Laurie LaRusso
Darien High School
Impact Statement
“You have to continue to grow. We talk about it a lot here. Nothing is a given. Just because we are Darien, it is not automatic. You still have to work hard.” -Laurie LaRusso
Biography
LaRusso has built a volleyball powerhouse at Darien. This year she led the Blue Wave to its second 25-0 season in the past three years. Not only did Darien go 25-0 in both seasons, but the Blue Wave didn’t lose a single set in either season.
Since taking over in 1982, her teams have compiled a record of 536-79, with 11 unbeaten seasons. Since 1993 her teams are an astounding 412-10, with six of the losses coming in the 2000 season; once owned a 139-match winning streak; and is riding a current 49-match winning streak dating back to 2008. LaRusso has guided Darien to 19 Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference titles and 15 Class L state titles. Her teams will enter next season as the 11-time defending champions.
She was named National Coach of the Year by PrepVolleyball.com in 2007, the first coach from an East Coast school to receive the honor, and the Connecticut Sports Writers Association named her the Doc McInerney Female Coach of the Year in 2009. She was inducted into the Connecticut High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2007.
Since being honored, LaRusso has continued to lead Darien to success. The Girl’s Blue Waves won another two State Championships in 2012 and 2014. Darien finished second in 2018. The Boys’ team also won another two State Championships in 2011 and 2017. The boys also placed second in 2015, 2016 and most recently in 2019.
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