Matt Ulmer and the Oregon Ducks are parting ways after 8 years together. As of January 17th, he has a brand new job as the seventh head coach of Kansas University’s volleyball team. Well, let’s just say, the Jayhawks have got a real treasure in their hands here. Ulmer has been Oregon’s volleyball conductor since 2017, and in the seven times the team has gone to the playoffs, they have won six times.

What’s more? How about being the youngest coach in the history of the game to win a national championship? Yes, KU’s new hire did that with Long Beach State in 2013. Talk about a resume that’s downright sparkling! Now, as it may be seen, with the $2 million six-year contract signed to be valid until 2030, Ulmer’s name is inscribed in the list of the NCAA volleyball gurus. Kansas University has clearly rolled out the red carpet and with a coaching history this rich, who could blame them?

Lincoln Arneal hopped onto X on January 22 to drop some juicy details about Matt Ulmer’s new gig at Kansas, and let’s just say, it’s a game-changer! He spilled,

“Matt Ulmer signed a six-year, $2.325 million contract with Kansas through 2030. His base salary starts at $362,500 and increases to $405,000. He can receive bonuses based on team performance and coaching awards. During 2024, Ulmer’s base salary at Oregon was $262,500.” Basically, Kansas is rolling out the VIP treatment for their new volleyball mastermind, and those bonus perks? Just the cherry on top of an already stacked deal.

In case you have been out of the loop, Volleyballmag released its February 2024 report and it dropped some secrets about the 2023 volleyball base pay rankings. As you can imagine, Nebraska was at the top of the list by contributing $725,000, while Texas and Pittsburgh followed. Kansas and Oregon also made significant jumps, both of which happily found themselves in the top fifteen. Now, let’s talk about the top-dollar coaching stars. According to a 2024 report from a sports law blogger, big names like Craig Skinner, who claimed victory with Kentucky in spring 2021, and John Cook, the mastermind behind Nebraska’s success, are shining examples.

Cook, for instance, earned $978,750 in 2023, making him the highest-paid coach on the list. That encompasses his $750,000 base pay and those irresistible incentives for winning the Big Ten title. With the latest contract signed, Cook’s salary is a whopping $825,000, excluding bonuses. Head Women’s Volleyball Coach in the United States earns an average of $71,409 a year, ranging from $16,362 to $460, 833, and Cook’s paycheck can be considered as belonging to the elite. Now, with Matt Ulmer on the list, he does add a lot of experience to Kansas and it is not a surprise to see him among the elites.

Matt Ulmer brings coach power to Kansas!

Matt Ulmer is officially stepping into the spotlight as the seventh head coach in Kansas volleyball history and the announcement, shared by Director of Athletics Travis Goff, came with nothing but high praise. “In bringing Coach Ulmer to KU, we have paired one of the premier coaches in the game with one of the premier programs in the country,” said Goff. “Matt stood alone due to his elite track record, impeccable reputation, devotion to developing student-athletes, and his vision for an even brighter future for Kansas volleyball.”

Taking over from Jim Moore, the university’s most successful coach in terms of wins, wasn’t going to be easy. But Ulmer still managed to work his magic with the Ducks, achieving a .683 winning percentage (166-77) and guiding the team to seven NCAA Tournament appearances. He led Oregon to the top 10 AVCA Division I rankings in the last three seasons and to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament each time. The 2023 season saw a stunning 29-6 run and a Sweet 16 fight with the Ducks–and Ulmer demonstrated that he can turn a good team into an excellent one.

However, the Ulmer story did not begin in Oregon. Prior to flying with the Ducks, he was the women’s beach volleyball head coach and indoor team assistant at Long Beach State. From volunteer assistant to head coach, his journey has been one of constant evolution. Now, as he takes his vision to Kansas, volleyball fans can only wonder how far this partnership will go.