Eugene Selznick
Encyclopedia
Eugene Selznick (born March 19, 1930) is an American Hall of Fame former volleyball
player, and volleyball coach.
in Los Angeles. He was a physical education major in college, and first began to play volleyball in 1949.
Volleyball teams that Selznick played on won seven U.S. Open Volleyball Championships: in 1951–53, 1956 (w/Hollywood YMCA), 1960, 1965 (w/Los Angeles’ Westside Jewish Community Center
), and 1966 (w/Santa Monica Sand & Sea Club), and seven runner-up titles. He was the USA Volleyball
(USVBA) MVP in 1959, 1960, and 1962.
He was captain of the United States men's national volleyball team
for 17 consecutive years (1953–67). His teams won the 1960 and 1966 Volleyball World Championship
s.
Selznick's teams also won Pan-American Games gold medal
s in 1955
and 1959
. He was a member of the U.S. volleyball team at the Maccabiah Games
in 1957
, 1961
, and 1973
.
He was an early supporter of California beach volleyball
, and was designated the “First King of Beach Volleyball”. Selznick played with Ev Keller to win the 1950 State (CA) Beach Men’s Open. He later played with partner Don McMahon
. He won every Laguna Beach Open from 1955 to 1961.
Selznick introduced Wilt Chamberlain
to volleyball, and took him on a national tour in the 1970s.
and the 1964 Olympic Games
. He also coached women’s teams that won six USVBA titles (1959–61, and 1963–65). His Nick’s Fish Market (L.A.) Women’s Team won national championships in 1978 and 1979.
At the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Selznick coached Sinjin Smith
and Carl Henkel. In 2000, he coached Misty May and Holly McPeak
, who qualified for the Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia.
In 1966, he was the first American ever to be named to the FIVB All-World Volleyball Team.
The FIBA named Selznick one of the two top American players of the 20th century, with Karch Kiraly
. The U.S. Volleyball Hall of Fame honored him as the Most Valuable Player of the 75th Anniversary Men’s 1953–77 All-Era Team, and the “All-Time Great Male Player”. In 1995, Volleyball magazine called him the "Karch Kiraly of his era."
Selznick was elected to the Volleyball Hall of Fame
in 1988. He was inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame
in 2002.
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
player, and volleyball coach.
Early life
Selznick, who is Jewish, was born in Los Angeles, California. He also lived in Canoga Park, California. Selznick attended Manual Arts High SchoolManual Arts High School
Manual Arts High School is a secondary school in Los Angeles, California. When founded, Manual Arts was a vocational high school, but later converted to a traditional curriculum.-History:...
in Los Angeles. He was a physical education major in college, and first began to play volleyball in 1949.
Volleyball career
Volleyball teams that Selznick played on won seven U.S. Open Volleyball Championships: in 1951–53, 1956 (w/Hollywood YMCA), 1960, 1965 (w/Los Angeles’ Westside Jewish Community Center
Jewish Community Center
A Jewish Community Center or Jewish Community Centre is a general recreational, social and fraternal organization serving the Jewish community in a number of cities...
), and 1966 (w/Santa Monica Sand & Sea Club), and seven runner-up titles. He was the USA Volleyball
USA Volleyball
USA Volleyball is a non-profit organization which serves as the national governing body of volleyball in the United States of America ....
(USVBA) MVP in 1959, 1960, and 1962.
He was captain of the United States men's national volleyball team
United States men's national volleyball team
The United States men's national volleyball team is the national team for the United States of America, it is governed by USA Volleyball....
for 17 consecutive years (1953–67). His teams won the 1960 and 1966 Volleyball World Championship
Volleyball World Championship
The FIVB World Championship is an international men's and women's indoor volleyball competition. It is the oldest and most important of all the international events organized by the FIVB and must not be confused with the FIVB World Cup or the FIVB World League/FIVB World Grand Prix.-Origins:The...
s.
Selznick's teams also won Pan-American Games gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
s in 1955
Volleyball at the 1955 Pan American Games
This page presents the results of the Men's and Women's Volleyball Tournament during the 1955 Pan American Games, which was held from March 15 to March 24, 1955 in Mexico City, Mexico.-Final Ranking:-Final Ranking:-References:* *...
and 1959
Volleyball at the 1959 Pan American Games
This page presents the results of the Men's and Women's Volleyball Tournament during the 1959 Pan American Games, which was held from August 28 to September 6, 1959 in Chicago, United States.-Final Ranking:-Final Ranking:-References:* *...
