International Volleyball Hall induction week: Silvano Prandi of Italy

It’s induction week at the International Volleyball Hall of Fame in Holyoke, Massachusetts. Six inductees will join the previous 161 players, coaches, administrators and leaders from 25 countries who have already been enshrined in the museum at the birthplace of volleyball. We have stories on all six, beginning with Silvano Prandi from Italy:

It may be hard to believe now, but Italy was not always a men’s volleyball powerhouse. 

They Italians finished eighth in the 1976 Olympics and ninth in the boycott-affected 1980 Moscow Games.

But all of that was before Silvano Prandi came on the scene. 

In 1982 Prandi took over the Italian national team and two years later, — boom — in Los Angeles, the “Bel Paese” won their first Olympic medal, a bronze.

For this and his many other accomplishments, Prandi, 75, a distinguished club volleyball coach, is now in the ultimate club, an inductee into the International Volleyball Hall of Fame. 

He is the sixth Italian to be so honored, and only the second coach (Julio Velasco is the other) from that country. 

Upon learning of his honor, Prandi said, “In my 47-year career at high level I’ve experienced so many gratifying moments. Certainly the one in the Hall of Fame is one of the most extraordinary.”

Prandi’s  influence is so pronounced in the sport that no less than 10 of the players he coached pre-dated him into the Hall, including some of the biggest names in the history of the sport: Dimiter Zlatnov, Craig Buck, Geovani Gavio, Nalbert Betancourt, Giba, Vladi and Nikola Grbic, Lorenzo Bernardi, Samuele Papi and Andrea Gardini. 

And yet none of those icons are cited as the best player Prandi has coached. That honor goes to Spain’s incomparable opposite Rafael Pascual (2024 IVBH voters take note). 

“Because besides being a great athlete, he was always a great example for his teammates as well.” 

And that quote reveals the essence of Prandi. Above all he values those intangibles that make a team great.

Early in his coaching days Prandi was given the nickname “Il Professore,” because he started his working life teaching physical education in state schools. The nickname stuck, and for good reason. To coach all of that high level talent, and get them to listen and perform, is a high wire act in and of itself. 

So, what then is the secret sauce? 

“I never stopped wanting to learn by constantly comparing myself with coaches, players and anyone…