Head Coach Kayla Banwarth

KAYLA BANWARTH THE SCOOP

A standout volleyball player at the University of Nebraska and for Team USA, Kayla Banwarth is a rising star in the coaching ranks and has taken her championship pedigree to Ole Miss, as she was announced as the Rebels’ eighth head coach in program history on Dec. 21, 2019.

Banwarth brings a wealth of success, both on the playing and coaching levels, to Oxford. As a player and assistant coach, she helped guide Nebraska to four conference championships, three Final Four appearances and a national title. Her illustrious career with Team USA garnered eight medals in international competition, including a bronze at the 2016 Olympic games.

Banwarth spent the past three seasons as an assistant coach at her alma mater, where she focused on liberos and passers in addition to leading the Huskers’ recruiting efforts. She helped direct Nebraska to a national championship in 2017 and a repeat appearance in the title match in 2018. In April 2019, Banwarth was named one of the American Volleyball Coaches’ Association’s 30 Under 30, one of just 11 female coaches in NCAA Division I to be recognized. In her first season as a Husker assistant, Nebraska won the 2017 NCAA Championship and repeated as Big Ten champions with a 32-4 overall record and 19-1 mark in conference play. Under her guidance, setter Kelly Hunter was named the NCAA Championship co-most outstanding player, an AVCA first-team All-American and the Big Ten Setter of the Year. She was also the PrepVolleyball.com Player of the Year, while libero Kenzie Maloney was a PrepVolleyball.com first-team All-American and an NCAA Championship All-Tournament selection. In 2018, the Huskers reached the NCAA Championship match once again, and Maloney was an NCAA Championship All-Tournament selection. Nebraska’s defense was one of the best in the nation, in large part thanks to the Huskers’ back-row passers. Nebraska finished the season with a .144 opponent hitting percentage, which ranked third in the nation, first in the Big Ten, and was the Huskers’ best mark since 2005. Maloney was an AVCA third-team All-American and an All-Big Ten selection. The Huskers were one of the top defensive units in the nation once in again 2019, holding opponents to a .153 opponent hitting percentage, which ranked eighth in the nation and first in the Big Ten. Nebraska reached the Elite Eight for the eighth straight year, and freshman libero Kenzie Knuckles was an All-Big Ten Freshman Team member.

Before returning to Lincoln, Banwarth served as a volunteer assistant for two seasons for the men’s volleyball team at Pepperdine in 2015 and 2016. In her first season, the squad went 13-11, and she helped lead the Waves’ back line to rank 36th nationally with 7.69 digs per set.

After walking on at Nebraska in 2007, Banwarth became the starting libero midway through her freshman season and remained in that role through 2010, receiving All-Big 12 honorable mention as a junior and senior. She led the Huskers to the NCAA semifinals in 2008 and to three Big 12 titles. She was Nebraska’s all-time career leader in digs with 1,706 until 2016. Banwarth was also a two-time academic All-Big 12 selection and a three-time Big 12 Defensive Player of

the Week. In 2011, Banwarth embarked on a professional playing career that featured six years on the U.S. National Team. She also played professionally overseas in Azerbaijan.

Banwarth was named the Best Receiver at the 2015 NORCECA Championship and helped Team USA win gold there and at the FIVB World Grand Prix in 2016. In 2014, she aided Team USA to the FIVB World Championship, the first gold medal for the U.S. at a major tournament. In 2016, Banwarth anchored the squad at the Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro, helping the U.S. to the bronze medal.

In 2013 Banwarth was named USA Volleyball’s Female Indoor Most Improved Player of the Year, and in 2012 and 2013, she led the team to gold medals in consecutive Pan American Cups. Also in 2013, she was the runner-up in the Best Digger category at the FIVB World Grand Champions Cup after posting 3.19 digs per set. In her first international competition in 2011, Banwarth helped USA to a bronze medal at the Pan American Games.

Born Jan. 21, 1989, Banwarth is a native of Dubuque, Iowa and earned her bachelor’s degree in English from Nebraska in 2012.

POSITION HOMETOWN ALMA MATER CAREER RECORD OLE MISS RECORD

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