Bethani Hincherick | 2020 Junior Service Award | Outstanding Female Coach

Bethani Hincherick has devoted two decades to coaching youth players to become the best they can be. She used her experiences as a four-year letterwinner at Grand Valley State University from 1996-1999, including captain her senior year, to develop her own coaching skills for the next generation of players.

Bethani has coached Elite Teams at Joliet, Illinois-based UNO Volleyball Club for 20 years. For the past 13 years she has served as UNO’s 14 Elite coach and molded hundreds of athletes into very strong players. Over the years, she has mentored teams to reach their highest potential, including over 10 appearances in the USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championships.

However, Bethani’s coaching highlights have been seeing the “light bulb” moments when her players reach goals, and the bonds established with her players. She takes pride in making volleyball simple and fun for the younger age groups.

Bethani currently serves as the director of youth programs at UNO Volleyball Club. She has worked with UNO’s Volleytot program to expose 2-4 year olds to volleyball, as well as the UNO Tiny Tippers programs for first to third graders and the UNO Gems for fourth and fifth graders.

She also handles the role of tournament director for UNO-hosted events and assists with day-to-day activities for the club. Bethani also provides private lessons to UNO Volleyball Club members.

Bethani is a major component of UNO’s focus on the complete development of the whole player. She and the rest of the coaching staff takes pride in evolving with the sport by being students of the game through collaboration at all levels of volleyball and dedicating endless hours developing area athletes. Because of these efforts UNO has evolved into a Midwest and Great Lakes Region powerhouse.