Category: College

A national-award winning volleyball communications specialist from Ohio State passed away Thursday

The Ohio State athletics department announced Thursday afternoon that longtime Buckeyes’ men’s and women’s volleyball sports information director D.C. Koehl, 61, died due to complications of a fall he had in late November.

Koehl, a 1973 Ohio State graduate, was in his 39th year with the Buckeyes athletics department. He also in 2010 became the first sports information director to win the E. Douglas Boyden Media Reognition Award from USA Volleyball, which is given annually to a media member who contributes to the growth of volleyball.

“D.C. was one of the most dedicated and well-respected individuals in this athletics department,” Chris Schneider, MIVA commissioner and Ohio State associated athletics director, said in a statement released Thursday. “Not only did he provide great support to the coaches and student-athletes here at Ohio State, but he worked tirelessly for the sport of volleyball and the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association. We have all lost a dear friend today.”

Along with working at Ohio State, Koehl was the sports information director for the MIVA. Koehl during his tenure with the conference helped the MIVA expand its historical online databases and oversaw a website redesign.

Koehl was also part of the support staff for Ohio State last season as the Buckeyes became the first Midwest team to legally win a men’s volleyball NCAA championship.

“I am so thankful that D.C. had the opportunity to be with us in State College this past May to witness our finest hour as a program,” coach Pete Hanson said in a statement released Thursday. “I really feel like he probably was out there playing every moment on the court with our kids. Though he would probably never show outwardly how much he enjoyed that night, I believe that deep down it might have been one of his best Ohio State moments. Those thoughts make me very happy for D.C.

“He will be missed greatly for his professionalism and support. I have never met a finer Buckeye. He truly was a dear friend and colleague,” Hanson said.

A native of Columbus, Ohio, Koehl had a strong interest in statistics and became one of the top statistians in Ohio State history. A Ohio State basketball media guide in the 1980s even stated that Koehl “has devised a system of storing historical athletic information in a computer.”

Koehle was also a 37-year member of the College Sports Information Directors of American and was honored with a 25-year award by the organization in 1999.