Section B · Page 2
The University Daily Kansan
Thursday, August 20, 1998
Bechard sets up shop as volleyball coach
Continued from page 1B
team. He used the experience to learn the sport, to run an efficient practice, and to develop a training program for volleyball.
From that inauspicious beginning, he has developed into a full-fledged fan and a Division I volleyball coach — the new coach of the Kansas women's volleyball team.
Besides the technical aspects of the game, Ray Beachard said he liked the team play of women's volleyball.
"I think it's a great way for females to express themselves athletically." Ray Bechard said.
He coached and taught for three years at Lewis before accepting a position as the Barton County assistant women's basketball
coach.
Ray Bechard kept busy with basketball for two years, but when the Barton County volleyball coach left, he was offered the job.
His teams won 716 games and lost only 60 in 13 seasons. His winning percentage of .923 is the highest of any collegiate volleyball coach.
Neil Elliot, current Barton County athletics director, said Ray Bechard succeeded by connecting with his athletes.
Ray Bechard's success at Barton
"Beachard is an excellent motivator." Elliot said. "Athletes enjoy playing for him. He was one of the most respected guys on campus. He was to Barton County what Roy Williams is to Kansas, as far as respect goes. He was an extremely popular guy."
County included 13 trips to the Jayhawk Western Conference championship in 13 years.
He led his team to the NJCAA Final Four 10 times, compiling a record of 682-56 against junior-college opponents.
Ray Bechard coached 51 All-Region selections, including 16 AllAmericans. He was a two-time National Junior College Coach of the Year.
In 1995 he was an assistant coach for the USA Youth National Team, which won the Slovakian Cup Championship in Zilina. Slovakia
Ray Beachard also was the president of the NJCAA Volleyball Coaches Association for three years.
and 128 consecutive winning home games.
Nancy Bell, sophomore right-side hitter, practices her serve during drills. The team will get a new building to play and practice in later this fall. Photo by Roger Namer/KANSAN
Tara Johansen played for Ray Bechard in 1993 and 1994 and is now an assistant coach at Barton County.
the Big 12. Playing well consistently and not regretting losses
"The way he brings teams together as a team made him so unique," Johansen said. "I didn't experience that anywhere else."
Ray Beechard was overwhelmingly successful at Barton County, but when the coaching position at Kansas surfaced, he knew it was an opportunity he couldn't turn down.
"From a success standpoint, I was a part of something pretty special," Ray Bechard said. "But being a KU fan for so long, it's like a dream come true."
Richard Bechard said the family knew that Ray would want to coach at Kansas.
and their team goals.
Coach Bechard instructs his team during a practice in Robinson gym. He is looking forward to a challenging Big Twelve schedule this year. Photo by Roger Nomer/KANSAN
Ray Bechard said he was excited by the challenge of a difficult schedule and would keep an open mind about this year's possibilities.
"I don't want to make too many preseason assumptions," Ray Bechard said. "We're focusing on our core covenant, and spreading the responsibility around equally."
"I can remember going into the field house for the first time." Richard said. "It was overwhelming, and to have someone in the family coaching there is really exciting."
His inaugural season at Kansas is going to be a challenge, Ray Bechard said. Unlike the winning program he left behind in Great Bend, the Jayhawks have struggled as of late.
That core covenant is a commitment by all the members of the team and the coaching staff to one
This fall, the conference looks stronger than ever. Four teams rank among the Top 25, including No. 5 Nebraska and No. 9 Texas.
The Jayhawks finished 9-24 last season, had had losing records the last four seasons, and finished 2-18 in the Big 12 Conference last season.
