarterfinal 21-19 in 5th in London against Russia. he did a memorable dive bomb on all four parts of the court when the match was over.”
Kiraly added: “He got Brazil to be THE standard in women’s volleyball from ’08-’13.”
While his Olympic successes are extraordinary, they are just one part of Zé Roberto’s extensive résumé. His men’s teams have consistently performed at the highest levels, earning numerous top finishes at major FIVB events, including a gold medal at the 1993 World League. With the women’s team, his dominance has been even more pronounced. Under his leadership, the Brazilian women’s team has medaled more than 23 times in major international competitions, including securing two World Grand Champions Cup titles and nine gold medals at the World Grand Prix.
His ability to consistently develop world-class teams and his innovative approach to coaching have left an indelible mark on the sport.
“He has ‘mellowed out’ a little over the years with his coaching style,” Kiraly said. “I have seen quotes from (ex-Georgia Tech star) Julia Bergmann saying that Ze is ‘a volleyball professor, volleyball genius, volleyball savant.’ He brought the Turkish Airlines team up from low expectations and they finished in the top four in the Turkish League which is one of the top leagues on the planet.
“I am impressed as he has evolved. He is able to get more from players with a little bit of patience.”
For his outstanding contributions to the development and success of Brazilian volleyball, and for his unparalleled achievements as a coach, the International Volleyball Hall of Fame is proud to induct José “Zé Roberto” Guimarães as a Coach.
Kiraly: “Super pumped for him, incredibly well-deserving. All the great coaching he did with the men and I am much more familiar with his great coaching for the women.”
For more about Saturday’s induction celebration and/or to buy tickets: https://www.volleyhall.org/induction-celebration.html
If you can’t make it, watch live: https://www.youtube.com/@ivhfofficial
