Volunteer Assistant Yanez hired at Coastal Carolina
CONWAY, S.C. – Kansas volleyball volunteer assistant Lucas Yanez has accepted a full-time assistant coaching position at Coastal Carolina University, the school announced on Monday.
Yanez, a former All-American libero at Lewis University, helped coach KU’s back-court passers into one of the most formidable defenses in the Big 12 and the nation. In one year at KU, Yanez coached a defense ranked second in the Big 12 in opponent hitting percentage and third in digs per set. The Jayhawks went on to advance to the NCAA Final Four and finished the season ranked No. 4 in the nation.
“Lucas was a great fit for our program and coaching staff. The experience he has at the libero position made his transition to KU very seamless,” Kansas head coach Ray Bechard said. “Since he played at such a high level, he was able to communicate great information to our defensive specialists during our most successful season in program history. It was a good year for him – a productive year. Great things lie ahead for Lucas Yanez and we wish him well.”
KU was Yanez’s first collegiate coaching experience of his career. He graduated from Lewis in May of 2015 before joining head coach Ray Bechard’s staff in the fall.
“It is our goal in this program to give volunteer assistant coaches a valuable experience and prepare them for a career in coaching,” Bechard said. “I think it worked out quite well for him.”
VOLUNTEER ASSISTANTS UNDER RAY BECHARD
Name (Years at KU): Career after KU
Chad McDole (2000-01): Graceland University men’s volleyball head coach from 2005 to 2013.
Trent Jones (2002-03): Associate head coach at UMKC, entering his sixth season at the school (2011-present). Missouri-St. Louis head coach from 2008 to 2010. Assistant coach at Washburn University from 2004 to 2008.
Korrinn Krog-Burgess (2004-05): Assistant coach at Clemson from 2006 to 2009. Currently the head coach at Presbyterian College (2013-present).
Justeen Patton-Coulson (2007): Currently the head coach at East View High School in Georgetown, Texas.
Kevin Buhr (2008-10): Former assistant coach at SIU-Edwardsville.
Dan Georgalas (2011-12): Assistant coach at Stephen F. Austin in 2012. Entering his fourth season as an assistant at Wyoming (2013-present).
Wendel Camargo (2012-13): Entering his third season as an assistant coach at James Madison University (2014-present).
Ian Choi (2014): Entering his second season as an assistant coach at San Jose State (2015-present).
Lucas Yanez (2015): Hired as an assistant coach at Coastal Carolina on May 16, 2016.
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