Kris Conner returns to Kearney as head coach for Bearcats volleyball

KEARNEY, Neb.— Kearney High has a new head volleyball coach, just one day after the resignation of previous head coach Stephanie Horsley. 

Horsley has served as head coach for Kearney High the past two seasons. On Tuesday, they announced her resignation, effective immediately.

On Wednesday, Kearney High released who will be filling the position.

Kris Conner, the Riverside head volleyball coach, will be returning to the Kearney community. Conner started her coaching career at Fort Calhoun, then moved to Kearney Catholic for over 20 years. This past season, she served as head coach at Riverside. 

Kearney High Athletic Director Ryan Hogue is excited to welcome Conner into this program. 

“She is one of the most accomplished and respected coaches in Nebraska volleyball history, and her track record of success speaks for itself,” said Hogue. “Her leadership will have a lasting impact on Kearney High School and position our volleyball program to compete at the highest level.”

Over Conner’s 32-year tenure as head coach at Kearney Catholic, she held a record of 797-257, which is the second-most wins among active Nebraska coaches. Her teams also qualified for the state tournament 19 times, capturing four state championships and three runner-up finishes. 

Conner has guided 32 athletes to continue their careers at the collegiate level, including four All-Americans and one National Player of the Year. 

Hogue states that her arrival represents, “a homecoming to the community where she has left an indelible mark on high school volleyball.”

Her husband, Doug, and Conner currently have one daughter serving as the assistant volleyball coach at Washburn University, where their other daughter is a senior setter on the team. They also have a son who is a freshman at UNK.