The death of George Mason coach
Uvaldo Acosta creates a
sense of loss

By Cindy Luis
Star-Bulletin

The close-knit volleyball family has lost a favorite son.

Uvaldo Acosta, the 32-year-old coach of the George Mason University men's team, drowned yesterday afternoon off the Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kaneohe. From Hawaii to Croatia, the death of this promising young coach sparked feelings of deep personal loss.

"It's so unbelievable," said former University of Hawaii All-American Carlos Briceno, now living in California. "I played with him on the national team for over two years. The only thing I can say right now is what a great person he was.

"He was my roommate when we played in the World League and I'll never forget what he told me the night after I probably played the worst game of my life. He said I needed to quit playing for myself and play for the team. The next night, I had one of the greatest matches I've ever had. He was so right."

A national team member from 1989-1992, Acosta was the last player cut from the 1992 U.S. Olympic team that competed in Barcelona. Fred Sturm, then the U.S. head coach, said it was the hardest decision he ever had to make.

"He was great for the team and his positive spirit gave so much," said Sturm, now coaching Croatia's national team. "He was a great player, always had a smile on his face, and was just a classy guy."

Acosta was on a team outing yesterday at Marine Corps Base Hawaii when he apparently got caught in the undertow of the surf line off North Beach. He was reported missing around 1 p.m.; two hours later, his body was retrieved some 200 yards off shore by a Honolulu Fire Department rescue boat.

"The team has taken a stand about not commenting right now," said George Mason outside hitter Mike Duckworth.

"It's been a long day for all of us. He was a great guy."

Hawaii defeated George Mason in a nonconference match Wednesday night.

Tonight's rematch was canceled by agreement of the two schools' athletic directors, George Mason's Thomas O'Connor and Hawaii's Hugh Yoshida.

Acosta, a three-time All-American for George Mason in the late 1980s, was in his second year as the Patriots' coach.

He was hired to rejuvenate a program that was on the verge of being cut by the school.

Last season, the Patriots finished 11-13.

They are 4-2 overall this season, 3-1 in league, and challenging for the title of the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association.

"It's just a horrible tragedy," said Doug Beal, the U.S. men's national team coach in a call from Colorado Springs, Colo.

"Uvaldo was one of those people who gave a lot of pleasure to everyone he was around. He was one of the good guys.

Acosta was in outstanding physical shape but it is not known how strong of a swimmer he was. Yesterday's surf was in the 4- to 6-foot range and "the water there can be treacherous and unforgiving," said base spokesman Chuck Little. "He may have just gotten in over his head. We just don't know."

Lifeguards first became aware of the situation when the team's student trainer was seen struggling offshore.

The young woman, whose name was not released, was brought to shore and told rescuers that Acosta was still in the water.

"It was our day off, and we were just going to go out and enjoy the Hawaii weather," said George Mason team captain Chris Prince.

"Obviously, right now the entire team is pretty devastated about the loss. We've lost not only a good coach, but a good friend."

A native of El Paso, Texas, Acosta was a member of the U.S. team that won the bronze medal in the 1991 World Cup.

Services are pending. The team was scheduled to return to Fairfax, Va., this afternoon.