Cathy Kokel enters her 18th season as the Head Volleyball Coach at Dallas Baptist University and her 14th year as DBU Athletics’ Senior Woman Administrator. In 2002, she started the season as a Graduate Assistant and took over the coaching leadership for the NCCAA Regional Tournament. Following the 2002 season, Kokel was named the program’s head coach.
During her 17 seasons at the helm, Kokel has compiled 242 career victories and has guided the Lady Patriots to a pair of trips to the NCAA Division II Tournament in 2009 and 2013. Kokel has also coached 29 All-Conference selections including All-American libero Cameron Hartson (2013). Kokel has also produced the Heartland Conference Libero of the Year in Amanda Emmert (2009) and Cameron Hartson (2013), as well as the Heartland’s Offensive Player of the Year in 2014, Tiara Gipson, and the 2010 Heartland Freshman of the Year, Krystal Wunderlich.
In 2013, the Lady Patriots were crowned champions of the Heartland Conference Tournament and clinched an automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Regional Tournament. The team's trip to the South Central Regional Tournament in Canyon, Texas, marked the second time in a five-year span in which DBU advanced to the NCAA Division II postseason.
In 2009, Kokel guided DBU to their first ever Heartland Conference Tournament Championship and ticket to the NCAA Regional Tournament. The Lady Patriots would advance that year to the South Central Regional Tournament in Warrensburg, Missouri.
The 2008 season would also be a memorable one in the history of Dallas Baptist Women’s Volleyball, as Kokel’s squad finished the year as the National Champion runner-up at the NCCAA National Tournament and compiled an overall record of 24-18.
Kokel came to DBU in the fall of 1998 as a freshman from Red Oak High School. A Lady Patriot herself, she played outside hitter, leading her team and conference in overall kills and hitting percentage her senior year in 2001. For her play, she received NAIA Honorable Mention All-American and First Team All-Conference for the Red River Conference. In 2000, she helped lead the Lady Patriot Volleyball Team to the NAIA Regional Championship Finals.
While at DBU, Kokel elected to be a double major in Communication and English graduating with her Bachelor of Arts in the fall of 2002. She immediately began study on her Master of Arts in Teaching and started her certification for teaching English/Language Arts 8-12. Kokel received her Master of Arts in Teaching in the fall of 2005.
Kokel, her husband, Jordan, son Brooks, and daughter Daisy Raye reside in Midlothian, Texas, and are members of First Baptist Church of Midlothian.
