By FHSU Sports Information
Fort Hays State volleyball coach Jessica Wood-Atkins has announced the hiring of Kamri Nehls as assistant volleyball coach. Nehls will officially join the coaching staff on June 1.
“As a former Hays resident and growing up around FHSU athletics, I am extremely grateful for this opportunity to be a part of the Tiger volleyball program,” said Nehls. “I am eager to meet the team, get involved and start supporting Coach Atkins’ methods of taking this program to the next level.”
Nehls comes to Hays from Dodge City (Kan.) Community College, where she served on the coaching staff for the last four seasons. Before serving as head coach for the last two seasons (interim in 2016), she was the top assistant in 2014 and 2015. Nehls has a 40-31 record as head coach, guiding the Conquistadors to back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 2003-04 (21-16 in 2016, 19-15 in 2017). Nehls coached four All-Conference performers in her two years as head coach and was named DCCC Coach of the Year in 2017. She has also served as head coach and assistant director at the club level since 2013.
“We’re very excited to have Coach Nehls join the Tiger staff,” said Wood-Atkins. “As a native of Hays, Kamri understands the tradition, values and atmosphere that makes Hays such a special place to play. She has already proven her ability to recruit and develop young talent. We are happy to have her on board and are looking forward to a great season this fall.”
Nehls brings MIAA experience with her to Hays, playing one year for Missouri Southern State before graduating in 2014. She began her collegiate career at Barton (Kan.) Community College, helping the Cougars to a pair of NJCAA national tournament appearances after winning the Region VI championship in 2010 and 2011. She served as team captain in 2011 when BCC went on to win the Jayhawk Conference.
Nehls is a 2014 graduate of Missouri Southern State University, earning a degree in general studies and a minor in psychology while emphasizing on kinesiology. She played prep volleyball at Hays High School before serving as team captain and graduating from Riley County (Kan.) High School.