After seven incredible seasons with the Oregon Ducks, head coach Matt Ulmer is leaving Eugene for Lawrence and the Kansas Jayhawks. Ulmer was hired by the Jayhawks on Friday, Jan. 17 to work alongside associate head coach and recruiting coordinator Bily Ebel who has been with Kansas for seven years.
Ulmer led the Ducks to six NCAA Tournament appearances during his seven-year tenure at Oregon, including three appearances in the Elite Eight round.
NEWS: Kansas volleyball has hired Oregon head coach Matt Ulmer to fill the same role.
— Michael Swain (@MSwain247) January 17, 2025
Ulmer led Oregon to six NCAA Tournament appearances (including three Elite Eights) during his seven years in charge. pic.twitter.com/MswZA8SGUz
Ulmer will act as Kansas' head coach, the same role he was in for Oregon. Last season, Ulmer and the Ducks made it to the Regional round of the NCAA Tournament where they had to face the top-seeded Pittsburgh Panthers, who defeated Oregon in five sets.
Oregon Ducks under Matt Ulmer
- 2024: 24-8 overall, NCAA Tournament Regionals appearance
- 2023: 29-6 overall, NCAA Tournament Regionals appearance
- 2022: 26-6 overall, NCAA Tournament appearance
- 2021: 22-9 overall, NCAA Tournament appearance
- 2020: 15-5 overall, NCAA Tournament appearance
- 2019: 9-20 overall
- 2018: 23-11 overall, NCAA Tournament appearance
The schedule for Oregon's 2025 season has yet to be announced as the Ducks head toward their second year in the Big Ten. Ulmer and the Jayhawks will play their first season together as a part of the Big 12, which Kansas joined in 1996.
Early in his career, Ulmer became the youngest coach in collegiate history to win a national championship when he led Long Beach State to a beach volleyball title in 2013.
The Ducks have yet to announce if they are in the process of finding a new head coach for the Ducks' volleyball team following the news of Ulmer's departure.