TEHRAN - The International Volleyball Hall of Fame welcomed its 2024 Class of Inductees on October 19 in Holyoke, Massachusetts. Among the nine honored were individuals who have profoundly influenced sitting volleyball, including Iran’s Hadi Rezaei and the United States’ John Kessel and the late Bill Kauffman, whose achievements in coaching, development and communications have helped elevate the sport on the global stage.

Rezaei, who was inducted as part of the Class of 2024, is one of the most successful figures in sitting volleyball history. His career began as a standout athlete, leading Iran’s men’s team to gold medals at the Seoul 1988, Barcelona 1992 and Atlanta 1996 Paralympics.

 Rezaei’s transition to coaching marked a new chapter of dominance for the Iranian team. Under his leadership, Iran claimed five more Paralympic golds, including Sydney 2000, Beijing 2008, Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020 and most recently in Paris 2024. Rezaei also guided the team to silver finishes in Athens 2004 and London 2012, further solidifying his reputation as the most decorated coach in sitting volleyball.

While Rezaei’s induction highlighted his extraordinary achievements, the Hall of Fame also recognized others who have been instrumental in sitting volleyball’s growth. John Kessel, a recipient of the Mintonette Medallion of Merit Award, has been a key advocate for inclusive volleyball development through his work with World ParaVolley. Kessel’s efforts have centered on creating coaching resources and programs that promote sitting volleyball’s accessibility and growth at all levels, worldparavolley.org reported.

Bill Kauffman, honored posthumously with the Media Excellence Award, was another pivotal figure in the promotion of sitting volleyball. As a communications leader for USA Volleyball and World ParaVolley, Kauffman brought attention to sitting volleyball through detailed coverage of events, including the Paralympics. His work ensured that the stories of athletes and coaches were told with depth and accuracy, increasing the sport’s visibility and recognition.