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 | Hometown:
Shanghai, China
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| Position:
Assistant Coach
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| Experience:
4th season at UMiami
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| Alma Mater:
Shanghai P.E. Institute ('86)
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Chinese name ... Xiaofei Hou
Felix Hou is set to begin his fourth season as an assistant volleyball coach at the University of Miami in 2010. With more than 20 years of coaching experience at the university, club and national levels, Hou immediately helped to bring success to the UM program with his arrival prior to the start of the 2008 campaign. He has helped the Canes reap rewards in his first three years with the program, helping UMiami set records in 2008 and '09, as well as advancing to back-to-back NCAA Tournaments in 2009 and `10. He has chemistry with head coach Nicole Lantagne Welch, and the chemistry is showing rewards as UM has enjoyed successful seasons the past three years, and looks to continue the trend going in 2011.
His understanding of the collegiate game and the game of volleyball as a whole makes him a valuable asset to the staff for Nicole Lantagne Welch. In his role with the UM staff, Hou assists in all phases of the Hurricanes' development, including working with hitters and serving. He is also heavily involved in recruiting for the Hurricanes, assisting and recruiting coordinator.
In 2010, Hou helped coach Lane Carico - the school's first AVCA All-American, and assisted in helping the Canes reach consecutive NCAA Tournaments. UMiami advanced to the Bloomington [Ind.] Regional, facing the homestanding Hoosiers in a five-set thriller. He was also a part of the team that saw five players bolster above 200 kills on the year - Lane Carico (471), Christine Williamson (338), Ariell Cooke (253), Ali Becker (228) and Alex Johnson (205). The Hurricanes hit at a .255 clip on the year - the third-highest in school history, and amassed 241 total blocks.
Defensively, the Hurricanes posted the highest digs total (2,170) for a single-season in 2010, while also registering the highest digs per set count in UM history (17.64). Freshman Ryan Shaffer's team-leading 539 digs was the most by a freshman in school history.
As part of the 2009 season, Hou played an instrumental role in Miami's advancement to the 2009 NCAA Tournament - the second of its kind since the program was brought back in 2001. Along the way, the `Canes won the Hampton Inn & Suites Tournament hosted by the University of Northern Colorado, as well as taking second place in the Hurricane Invitational hosted by UM.
Hou was helpful in the coaching of Lane Carico and Cassie Loessberg, whom each were selected to the All-ACC Team, in addition to the All-AVCA East Region squad. Carico and Loessberg each were chosen as honorable mention All-America choices by the AVCA. He also helped in the Hurricanes collecting two-of-three wins as part of the Miami/FIU Invitational co-hosted by UM and FIU, respectively. In that tournament, the `Canes defeated NCAA Tournament participant Middle Tennessee State, and America East Conference undefeated champion University of Albany.
"Felix has been a part of the game for over 20 years," comments Lantagne Welch. "His knowledge and experience enables him to be an incredible trainer of talent. Technically, he can break down each skill to maximize our players' performances. He also has the great ability to spot areas we need to focus on to improve, as well as weaknesses in our opponents to exploit. Felix brings a great intensity to the gym to get the most out of our players."
In 2008, Hou was responsible in Miami capturing its best regular season record since the 2002 campaign. In addition, the `Canes posted their best Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) record since joining the league, collecting a 14-6 mark. That record allowed the Hurricanes to tie for third in the final league standings.
Hou is a natural around the game of volleyball, able to break down film and scout opponents with ability unlike any other. While playing a role in the offensive performance of the Hurricanes, Hou saw Miami register the fourth-best single-season hitting percentage (.251) in school history in 2008. All the while, helping with the servers whom staked the second-highest service ace total (184) for a single-season--second only to the 2007 squad which had 223.
Hou, who previously spent nine years as an assistant in two separate stints at the University of Maryland, comes in with four years of head coaching experience at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County from 1999-2002.
"He played at the highest level internationally and has coached here in the US for more than 15 years, having great impact in both the programs he has been with," said Lantagne Welch. "We are excited to have him on our Hurricane program and help us achieve new heights nationally and in the ACC."
While at Maryland, Hou served as an assistant under legendary head coach Janice Kruger, the ACC's all-time winningest coach in league history and former coach of Lantagne Welch in her playing days at Maryland. In Hou's first stint under Kruger from 1995-98, the Terrapins went a combined 89-32, winning the ACC Championship once and making three consecutive trips to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. With Hou's assistance, the 1997 team finished the regular season with a perfect mark of 25-0. In his most recent tenure in College Park from 2003-07, the Terrapins went a combined 104-59, winning the ACC Championship again in 2003 and 2004 in addition to three more trips to the NCAA Tournament's second round from 2003-05.
While at UMBC, Hou was named the 2000 Northeast Conference (NEC) Coach of the Year after leading the Retrievers to a 19-13 record and a regular-season NEC Championship that year. UMBC went a combined 69-52 overall and 32-5 in conference play under the direction of Hou.
Prior to his arrival at Maryland in 1995, Hou spent two years as the assistant coach for the Yohan women's volleyball professional team in Hong Kong in addition to serving as the coach for Iceland's national team and the men's and women's teams at Iceland University. Before moving to Iceland, he coached the Chinese national women's youth team, and the Beijing women's team. As a coach, Hou delivered seven players to the Chinese National Team, and six to the Icelandic National Team.
As a player, Hou played seven years for the Chinese National Team, including the 1980 which with would go undefeated in world competition but missed the 1980 Olympic Games only because of the country's boycott at the time.
Hou earned a Bachelor's degree in Coaching Management from Shanghai Physical Education Institute in 1986. He and his wife, Li Cui, currently live in Miami, Fla. He has two daughters, Lucy and Mary.
