By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Ray Bechard knew how to win volleyball matches. Bechard won better than 90 percent of his matches in 13 seasons as head coach at Barton Community College where his teams posted a 716-60 record from 1985-97. In his 27 years at the University of Kansas, Bechard posted a 496-313 record - the most wins for any coach in school history. His Jayhawks made 13 NCAA Tournament appearances, advancing to the Final Four in 2015. He was named Big 12 Coach of the Year five times, most recently in 2023. Friday, Bechard announced he was retiring.
“It’s been the honor of a lifetime to fulfill the role as head volleyball coach at the University of Kansas for the last 27 years,” he said via a press release. “This professional journey was made possible by a supportive administration, a coaching staff that worked tirelessly and together and by countless young women who competed with grit and demonstrated grace, while representing the university with class.”
A Grinnell-native and Fort Hays State University graduate, Bechard began his coaching career as a volleyball and boys' basketball coach at Lewis High School in Lewis from 1980-83. As a basketball player at Barton, he helped the Cougars to a 45-13 record in two seasons before later returning as the volleyball coach.
Thirteen years after his start in Barton, his 716 wins at the school were fourth all-time among junior college coaches, and his .923 winning percentage was the highest ever among two-year college coaches. He was inducted into the National Junior College Athletic Association Volleyball Hall of Fame in 1998. He's also a member of the BCC Sports Hall of Fame and the Kansas Volleyball Association Hall of Fame.
Bechard's teams at Kansas reached the Sweet Sixteen three times, the Final Four once, and claimed the 2016 Big 12 Championship. The Jayhawks qualified for six consecutive NCAA Tournaments from 2012-17.