Edgar Miraku

Edgar is the head coach at the University of Central Oklahoma.

Edgar Miraku has built the Central Oklahoma program into a consistent winner and perennial national contender during a sensational career with the Bronchos.

UCO has been one of the winningest programs in NCAA Division II with Miraku at the helm, having compiled a stellar 243-85 record the last 11 seasons. He reached the 200-win mark in the 2019 home finale with a win over No. 14-ranked Northwest Missouri.

Edgar has guided the Bronchos to 25-plus wins five times, with the 2015 and ‘16 teams each eclipsing the 30-win mark.

Miraku has coached 10 All-Region performers and nine All-Americans at UCO, with Taylor Bevis becoming the first three-time All-American in program history in 2018. Nine of the 10 All-Americans in school history have come under Miraku’s guidance.

He’s also had 55 players earn All-MIAA honors. The Bronchos have excelled in the classroom as well during Edgar’s tenure, with 57 players having been named to the MIAA Academic Honor Roll.

UCO joined the MIAA in Edgar’s first year at the controls in 2012 and went 13-18. The Bronchos made a big jump the next season, finishing fourth in the league and winning a first-round match in the MIAA Post-season Tournament in a 24-10 campaign that marked the winningest season since 2007.

Central continued its upward climb under Miraku in 2014, putting together a fabulous 28-5 record. UCO beat three teams ranked in the top 15 nationally -- including first-ever wins over league rivals Central Missouri and Nebraska-Kearney -- in finishing third in the conference but were denied a national tournament berth.

Miraku guided the Bronchos to a fantastic 31-5 campaign in 2015, ripping off 16 straight wins during one stretch. UCO captured the rugged MIAA championship for the program’s first league title since 2007 as Edgar was named Coach of the Year for the second straight time.

UCO broke into the NCAA Division II national rankings for the first time ever that season and was in the polls for the final 12 weeks, ending the season at No. 12. The Bronchos earned their first national tournament berth since 2007 and won a first-round match in the Central Regional before falling to No. 1-ranked Concordia-St. Paul.

Central set a school record for winning percentage in 2016 (88.2), finishing 30-4 and going a perfect 15-0 at home without dropping a set. The Bronchos had 3-0 wins over five top-25 teams -- including two in the top 10 -- and were ranked in the top 15 all season, but were denied a berth in the national tournament.

Bevis became the first sophomore in program history to earn All-America recognition that season and seven players earned All-MIAA honors, with three making the first-team unit.

Central put together a 17-match winning streak en route to a 29-6 finish in 2017 and made it to the national tournament before falling to eventual champion Concordia-St. Paul. Six players were named All-MIAA, with Bevis claiming MIAA Player of the Year recognition in addition to earning All-America honors.

The Miraku-led Bronchos put together a 27-7 record in 2018 and were ranked in the top 20 all season. Eight players earned All-MIAA recognition, with Bevis and Jordan Spence becoming just the third and fourth players in school history to become four-time all-conference performers.

A youthful and inexperienced UCO squad that had just one senior put together an 18-13 record in 2019. The Bronchos knocked off a pair of top-15 teams, including a 3-1 victory over No. 14 Northwest Missouri in the home finale to hand Edgar his 200th career win.

Five players earned All-MIAA recognition and Dominique Lipari led the nation in digs per set in becoming just the fifth four-time all-conference player in program history.

The 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. UCO did compete in an unofficial spring season in 2021 and the Bronchos won 12 matches, though they don’t count on Edgar’s record.

Central came back in 2021 to finish 19-10, with four players earning All-MIAA honors.

The youthful Bronchos enjoyed a fine season in 2022, finishing 24-7 and tying for third in the MIAA despite starting all underclassmen. UCO knocked off four top-20 teams, including two top-10s. Five players earned All-MIAA recognition and libero Jaedynn Evans was named an All-American after leading Division II in both total digs and digs per set.

Miraku came to UCO following a seven-year stint as head coach at Edmond Memorial, guiding the Bulldogs to an amazing 209-48 record and four Class 6A state titles.

He took over the Memorial reigns in 2005 and immediately led the team to the state championship. Edgar and the Bulldogs added gold balls in 2007, ’09 and ’10.

Miraku also worked with USA Volleyball and the USA Men’s National Sitting Team while at Memorial, serving as head coach for two years and assistant coach for five.

He participated in numerous international competitions during that span, including the 2007 Para-Pan American Games, the 2006 and 2010 World Championships, the 2010 World Cup, and the 2011 Continental Cup.

Edgar is a UCO alumni and completed his bachelor’s (Business Administration) and MBA while serving as a volunteer and later graduate assistant from 1995 to 2000 under Mark Herrin.

Edgar is a native of Albania, where he played professional volleyball for four years and was a member of the Albanian Junior National Team from 1992-95, winning a silver medal in the 1993 Balkan Championships.

Miraku has also coached and been involved with Oklahoma Peak Performance since its inception and has placed third in the nation twice (2009 & 2014.)

Edgar is married (Amy) and has two children (Abiana and Arden)..
Miraku at UCO