Kris Dorn is in his fourth season as the head coach of the Lindenwood men’s volleyball team in 2017. Dorn has 20 years of collegiate coaching experience, including ten at the NCAA Division I-II level. He has been a head coach for seven of those seasons, and he has a collegiate head coaching record of 117-91.
Last season was a rebuilding year for the Lions and a young team finished tied for eighth in the MIVA. Over half of the team’s losses during the year came against nationally-ranked teams. Eleven members of the team were named to the MIVA academic all-conference squad.
In 2014, Dorn led Lindenwood to one of its most accomplished season at the NCAA Division I-II level. The Lions earned 13 victories, including two over nationally-ranked teams. One of the wins over ranked teams came in the MIVA Tournament, helping the Lions advance to the semifinals for the first time. Lindenwood also set a program record with seven MIVA victories in the regular season.
Dorn helped Hackworth earn first-team all-MIVA honors, the first Lion to accomplish that feat. Eleven players were named to the MIVA academic all-conference team.
In his first season at Lindenwood, Dorn led the Lions to a 19-12 overall record. The Lions went 15-1 in non-conference play during the regular season, and won four matches in their second season in the competitive Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association. Lindenwood led NCAA Division I-II with 1.80 service aces per set. The Lions were also in the top-10 in hitting percentage, kills per set, and assists per set.
Dorn helped coach Colin Hackworth to second-team all-MIVA honors. Off the court, 11 players were named to the MIVA All-Academic list, and David Poole was named to the Academic All-District team.
Prior to coming to Lindenwood, Dorn was the head men’s coach at NAIA Clarke University in Dubuque, Iowa. Dorn compiled an 80-50 overall record at Clarke, and he had the best winning percentage in school history. In his first season in 2010, he led the team to a 26-12 overall record and the program’s first-ever appearance in the NAIA National Invitational Tournament. After winning seasons in 2011 and 2012, Clarke reached the 20-win mark again in 2013 with a 20-10 record. Dorn was named the MAMVIC East Coach of the Year for the second time, and the Crusaders were ranked as high as second in the nation during the season.
Dorn coached professional in 2007 and 2008 for the Newport Beach Sea Hawks in the American Professional Volleyball League. Prior to that, he was the men’s and women’s assistant coach at California Baptist University. He was a part of five NAIA National Championships with the Crusaders, winning the 2004 and 2005 women’s championships, and the 2005, 2006, and 2007 men’s titles.
Dorn was a member of the Samford University women’s volleyball coaching staff from 2000-2004, including being the head coach for the final two seasons. Prior to Samford, he was an assistant coach at Seton Hall University from 1999-2000, and Liberty University from 1997-1999. At Liberty, he helped the team win back-to-back Big South Conference Championships and advance to the 1997 NCAA Tournament.
Dorn played collegiate volleyball at Taylor University, and he eventually became a player-coach and then the head coach. He holds the team record for most blocks in a season.
Besides coaching, Dorn has served as an evaluator and court coach for USA Volleyball, working directly with the Youth National Team and USA Select Tryouts. He has also been a lead coach for Gold Medal Squared Volleyball, an elite training program featuring Olympic medalist and championship-level collegiate coaches. Dorn has served as Director of Coach and Player Development at Inland Empire Volleyball Club and coached at Non-Stop Sports Club. He has coached several men’s and women’s teams that have travelled abroad on athletic ministries.
Dorn received his bachelor’s degree in fine arts and psychology from Taylor and his master’s degree in kinesiology/sports management from California Baptist. He was awarded the 2007 CBU Kinesiology Outstanding Graduate Student Award.
Dorn is married to Jennifer, a two-time All-American and four-time Pac-10 All-Conference player at USC.
Dorn's Career Coaching Record:
| Year |
School |
Overall |
Conference |
| 2010 |
Clarke |
26-12 |
8-3 |
| 2011 |
Clarke |
19-16 |
9-4 |
| 2012 |
Clarke |
15-12 |
8-4 |
| 2013 |
Clarke |
20-10 |
9-3 |
| 2014 |
Lindenwood |
19-12 |
4-10 |
| 2015 |
Lindenwood |
13-12 |
7-9 |
| 2016 |
Lindenwood |
5-17 |
3-13 |
| Overall |
|
117-91 |
48-46 |
