photo by: Kansas Athletics

From left, KU volleyball coach Matt Ulmer, former coach Ray Bechard and athletic director Travis Goff pose for a photo at Ulmer's introductory press conference on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025, at Horejsi Family Volleyball Arena.

The evening following the announcement that former Kansas volleyball coach Ray Bechard retired, then-Oregon coach Matt Ulmer texted Bechard to congratulate him on his career.

Less than a month later, Ulmer stood behind a Kansas Athletics podium in the Horejsi Family Volleyball Arena as the next head coach of Kansas volleyball. Bechard and his wife, Pam, sat in the second row of the audience during Ulmer’s introduction.

It isn’t often that a departing coach is a welcomed guest of honor at an incoming coach’s introductory press conference, but that was the case on Tuesday. Ulmer and Bechard had their own photo opportunity alongside Kansas athletic director Travis Goff in what was regarded as more of a passing of the torch than a dramatic overhaul.

“Seldom do you get a transition like this… this is what’s so cool,” Bechard said after the press conference. “I think that speaks volumes. The hope was that there would be as little collateral damage as possible. Not that it’s going to be seamless, but it’s gone well.”

The two have a relationship built from their time recruiting and coaching against each other. While most of their time has been spent as competitors, the two have close ties. Bechard said Ulmer is “one of the good guys” and that the volleyball world needs someone in the next generation of coaches to be at the forefront of the sport.

“There have been a lot of coaches who have been in the business a long time and have retired in the last couple of years,” Bechard said. “We need him desperately and his generation of coaches to be one of the faces of volleyball because he does it right.”

Ulmer said he wasn’t looking to leave Oregon before the Kansas job opened. The Ducks finished their season 24-8 and had their third top-10 season in three years. Things were working well. But Kansas was special, particularly with the run the team has had in the past few years with Bechard. Lawrence is also much closer to where Ulmer’s family lives, and gives him a chance to better access the Kansas City metro area, a budding recruiting hotspot.

“I’m thankful for coach Ray Bechard,” Ulmer said. “I hope I get 27 years to do what (Bechard’s) done. But I promise: My staff, my family and I will do everything we can to continue on what (he’s) done.”

Ulmer takes over the Kansas program that finished No. 12 in the country with a 25-5 record and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Jayhawks lost quite a few players from the 2024 season to the professional league and the transfer portal, but the team will return several contributors. Through the Bechard era, Kansas appeared in 13 NCAA tournaments and reached the Final Four in 2015.

Bechard said he plans to be “Papa B” for a while and will look forward to caring for his six grandchildren. He and his family can plan Thanksgiving without worrying about what the volleyball team is doing.

But the longtime Jayhawks coach won’t be too far, and Ulmer made it clear that he will rely on Bechard as often as Bechard lets him. The coach who oversaw the opening of the $12 million Horejsi Family Volleyball Arena plans on being a close advisor and confidant for his successor.

“(Ulmer’s) a guy that’s going to take it and run it and take it to the next level,” Bechard said. “I’m here to do whatever I can for Travis and for Matt, and for Kansas athletics in general. My love for this place runs deep.”

Wherever Bechard’s personal “cushioned seat” at Horejsi Arena ends up being, Bechard will remain a close confidant to Ulmer as the Jayhawks embark on a new era of volleyball.

photo by: Kansas Athletics

New KU volleyball coach Matt Ulmer speaks at his introductory press conference on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025, at Horejsi Family Volleyball Arena.