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The head coach at a NAIA men’s volleyball powerhouse will be taking over at Lindenwood.
The Lindenwood athletics department announced Wednesday that it hired former Clarke coach Kris Dorn to be the school’s new head coach for the upcoming season.
Dorn has spent 17 years coaching at the college level, including spending the last four seasons at Clarke. The program under Dorn had four consecutive 20-win season and advanced to the NAIA National Invitational Tournament for the time in program history.
Clarke finished the 2013 season at 20-10 and climbed to No. 2 in the national rankings as Dorn was named the MAMVIC East Coach of the Year.
Along with his experience at Clarke, Dorn served as an assistant coach at Cal Baptist and helped guide the program to three straight NAIA national championships from 2005-07. He also coached at the professional level with the Newport Beach Sea Hawks in the American Professional Volleyball League for two seasons starting in 2007.
“Kris brings a very successful background of collegiate volleyball experience to Lindenwood,” Lindenwood athletics director John Creer said in a statement. “His passion for the game and dedication to student’s success will benefit the future of men’s volleyball recruiting and competition at Lindenwood. I believe he is a perfect fit to move the volleyball team forward in the very competitive MIVA conference. Kris brings a mix of intensity, determination and competitive fire to the team and athletic development.”
Lindenwood in its inaugural season in the MIVA ended in sixth place, but was ineligible for the postseason it completed its final phase transitioning from a NAIA to NCAA Division II program.
“I am thrilled to be a part of the Lions athletics program,” Dorn said in a statement. “I am very excited to start working with this group of young men. Already, there appears to be a great support structure from the Lindenwood Athletics Department towards the program.”
This will be the third head coach in Lindenwood’s program history. Dorn will replace longtime coach Ron Young, who will remain at the school coaching the women’s volleyball team.