The American Volleyball Coaches Association is excited to reveal its 2025 Hall of Fame class, which includes Ray Bechard, Jenny Hahn, Alan Knipe, and Tracy Rietzke.

All four have made significant contributions to the sport across their careers, Hahn in her role with the Junior Volleyball Association and Bechard, Knipe, and Rietzke as collegiate coaches. Their inductions will bring the number of members of the of members of the AVCA Hall of Fame to 105.

The induction ceremony will take place Thursday, Dec. 18, during the 2025 AVCA Convention in Kansas City, Missouri.

 

RAY BECHARD

The legacy of Coach Bechard looms large over the volleyball landscape in Kansas. He spent 40 years coaching at the collegiate level in the state, the first 13 years at Barton Community College and the final 27 years on the sidelines in Lawrence with the Jayhawks.

He amassed more than 1,200 wins between the two schools and coached 26 All-Americans. His success resulted in him being a two-time AVCA National Junior College Coach of the Year, a five-time Big 12 Conference Coach of the Year, and a three-time AVCA Division I Regional Coach of the Year.

“Ray created a consistent powerhouse at Kansas, and he did so with integrity, dignity, and class,” said Joe Sagula, former North Carolina volleyball coach and 2024 AVCA Hall of Fame inductee. “He has mentored scores of athletes and coaches, and he always gives back to the sport by sharing of his time, energy, insights, and wisdom.”

Bechard retired at the end of 2024, with another season culminating in an appearance in the NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship, which marked the 13th time he’d led the Jayhawks to NCAA postseason. He’s coached 12 AVCA All-Americans.

He was a leader in the sport beyond the court, too, serving as the AVCA President in 2010 and on the organization’s Board of Directors for six years. He also coached with USA Volleyball, and has been a featured speaker at dozens of clinics over the years.

JENNY HAHN

It would be hard to overstate the impact Hahn has had on the junior volleyball community.

As the executive director of the Junior Volleyball Association (JVA) from 2010–24, she has played a pivotal role in fostering immense growth and development for players, families, and clubs across the nation. Under her guidance, the JVA expanded from a few clubs in the Midwest in the early days of the organization to nearly 1,500 clubs across the country that include more than 200,000 players and coaches.

In addition to her JVA accomplishments, she has helped grow the sport through her work with the Milwaukee Sting Volleyball Club and the USA Volleyball Badger Region Volleyball Association. She found the Sting in 1988, and the club has provided countless opportunities for young athletes—both boys and girls—to excel and mature. Her leadership has been recognized in tangible ways, as she earned USA Volleyball’s Robert L. Lindsay Meritorious Service Award, as well as the prestigious Leif-Storvik Award.

“In addition to her professional accomplishments, Jenny is known for her ability to build bridges and connect diverse constituencies within the volleyball community,” said Steve Sack, president of the JVA Board of Directors. “Her impeccable reputation as a leader and ambassador for junior volleyball speaks volumes about her character and integrity.”

 

ALAN KNIPE

A three-time AVCA Men’s National Collegiate Coach of the Year, Knipe has created a winning culture at Long Beach State and etched his name among the very best coaches in the sport.

In 22 seasons at the helm of the program, he has guided the Beach to 450 wins (for a .723 winning percentage) and has coached seven AVCA National Collegiate Players of the Year. He also has been part of all four of the school’s NCAA men’s titles—first in 1991 as a player and then as the coach of the 2018, 2019, and 2025 championship teams.

Knipe’s program has become a pipeline for U.S. Olympians, as seven LBSU players have taken part in the Summer Games since 2008.

He has served as head coach at Long Beach since 2001, with a brief hiatus from 2009-12 when he coached the U.S. Men’s National Team. He guided the Americans to the quarterfinals of the 2012 Olympic Games and they qualified for the World League Finals three times.

He passion comes through in other ways, too, as Knipe is a regular presenter at the AVCA Convention, and he serves as chair of the AVCA Men’s Awards Committee.

“I once heard it said, ‘A good coach can change a game; a great coach can change a life.’ Alan Knipe has dedicated his life to the sport of volleyball and, in doing so, has changed and positively impacted countless lives—mine included,” said Lindy Zamora, Long Beach State’s Associate Athletic Communications Director.

 

TRACY RIETZKE

Rietzke is another legendary coach who became a fixture on the Kansas/Missouri volleyball scene by compiling win after win after win.

He began his coaching career in 1982 at Kansas Wesleyan where, in addition to leading the volleyball squad to 182 wins, he also coached the school’s softball and women’s basketball teams. He took over at Rockhurst University in Kansas City in 1988 and proceeded to help the Hawks win 82.8 percent of their volleyball matches until he retired in 2020.

In 38 years as a college volleyball coach, Tracy never had a losing season, and he amassed 1,277 victories. He received several coach of the year awards and, when he retired, he was one of the winningest coaches in NCAA women’s volleyball history.

“Tracy Rietzke’s a winner among winners and a giant in our sport,” said Rick Squiers, head volleyball coach at University of Nebraska Kearney. “More importantly, he mentored countless young women and empowered them to compete while chasing big goals—both as players and in life.”

In addition to finding success on the court, his Rockhurst volleyball teams were annual recipients of the AVCA Team Academic Award. He also served the association in many ways throughout his career, including being a regular speaker at AVCA Conventions and helping out as a member of the Division II All-Region and All-American Awards Committee many times.

Click here to see the full list of AVCA Hall of Fame members.