Matt Ulmer, head volleyball coach at Oregon since 2017, has been named the Kansas Jayhawks’ successor to Ray Bechard, KU athletic director Travis Goff announced Friday. Ulmer signed a six-year contract through the 2030 season. Bechard retired last month after 27 seasons at Kansas.

Kansas volleyball has its next head coach. KU announced Friday that Oregon’s Matt Ulmer will take over the Jayhawks’ program moving forward.

Matt Ulmer, who led Oregon volleyball to 166 wins in eight seasons, has left the Ducks to be the next head coach at Kansas.

K-State comes into Saturday’s noon clash at Allen Fieldhouse with a record of 7-9 (1-4 in the Big 12); KU is 12-4 (3-2).

The game tips off at Allen Fieldhouse, where Kansas will look to right the ship after a recent stretch of inconsistency. A win over Kansas State could steady the course for Bill Self’s squad as they push toward the heart of Big 12 play.

Kansas State travels to Lawrence for the first round of the 2025 Sunflower Showdown looking to end an 18-game drought at Allen Fieldhouse.