A trailblazer in volleyball leadership, Kathy DeBoer was inducted into the AVCA Hall of Fame in 2023 after a remarkable career dedicated to growing the sport at all levels. She retired as Executive Director of the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) after 17 years, during which membership doubled, women’s college volleyball became commercially viable, and participation in both girls’ and boys’ volleyball hit record highs. She played a key role in establishing NCAA women’s beach volleyball and expanding men’s varsity programs across colleges. Before her time at AVCA, Kathy spent 23 years in intercollegiate athletics, including 18 years at the University of Kentucky, where she became the winningest coach in program history, leading her teams to four Sweet Sixteens and an Elite Eight in 1987. That same year, she was named AVCA Division I National Coach of the Year. Her contributions to the sport earned her a place at MSU Athletics Hall of Fame (2022) and prestigious honors such as USA Volleyball Lifetime Achievement Award (2024) and the Sports Imports Courage Award (2024). Beyond coaching, Kathy continues to support the sport as Chairperson of the LOVB Foundation Board of Directors, a nonprofit dedicated to providing access to volleyball for under-resourced players. She holds a BA from Michigan State University and a MBA from the University of Kentucky.

Congratulations to Kathy DeBoer!