Bechard to Present at NCA Coaches Clinic
LINCOLN, Neb. – The success of seventeen-year Kansas volleyball coaching veteran Ray Bechard has earned him an invitation to present at the annual Nebraska Coaches Association (NCA) Multi-Sports Coaching Clinic in Lincoln, Nebraska on Wednesday.
Bechard is experienced with coaching clinics as he routinely attended the Kansas High School Athletics Association (KHSAA) demonstrations in his early career days, and has since become a KHSAA presenter. This is his first time presenting at the NCA Multi-Sports Coaching Clinic in recent memory.
“I probably spoke in front of 150-200 people last year at the KHSAA event. There will be 400 at this one,” Bechard said. “So it’s big. It’s been a few years since I’ve been up there, but it’s an extremely well-run event. It’s also very well attended. There will be thousands of coaches there and speakers from all over the country talking about their respective sports.”
Bechard has recruited and developed talent from Nebraska through much of his career. Seniors Chelsea Albers and Sara McClinton are returning All-America Honorable Mention and All Big-12 First Team players. Sophomore Maggie Anderson is a setter on the team. All three played high school volleyball in Nebraska.
“I look forward to getting in front of coaches up there, that’s been a very good state for us,” Bechard said. “One of the most important mentors that I’ve had in volleyball, Terry Pettit, (former University of Nebraska head coach) influenced that state a great deal. We’ve had some great players come from up there, too. It’s an area that’s served us very well and hopefully we can continue to have a great relationship with the people up there. I’m really looking forward to spending time with those coaches.”
Bechard and the Jayhawks will begin the 2014 season riding a monumental transition of guiding his program from successful to significant. His most recent year at the helm was also the best in program history – ending with his second-consecutive Big 12 and AVCA Region Coach of the Year honors and most proudly, Kansas volleyball’s first trip to the NCAA Sweet 16.
The winningest coach in Kansas volleyball history, Bechard will begin the 2014 season just 11 wins away from his 1,000th career victory. Since his arrival on the coaching scene 29 years ago, Bechard spent 13 seasons on the sidelines of Barton County Community College in Great Bend, Kan., before taking over the reins at Kansas. At both stops, Bechard has compiled a remarkable all-time coaching record of 989-277 (.781 winning percentage).
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