. He was a member of the U.S. volleyball team at the Maccabiah Games
Maccabiah Games
The Maccabiah is an international Jewish athletic event similar to the Olympics held in Israel every four years under the auspices of the Maccabi Federation, affiliated with the Maccabi World Union. The Maccabiah Games is the third largest international sports competition in the world...
in 1957
1957 Maccabiah Games
Twenty countries sent 980 athletes to compete in the 1957 5th Maccabiah, an international Jewish athletics competition similar to the Olympics.The presence of a large number of world-class Jewish athletes elevated the quality of competition...
, 1961
1961 Maccabiah Games
The 1961 6th Maccabiah Games attracted 1,000 athletes from 27 countries.First-time countries included Guatemala and Congo-Kinshasa.The new Kfar Ha’Maccabiah Village served as home to the competing athletes....
, and 1973
1973 Maccabiah Games
The 1973 Maccabiah Games were held in the shadow of the Munich massacre. 60,000 spectators packed Ramat Gan Stadium as Golda Meir and Abba Eban paid homage to the slain athletes.Esther Roth of Israel won the 100-meter race in 11.75, as well as the 200-meter....
.
He was an early supporter of California beach volleyball
Beach volleyball
Beach volleyball, or sand volleyball, is an Olympic team sport played by two teams of two players on a sand court divided by a net.Like volleyball, the object of the game is to send the ball over the net in order to ground it on the opponent’s court, and to prevent the same effort by the opponent....
, and was designated the “First King of Beach Volleyball”. Selznick played with Ev Keller to win the 1950 State (CA) Beach Men’s Open. He later played with partner Don McMahon
Don McMahon
Donald John McMahon was a right-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball. Born in Brooklyn, New York, he was signed by the Boston Braves before the 1950 season...
. He won every Laguna Beach Open from 1955 to 1961.
Selznick introduced Wilt Chamberlain
Wilt Chamberlain
Wilton Norman "Wilt" Chamberlain was an American professional NBA basketball player for the Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors, the Philadelphia 76ers and the Los Angeles Lakers; he also played for the Harlem Globetrotters prior to playing in the NBA...
to volleyball, and took him on a national tour in the 1970s.
Coaching career
Selznick coached the US women's volleyball team, which won the gold medal at the 1963 Pan American Games1963 Pan American Games
The 4th Pan American Games were held from April 20 to May 5, 1963 in São Paulo, Brazil.- Medal count :To sort this table by nation, total medal count, or any other column, click on the icon next to the column title.Note...
and the 1964 Olympic Games
1964 Summer Olympics
The 1964 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Tokyo, Japan in 1964. Tokyo had been awarded with the organization of the 1940 Summer Olympics, but this honor was subsequently passed to Helsinki because of Japan's...
. He also coached women’s teams that won six USVBA titles (1959–61, and 1963–65). His Nick’s Fish Market (L.A.) Women’s Team won national championships in 1978 and 1979.
At the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Selznick coached Sinjin Smith
Sinjin Smith
Christopher St. John Smith is a professional Beach Volleyball player. He won one U.S. championship and two World championships with Randy Stoklos....
and Carl Henkel. In 2000, he coached Misty May and Holly McPeak
Holly McPeak
Holly McPeak is an American beach volleyball player.McPeak has 72 career beach volleyball titles and $1.4 million USD in career earnings, which are third and second respectively of any woman in the history of professional beach volleyball...
, who qualified for the Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia.
Honors
Selznick was named to the All America first team 10 times, beginning in 1951. He won the 1956 international competition All-Star team MVP honor of "Mr. All-World".In 1966, he was the first American ever to be named to the FIVB All-World Volleyball Team.
The FIBA named Selznick one of the two top American players of the 20th century, with Karch Kiraly
Karch Kiraly
Charles Frederick "Karch" Kiraly , is an American volleyball player who is the only person to have won Olympic gold medals in both the indoor and beach versions of the sport.-High school career:...
. The U.S. Volleyball Hall of Fame honored him as the Most Valuable Player of the 75th Anniversary Men’s 1953–77 All-Era Team, and the “All-Time Great Male Player”. In 1995, Volleyball magazine called him the "Karch Kiraly of his era."
Selznick was elected to the Volleyball Hall of Fame
Volleyball Hall of Fame
The Volleyball Hall of Fame was founded to honor extraordinary players, coaches, officials, and leaders who have made significant contributions to the game of volleyball. The hall is located in Holyoke, Massachusetts, where volleyball was invented in 1895 by William G...
in 1988. He was inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame
International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame
The International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame was opened July 7, 1981, in Netanya, Israel. It honors Jewish athletes and their accomplishments from anywhere around the world....
in 2002.