Saint Louis Names Anne Kordes Volleyball Coach

Anne Kordes

The Saint Louis University department of athletics today announced that Anne Kordes has been named head volleyball coach. Kordes arrives at SLU after serving as the top assistant at Illinois from 1999-2003. She becomes the ninth Billiken volleyball coach in program history.

"Anne is everything we were looking for in a head coach," said senior associate director of athletics and senior women's administrator Lori Flanagan. "She is well connected with the club programs, and her biggest asset is her ability to recruit. Anne was a tremendous player, has great passion for volleyball and will be a leader for our young women."

"I am thrilled and honored to be a part of the Saint Louis University athletic department family," Kordes said. "I hope to build on both the academic and athletic successes that were established here by coach Marilyn Nolen and the previous Saint Louis volleyball teams."

As the first assistant at Illinois, Kordes was the program's recruiting coordinator for UI head coach Don Hardin. During her five-year stint at Illinois, the Illini qualified for the NCAA Tournament three times and posted a 90-61 record (.596). This past season, she helped the Illini to a 26-7 record and a final national ranking of No. 15. Illinois reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament where they were eliminated at No. 2 Hawaii. Kordes coached a third-team All-American and an honorable mention All-American for the Illini this year. Kordes came to Illinois after a short stint at Indiana. For the Hoosiers, she was responsible for team travel, player development and recruiting.

Kordes has been visible on the national coaching scene and has worked as an assistant coach for the USA Volleyball National A2 program for the past three summers. Serving as co-head coach of the USA Volley Hut Collegiate Team, Kordes traveled to Sibillini, Italy, during the summer of 2002. In 2001, she was an assistant on the USA Volleyball Junior National Team.

Kordes began her playing career at the University of Cincinnati. She earned 1994 Great Midwest Newcomer of the Year honors, and as a sophomore, was named second-team All-Conference USA. She left UC after her sophomore season to transfer to her hometown school, the University of Louisville. Kordes was a two-time All-Conference USA selection, and, as a senior, led the Cardinals to the C-USA Tournament championship and the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. She led the No. 21 Cardinals to a 29-5 record her final year.

She was a member of the UofL Athletic Director's Honor Roll every semester and was a Red and Black Scholar-Athlete. Kordes received her bachelor's degree in sport administration from the University of Louisville in 1998, and she earned a master's degree in sport administration from Louisville in 2001.