Eugene Selznick

Background

Selznick, who was Jewish, was born in Los Angeles, California.

Education

Selznick attended Manual Arts High School in Los Los Angeles

Career

He also lived in Canoga Park, California. He was a physical education major in college, and first began to play volleyball in 1949. He was the United States of America Volleyball (USVBA) Most Valuable Player in 1959, 1960, and 1962.

He was captain of the United States men"s national volleyball team for 17 consecutive years (1953-1967).

He was an early supporter of California beach volleyball, and was designated the “First King of Beach Volleyball”. He later played with partner Don McMahon.

Selznick introduced Wilt Chamberlain to volleyball, and took him on a national tour in the 1970s. 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.

Achievements

• Selznick was named to the All America first team 10 times, beginning in 1951. He won the 1956 international competition All-Star team Most Valuable Player honor of "Mr. All-World". In 1966, he was the first American ever to be named to the FIVB All-World Volleyball Team. The FIVB named Selznick one of the two top American players of the 20th century, with Karch Kiraly. The United States. Volleyball Hall of Fame honored him as the Most Valuable Player of the 75th Anniversary Men's 1953-1977 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.

Membership

He was a member of the United States. volleyball team at the Maccabiah Games in 1957, 1961, and 1973.