For twenty-two years Mike Carroll was the girl’s volleyball coach at North Rockland High School. He set a standard by which other coaches and athletic programs in Rockland County will be measured. During those twentytwo years Mike’s record was 371 wins and only 40 losses. Along the way Mike and the North Rockland Girls collected 15 league and county titles, 14 sectional titles, made it to the New York State final four 8 times, was a state finalist 6 times, and ultimately won the New York State Girls Volleyball Championship twice, once in 1996 and again in 2000. From 1992 through 2000 the North Rockland girl’s volleyball team won every league and sectional match that they played. During that time their only losses came in the regional or state tournaments.

Although Mike’s record is outstanding, the degree of one’s success is not always measured in wins and losses, but in the influence one has had on other people who have come in contact with him. Mike was responsible for the development of many future coaches. Most notable are, Tony Bonilla at SUNY New Paltz, Andrea Natale at Hofstra University, Collette Pawlyk at Dominican College, and Ed Hurley at North Rockland.

Under Mike’s tenure at North Rockland thirty-nine women have received athletic scholarships to play volleyball in college. Mike’s girls have been awarded more Division One scholarships (22) than any other coach in Rockland County. His colleagues have recognized Mike’s talent by voting him the Rockland County Coach of the Year 14 times and Mike was named the Regional (New York, New Jersey, & New England) Coach of the Year by the National Federation of Interscholastic High School Coaches in 1998.

Although Mike is best known as a girls’ high school volleyball coach he was also involved in other aspects of coaching. Mike coached the U.S.A. Club volleyball teams for sixteen years, thirteen with the girls and three with the boys. During that time Mike won three girls regional championships.

From 1973 to 1983 Mike was the North Rockland boys’ volleyball coach and amassed nine Rockland County titles, and six Section Nine championships. Mike was an active coach in the Empire Games for three years. From 1981 to 1983 Mike was the Boys Scholastic volleyball coach and his team medaled each year. In 1980 and 1981 Mike took on the job as swimming coach for Pearl River and coached two girls to the state finals, one being a state champion and both young ladies went on to receive full scholarships at Division One schools.

Mike’s record of success as a girl’s volleyball coach at North Rockland ranks him among the most elite coaches in the history of Rockland county athletics and we welcome Mike into the Rockland County Sports Hall of Fame.