Donald Suxho

Donald Suxho
Suxho in 2013
Personal information
NationalityAlbanian, American
Born (1976-02-21) February 21, 1976 (age 48)
Korcë, Albania
HometownHuntington Beach, California, U.S.
Height6 ft 4 in (1.94 m)
Weight216 lb (98 kg)
Spike136 in (345 cm)
Block128 in (325 cm)
College / UniversityUniversity of Southern California
Coaching information
Current teamKosovo U17 (women's)
Previous teams coached
YearsTeams
2023–Kosovo U17 (women's)
Volleyball information
PositionSetter
Career
YearsTeams
1991–1996Skënderbeu Korçë
1997–2000USC Trojans
2001–2002AZS Olsztyn
2003–2005Erdemir SK
2005–2006Olympiacos
2006–2007Gabeca Montichiari
2007–2008Patras
2008–2009Arkas Spor
2009–2010Prisma
2010–2011Dinamo-Yantar Kaliningrad
2011–2012Treviso
2012–2013Bolívar
2013–2014Trentino
2014Studenti
National team
1991–1996 Albania
2002–2013 United States

Donald Suxho (born February 21, 1976) is an Albanian-American professional volleyball player and a player for the U.S. Olympic Team. As a setter, he participated in the 2004 Olympic games in Athens, Greece as well as the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Suxho and his family came to America in 1996 and lived in Natick, Massachusetts while searching for a college. He eventually chose to play for the University of Southern California and became one of the most well-known volleyball players to come out of USC.[1]

Playing career

Suxho's father Peter is the former coach of the Albanian Junior National team as well as the Natick High School boys and girls volleyball coach and it was under his tutelage in the U.S. and Albania that Suxho learned the game. Suxho played for the Albanian junior national team from 1991 to 1996 and made the national team while still a teenager in 1995–96.[2]

While at USC, Suxho was a four-year starter for a nationally ranked team. He set a number of Trojan records, including 164 career aces. He became one of the top players in school history and was a two-time All-American and AVCA National Player of the Year as a senior in 2000. Following graduation, he played professional beach volleyball in Poland and has been a member of the U.S. Olympic Team since 2001. He competed in the Athens Olympics but missed Beijing due to injury.[2] In 2012, he was one of 40 USC athletes to make an Olympic team.[3]

In addition to his playing career, Suxho served as the USC assistant men's volleyball coach during the 2001–02 season.

In the summer of 2014, Suxho played with "Studenti" in Tirana Albania for a European Tournament.

IMG Academy

In 2022 IMG Academy hired Suxho as Director of Volleyball to launch the acclaimed private athletic school's entry into the sport of girl's indoor volleyball, beginning in fall of 2023.[4][5][6]

Donald Suxho resigned from his role as IMG volleyball director due to “personal reasons” in November 2023.

Awards

  • Suxho received a Sportsmanship award from Albanian Roots at the Albanian Roots Parade in the summer of 2013.
  • Suxho was named Albania's Worldwide Volleyball Ambassador in 2023.[7]

References

  1. ^ "Donald Suxho Profile". May 25, 2012. Archived from the original on October 17, 2011. Retrieved May 25, 2012.
  2. ^ a b Rendell, Rick (July 22, 2012). "Suxho is back for gold in London". The MetroWest Daily News. Retrieved July 29, 2012.
  3. ^ "Trojans in the Olympics: 33 from USC To Compete in London 2012". USCTrojans.com. July 23, 2012. Retrieved July 31, 2012.
  4. ^ Curti, Chuck (November 1, 2022). "Adding volleyball "a no-brainer" for Suxho, IMG Academy". Volleyballmag.com. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  5. ^ "IMG Academy adds girls volleyball to the roster". ABC Action News Tampa Bay (WFTS). March 24, 2023. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  6. ^ Barie, Sean (March 24, 2023). "IMG Academy taps former Olympian to head school's volleyball program". FOX 13 News. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  7. ^ "Congratulations to our director @DSUXHO7 for being named Albanian's WorldWide Volleyball Ambassador!". Twitter. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
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