U5A TODAY/AVCA TOP 25
The top 25 teams in The USA TODAY/AVCA Division I Coaches preseason volleyball poll, with firstplace votes in parentheses, records through yesterday, total points based on 25 points for a firstplace vote through one point for a 25th-place vote, and previous ranking:
rank team another pts 1997 Record Rank
1. Penn State (29) 1446 34-2 2
2. Long Beach St. (17)1418 33-2 3
3. USC (5) 1279 23-6 9
4. Stanford (7) 1210 32-2 1
5. Nebraska (1) 1204 27-7 8
6. Florida 1165 34-3 4
7. Wisconsin 1143 30-3 5
8.BYU 1070 29-6 7
9. Texas (1) 1040 25-7 10
9. Texas (1) 1040 25-7 10
10.U.C Santa Barbaro 93813-6 6
11.Pacific 886 23-9 16
12.Colorado 795 26-19 14
13.Ohio State 514 24-11 15
14.Hawaii 508 25-8 25
15.Akansas 494 30-6 21
16.Notre Dame 471 25-9 18
17.Michigan State 438 19-8 NR
18.UCLA 399 16-12 NR
19.Texas A&M 386 26-8 13
20.Loyola Marymount381 23-7 17
21.10 of San Diego 331 26-4 20
22.Washington State 330 26-7 12
23.Washington 321 20-10 11
24.Florida State 172 25-9 NR
25.Pepperdine 149 26-4
Other receiving votes: Michigan (90), Maryland (88), Georgia (72), Houston (72), Louisiana (67), Minnesota (64), Texas Tech (32), Kansas State (49). Oklahoma (34), Utah (17), Oral Roberts (25), Clemson (32), Northern Illinois (22), South Carolina (21), Fresno State (12), Oregon State (11), San Diego State (8), San Jose State (8), Central Florida (7), Arizona State (6), South Florida (6), Illinois State (5), Temple (5), Cal Poly SLO (4), Miami (01), Auburn (2)
about this issue, focusing on the theme of change. Ray Bechard said.
Changes besides Bechard include a new practice and competition building between Allen Field House and Anschutz Sports Pavilion, and four new players.
The players are seeing his commitment during practice, said Laura Rhode, setter for the volleyball team.
"Bechard's very intense," Rhode said. "He's helping us take care of little things that we didn't pay as much attention to before. We're working on basic passing and setting and slowly moving on."
With any luck, a new winning tradition will define the program brought on by the new coach, players, facility and commitment.
This season, however, success will not be measured in terms of a home-court winning streak or conference championship.
Ray Bechard's goals for the team include finishing in the middle of
could help the team attain that goal, he said.
A small-town Kansas boy is now in charge of the KU volleyball program. His roots deep in the Midwest, and he and his family are glad he has the chance to stay.
Ray's wife of 17 years, Pam, is now a kindergarten teacher in Topeka. She has taught kindergarten for 14 years. Ray Bechard said that when they moved to Lawrence, Pam's efforts as a teacher would be the greatest loss to Great Bend.
Ray Bechard's daughter Ashley will be a sophomore at Lawrence High and his son Brennan will be in sixth grade at Sunflower Elementary School.
Kansas volleyball Fall 1998
"My family made the decision to stay in the Midwest, and now I look around at everything that has happened and say, 'lucky me,''" Ray Bechard said.
Sept. 4 Wisconsin-Green Bay 12:30 p.m.
Sept. 4 Michigan Michigan 12:30 p.m.
Sept. 5 Auburn 12:30 p.m.
Sept. 5 IUPUI 5:00 p.m.
Sept. 8 Wichita State 7:00 p.m.
Sept. 11 Butler University 7:00 p.m.
Sept. 12 Kentucky 10:00 a.m.
Sept. 12 Eastern Michigan 5:00 p.m.
Sept. 18 San Francisco 7:00 p.m.
Sept. 19 Eastern Michigan 12:00 p.m.
Sept. 19 St. Louis 7:00 p.m.
Sept. 23 Oklahoma 7:00 p.m.
Sept. 26 Kansas State 7:00 p.m.
Oct. 2 Nebraska 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 3 Colorado 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 7 UMKC 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 9 Texas A&M 6:00 p.m.
Oct. 10 Texas 7:00 p.m.
Oct. 16 Iowa State 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 17 Missouri 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 23 Colorado 7:00 p.m.
Oct. 24 Nebraska 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 28 Oklahoma 7:00 p.m.
Oct. 30 Kansas State 7:00 p.m.
Nov. 6 Baylor 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 7 Texas Tech 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 12 Texas 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 14 Texas A&M 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 20 Missouri 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 21 Iowa State 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 27 Texas Tech 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 28 Baylor 7:30 p.m.
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