Lansing Sun

Kathy DeBoer, a Michigan State alumna in volleyball and women's basketball, has been honored with the USA Volleyball Harold T. Friermood "Frier" Lifetime Achievement Award. The award, regarded as USA Volleyball's highest accolade, was presented to DeBoer at the USA Volleyball Hall of Fame banquet.

"There is nobody more deserving of USA Volleyball's Frier Award than Kathy DeBoer," said Leah Johnson, head volleyball coach at Michigan State. "Her dedication to the sport of volleyball led to exponential growth for our game over the course of her career. Kathy is a trailblazer as one of the most prominent advocates for women's athletics and is someone our current student-athletes revere."

DeBoer's contributions to volleyball and women's athletics are significant. During her 17 years as Executive Director of the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA), she played a pivotal role in elevating volleyball to become the leading team sport for high school girls in the United States by 2015. She also initiated adding beach volleyball to the NCAA Emerging Sports list for women, which became an NCAA championship sport in 2016.

Before her tenure with AVCA, DeBoer coached volleyball at Ferris State University and the University of Kentucky and later served in athletic administration at Kentucky, eventually becoming Senior Associate Athletics Director.

"I know firsthand how Kathy's dedication and passion for volleyball has inspired countless athletes like me to strive for excellence," said Julia Bishop, a rising senior. "Her commitment to fostering young talent has paved the way for future generations to pursue their dreams with confidence. Thank you, Kathy, for being such an inspiring figure in our volleyball community and representing Michigan State with so much honor!"

As a player at Michigan State, DeBoer was instrumental in achieving an 82-13 record for the MSU volleyball program along with two Big Ten titles and participation in two national tournaments under AIAW auspices.

DeBoer's legacy includes induction into both the Michigan State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2022 and the AVCA Hall of Fame in late 2023. In recognition of her contributions, MSU hosted its first Kathy DeBoer Invitational presented by Auto-Owners Insurance last year.

The Spartans will host Western Kentucky, Marist, and Loyola (Chicago) from September 6-8, 2024, during this year's invitational event at Breslin Student Events Center. Season tickets are currently available.