Mike Hebert compiled a record of 323-127 during his 13 seasons heading the Fighting Illini volleyball program and led Illinois to four Big Ten titles and two NCAA Final Four appearances. He began his coaching career as head coach at Pittsburgh, where he compiled a 128-53 record with the women’s team and 60-21 mark as the men’s coach. Hebert then coached the women’s team at New Mexico from 1980-82 before coming to Illinois in 1983. His 1988 squad was the first volleyball team east of the Mississippi River to be rated No. 1 in the nation. Hebert was named ABCA National Coach of the Year in 1985 and was president of that organization from 1985-88. He left Illinois in 1996 and took the head coaching position at Minnesota, where he won a Big Ten title and took the Gophers to three Final Fours. He was inducted into the AVCA Hall of Fame in 2006 and is considered to be one of the “architects” of modern high-competitive professional volleyball. Hebert died in 2019 at the age of 75.