Aggies tab Kansas assistant for top volleyball job

COLLEGE STATION – Texas A&M has named Laura “Bird” Kuhn its new volleyball coach, replacing Laurie Corbelli, who resigned this fall after 25 years of leading the Aggies.

A&M athletic director Scott Woodward reached into the assistants pool to tab Kuhn, who has served as Kansas’s associate head coach and recruiting coordinator, and who helped revive the Jayhawks program over the last seven years. The Jayhawks made the final four of the NCAA postseason for the first time in 2015 under the guidance of coach Ray Bechard and Kuhn, 35, who played collegiately at Georgia Tech from 2001-04.

She was named the national assistant coach of the year in 2015. Kuhn also has served as an assistant at Miami and Appalachian State in beginning her college coaching career in 2007.

“Not only is Bird an exceptional recruiter, she has an uncanny proven ability to connect with, and develop, student-athletes,” Woodward said. “She brings energy, intensity, and a no-nonsense approach that we are confident will resonate with our current student-athletes and recruits.”

The Aggies made 20 NCAA tournaments and won an SEC title in 2015 under Corbelli, who was 519-252 in her 25 seasons with the Aggies.

“When this position opened, I just knew this is where I wanted to be,” Kuhn said. “I’m excited for the future of this program and to build on the foundation and tradition already established by the Corbellis. I believe it’s possible for this program to have a prominent presence, consistently at the national level.”