MVB Legend Mike O'Hara Passes Away
February 07, 2018 | Men's Volleyball
UCLA was saddened to learn of the passing of volleyball legend and Hall of Famer Michael O'Hara, 85, on Feb. 1. O'Hara, who was selected to USA Volleyball's Diamond Anniversary All-Era Team, was a pioneer in the sport of volleyball and instrumental in helping to make volleyball a varsity sport at UCLA. He went on to compete in the Olympics and dominate the beach volleyball circuit in a highly successful playing career.
In 1953, with Athletic Director Wilbur Johns' permission, O'Hara's championship fraternity volleyball team represented UCLA and won the National Collegiate Championships in Omaha, Nebraska. The following year, Johns elevated men's volleyball to varsity status and the Bruins once again captured the national title. In both seasons, O'Hara received All-America honors.
After graduating from UCLA, O'Hara played on the USA National Team in 1959, 1963 and 1964. He was a member of the 1959 gold medal team at the Pan American Games, won the silver medal at the 1963 Pan American Games and became a member of the 1964 Olympic team, the first-ever Games with indoor volleyball. O'Hara was inducted into the International Volleyball Hall of Fame as part of the 1989 class.
O'Hara won six Open Division titles in the USA Volleyball Open National Championships. He was chosen MVP of the Opens in both 1961 and 1963 and was a seven-time Open Division first-team All-American. Overall, O'Hara won 12 USA Volleyball All-American awards while winning 15 USVBA Championships. By 1967, he was selected as a USA Volleyball All-Time Great Player.
O'Hara also established an impressive record on the sand. He won his first Open beach title in 1954. After reaching the podium with various partners in the late 1950s, he joined with Mike Bright and went on to win the first five Manhattan Beach opens from 1960 to 1964. During his career, O'Hara captured 38 Open Beach Championships in all.
After retirement as a player, O'Hara continued to work for the growth of the sport of volleyball. He served as a USA Volleyball board member, coach and teacher at Santa Monica College, a national referee, a broadcaster and as commissioner of the International Federation of Volleyball World Series of Beach Volleyball. He served as director of sports and director of international television for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games. O'Hara was a consultant for the Calgary and Seoul Olympic Organizing Committee. He also assisted the Barcelona Olympic Organizing Committee with preparations for the 1992 summer games. O'Hara attended each summer Olympics from 1964 through 2012, either as a player, administrator or fan of the game.
O'Hara was elected to the USA Volleyball Hall of Fame in 1992 and the Beach Volleyball Hall of Fame in 1996. In 2005, he was voted into the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame. Last year, he was a member of the inaugural class voted into the SoCal Indoor Volleyball Hall of Fame. O'Hara is survived by his wife, Arlen, son, Ryan, daughter, Kelley and three grandchildren.
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