The Head Volleyball Coach for Texas A&M University has been relieved of all duties, 12th Man reported, and the decision is effective immediately. Coach Laura “Bird” Kuhn has been relieved by Ross Bjork, the Texas A&M Director of Athletics.
Over five seasons, she established a 76-60 (.559) record. Kuhn told 12th Man she was grateful for her time as a coach at the university.
“I’m thankful for this opportunity,” she said. “I’ve learned and grown so much in my time here. I love all the players that have come through and all the people that have impacted us as a staff. Texas A&M is a really special place and I appreciate all the energy, resources and the people. Going forward, I know they are going to be great. This is a great place and it’s going to be a great program.”
The Aggies finished the 2022 season with an overall record of 13-16 and a 5-13 record against Southeastern Conference opponents, 12th Man reported.
“This is a special group with a lot of new faces,” Kuhn told 12th Man at the end of the season. “We had different people step up when their name was called and that is what makes a true team.”
The next Head Volleyball Coach will be chosen through a national search, according to Bjork.
“The goal for all our teams at Texas A&M is to perform at a consistently high level and compete for conference and national titles,” he told 12th Man. “Given the recruiting base in Texas and support for volleyball, we believe that we can and should be better and that is what the 12th Man deserves. Coach Kuhn is a great person, and we appreciate her service to Texas A&M. We wish her well in her future endeavors. We will begin a national search for a new leader of our volleyball program as we continue toward our mission of creating opportunities through championship athletics.”
In 2017, Kuhn was named the sixth head coach for the program. The Aggies reached the NCAA Tournament once in Kuhn’s five seasons at A&M, in 2019 when the Aggies advanced to the Sweet 16. That year, she also was given SEC Coach of the Year honors and led the Aggies to 14 wins in Reed Arena, setting a school record. The Aggies have advanced to the Elite Eight only twice in the program’s history, both times under Laurie Corbelli, who resigned in 2017 after 25 seasons with the team.
Before coming to Texas, Kuhn spent seven seasons as an assistant at Kansas, where she was recognized as the American Volleyball Coaches Association’s assistant of the year in 2015.
Kuhn’s contract was set to expire in January 2025. According to The Eagle, the university will pay Kuhn the remainder of her salary for the final two years remaining on her contract, which totals $560,000, until the original ending date of the contract or until she finds another job.
