Bio

Putting together the best five-year run of any coach in the history of Cowley College athletics, volleyball coach Jenifer Bahner will be inducted into the Tiger Athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday, January 26, 2019.

Bahner made a lasting impact in her five seasons at Cowley. The Kansas City native helped guide the Tigers to its only two NJCAA Division II Volleyball national championships (2011, 2013) and posted an impressive career record of 177-16 (.917).

The Baker University (KS) alum was hired as a graduate assistant at Pittsburg State (KS) in 2007 and spent two seasons on the bench before taking over as the head coach at Cowley at just 24 years of age.

“As a first time coach I relied on my coaching friends for advice when seeking out my first head coaching position,” Bahner said. “At that time I had a few friends who coached at rival KJCCC schools and they all had great things to say about the success of the athletic department at Cowley. It was through their recommendations I ended up even interviewing for the position. Once I arrived to campus I remember being so impressed with everyone’s excitement for athletics, not just those who worked in the department, it was a campus wide feeling of pride in our sports teams. I was also very impressed with the success of all the programs. I remember thinking how much I wanted to be a part of not only a great volleyball program, but one of the top JUCO athletic departments nationwide.”

In her first season at the helm, the Tigers recorded a 32-5 record and were the runners up in the national championship match, losing in five sets to Illinois Central.

Two years later, the Tigers captured their illusive first national championship under Bahner, finishing the campaign at 38-2. The second title and final season under Bahner’s leadership was in 2013 where Cowley defeated Parkland (IL) 3-2.

She was named NJCAA National Coach of the Year twice during her tenure. 

“I was blessed to coach so many talented and determined young women during my five years at Cowley,” Bahner said. “These players bought in on two key components to our team culture. The first was discipline. Many of my past players commented on the required discipline both on and off the court. The sacrifices they had to make on their time, on their bodies and their mental state was crucial to our teams’ success. The second was high expectations. Past players told me the expectation to be the best was so strong from the coaches and their teammates that there was no other option than to jump on board. Another idea that continually came up from the players was the idea of family. There was a true sense of family love and support within our program.”

Bahner was named the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Coach of the Year in 2013. In five seasons under Bahner’s tutelage, Cowley never finished outside the national top three rankings.

The early career success of Bahner was noted by the AVCA as a two-time recipient of the “Thirty Under 30” Award for the top coaches in the nation under the age of 30.

Bahner currently coaches at Drury University (MO), a NCAA Division II program and achieved her 100th career win at the school during the 2018 season. She has led the Panthers to three of their best seasons as an NCAA Division II program. Her .623 winning percentage ranks first all-time among Drury volleyball head coaches, while her 104 wins is second in school history.

She helped the Panthers capture the Great Lakes Valley Conference title during the 2018 season.

“Taking over a below .500 program at Drury University definitely presented its challenges and while I at the time didn’t realize how long it would take to fully turn this program around, I am happy to say by year five we have made the shift in mentality and competitiveness,” Bahner said. “Drury’s program saw many firsts during this 2018 season. First time being ranked in the AVCA top 25 in the Nation, first time being ranked in the top 10, and first National Player of the Week.”

Bahner was inducted into the NJCAA Volleyball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2017. Even after all these years, it’s hard for Bahner to put into words her experience at Cowley.

“It was such a special time in my life,” Bahner said. “I felt more love and acceptance as a young head coach from the entire community than I ever believed possible. I had the pleasure of working under a great administration and alongside a lot of other very talented coaches. I also got to be a part of the academics at Cowley, teaching psychology classes which I greatly enjoyed. And then there was the amazing community support. It was so incredible to be a part of Ark City and to get to know all the loyal Tiger fans.”

Bahner currently resides in Battlefield, MO with her two daughters, Paityn 5, and Emersyn 2.