Kara grew up in Minnesota. In high school she played volleyball for Apple Valley High School and club at Northern Lights Juniors. She helped her high school team to a 6AA 3rd Place finish at state and was a team captain her senior year. During this time she started coaching high school clinics. Kara coached to share her love of the game, honor her wonderful coaches by sharing the knowledge they gave her, and to encourage young players who were new to the sport.

 

Following high school Kara earned a scholarship and played D1 volleyball at Winthrop University in South Carolina. She was a 4 year starter as an outside hitter and a team captain her senior year. Kara had over 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs during her career at Winthrop. She continued coaching during college at clinics, in the summer at Midwest Volleyball Instructor Camps, and at the club level with Carolina Juniors.

 

After graduation Kara took a break from volleyball. In 2018 she jumped back into coaching for the exact same reasons she started coaching. She has coached at the middle school, high school, and club levels. This will be Kara's third year with Athena. She has previously been an Assistant Coach for 11 Gold, 12 Gold, and 13 Gold. She is currently the Head Coach at Jemtegaard Middle School in Washougal, Wa.

 

Kara lives in 'The Shoug' with her family which consists of, her husband, four daughters, and two bouncy Aussiedoodles. When she isn't in the gym, or driving to and from the gym, she loves to read, watch movies, shop, and explore the outdoors.

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