On Jan. 7, Saint Louis University head volleyball coach Anne Kordes announced that she was resigning immediately to accept the head coaching position at her alma mater, the University of Louisville. Kordes coached the Billikens for seven successful seasons including three Atlantic 10 Conference titles as well three trips to the NCAA tournament, the first in program history.
Kordes was the ninth head coach in Billiken Volleyball history.
“The athletic administration at SLU whole-heartedly supported me as a first-time head coach and did everything within their power to help me take Billiken volleyball to the next level,” Kordes said. “I loved my time there.
“[At Louisville], I have a shot at a national championship, which is my dream. The fact that my dream job is in my hometown is just icing on the cake.”
Senior outside hitter Megan Boken said, “It’s sad to see her go. She had been here [at SLU] for such a long time. It is understandable that she would take the new job in her hometown. We all wish her the best.”
Kordes, a Louisville native, played for the Cardinals before coaching. During her senior season she led the team to the Conference USA Tournament championship and the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. With Kordes leading the way, the Cardinals finished 29-5. Her career stats are highlighted by 4,874 assists, 866 digs and 128 aces, along with being selected a three-time All-Conference USA selection.
Kordes received her bachelor’s degree in athletic administration from Louisville in 1998, and she earned a master’s degree in athletic administration from Louisville in 2001.
She first received national attention as an assistant coach at the University of Illinois, where she recruited and coached two All-Americans. During her time at the University of Illinois, the Illini qualified for the NCAA Tournament three times and posted a 90-61 record. In 2003, she helped the Illini to a 26-7 record, the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament and a No. 15 ranking.
After that season, Kordes accepted an invitation to be the head coach of the Billikens.
Kordes guided the Billikens to the programs first Atlantic 10 Conference title and NCAA Tournament appearance in 2006. SLU also achieved A-10 conference titles and NCAA Tournament berths in 2008 and 2009. A three-time A-10 Coach of the Year (06’-09’), Kordes led the 2008 Billikens to an unblemished league record, the only in SLU history.
Kordes’ teams annually played the toughest competition in the nation. SLU finished the 2008 season No. 8 in the RPI rankings, playing seven teams that finished among the RPI’s top 25. In 2009, the Billikens finished No. 27.
In 2008, Kordes’ team finished 29-5 overall and enjoyed a historic campaign. At the Billiken Invitational, SLU upset No. 3 Stanford 3-1 in front of what was the biggest on-campus volleyball crowd in program history (2,152). This victory put the Billikens on the national radar; the team broke into the Top 25 for the first time in program history on Oct. 20 at No. 25. The Bills remained in the Top 25 for the rest of the season and finished at No. 21.
In 2009, SLU set a new school attendance record (6,106) for SLU’s Active Ankle Challenge Championship against top-ranked, and two-time defending national champion, Penn State. Despite dropping the match, the following week the Billikens earned their highest ranking in program history at No. 16.
Throughout Kordes’ SLU coaching career, she has coached many talented volleyball players, including four players that made the 2008 ACVA All-American teams. Sammi McCloud became the first Billiken to garner a spot with a selection on the third team. Billikens Whitney Behrens, Bridget Fonke and Whitney Roth also achieved honorable mention status.
The Cardinals will look forward to this type of immediate impact from Kordes when she steps foot in Louisville.
“For Anne, we are so thrilled to welcome back one of our own back. She has an excellent coaching pedigree and is well-known as a tireless recruiter. She took us to a conference championship and the Sweet 16 as our setter; she began her coaching career as an assistant in the Big Ten and has taken Saint Louis to record heights as their head coach. I’m always looking for a good fit with any addition to our staff, and this one’s a natural,” University of Louisville Vice President of Athletics Tom Jurich said.
While Kordes’ departure is a setback for the program, the search for a new head coach continues for SLU Director of Athletics.
“Anne did a great job here and will do a wonderful job at Louisville. She took this program from one level and moved it to being a nationally competitive program. My job is to ask, ‘how will we make it better?’” May said. “The position is an extremely attractive one, and we are confident that we will find a coach who will continue to elevate this volleyball program, both academically and competitively. Clearly, the foundation has been set for success with the SLU volleyball program.
“We will reach out nationally to find a successor, and this is an opportunity for us to get even better.” May continued.
When asked what the team will look for in a new coach, Boken said “We need someone that will keep the program as competitive as it has been in the past. We already have an awesome group of athletes. The future is still very bright for these girls.”
