Eugenio George was a Cuban volleyball coach who became the central coaching figure behind the country’s extraordinary era of women’s international success. Born in Baracoa in 1933, George developed through Cuban volleyball before leading the women’s national program across multiple generations. His teams became known for exceptional physical preparation, aggressive attacking and a competitive identity capable of sustaining success against very different international styles.
George’s record includes three consecutive Olympic gold medals for Cuba in 1992, 1996 and 2000, one of the defining achievements in the history of women’s team sport. His national teams also won FIVB World Championship titles in 1978, 1994 and 1998 and collected repeated World Cup success. The scale of those results matters because they were not produced by a single short-lived lineup; George’s work extended across changing rosters and competitive eras, helping preserve a distinct Cuban system at the top of the international game. He remained involved with Cuban volleyball beyond individual tournaments and influenced generations of coaches and players. George died in Havana in 2014. The International Volleyball Hall of Fame inducted him in 2005, while he was still alive, recognizing a coaching career built around sustained national-team excellence rather than one isolated championship cycle.
Coach Information
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Eugenio George Lafita |
| Date of Birth | 29 March 1933 |
| Date of Death | 30 May 2014 |
| Born | Baracoa, Cuba |
| Nationality | Cuban |
| Career Status | Deceased |
| Defining National Team | Cuba Women’s National Team |
| Selected Coaching Achievements | Olympic gold (1992, 1996, 2000); World Championship gold (1978, 1994, 1998) |
| Hall of Fame | International Volleyball Hall of Fame, Class of 2005 |