KU coaching legend says goodbye

The University of Kansas athletic department lost its longest-tenured head coach on Friday, when KU volleyball coach Ray Bechard announced his retirement after 27 years in charge of the program.

While Bechard’s retirement will be felt throughout the program and department, there’s only way to look it if you’re a Kansas fan — thank goodness it didn’t come any sooner.

The end of the road has long been on Bechard’s mind, and, for a while, a very real scenario existed that had him saying goodbye as many as four or five years ago.

Instead — and true to Ray Bechard form — he stuck it out, gave it his all, elevated the program to even newer heights and, as a result, gets to walk away on top in a sense.

No, the Jayhawks didn’t win a national title in 2024. Nor did they win a Big 12 title. But they did reach the second round of the NCAA Tournament after hosting for the second consecutive year and qualifying for the fourth consecutive year.

Bechard’s squad also finished second in the Big 12 race with one of the best teams he has ever had and some of the greatest players the program has ever seen.

If that’s not going out on top, I don’t know what is.

Bechard leaves KU volleyball as the winningest coach in program history and with the Jayhawks sitting as one of the most consistent programs in all of college volleyball during the past half decade.

He coached 26 All-Americans during his time in charge of the Jayhawks and led KU to 13 NCAA Tournament appearances, with an all-time record of 496-313, good for a winning percentage of .613.

During the past four seasons — all of which ended in the NCAA Tournament — Bechard’s teams won 86 of 120 matches, good for a .717 winning percentage.

All of the stats and accomplishments available that paint his career in a magical light, pale in comparison to the impact he had on so many — coaches and co-workers, players and people, fans, friends and family.

Bechard was KU volleyball, and KU volleyball was better because of it.

No one put more into what they do and did it in a way that looked so effortless and smooth.

He defined the “grit and grace” slogan that the program adopted as its own, and his players, at a success rate of 90% or higher, all showcased exactly what it meant — point to point, match to match and season to season.

All because they became very good at following his lead.

No one cared more about KU and the state of Kansas. No one put more passion into their craft. And no one led quite the way Bechard led, with a simultaneous snarl and smile.

If you met him at the grocery store, you’d think he was the kind of guy you’d like to have a beer with and talk sports and maybe even send a Christmas card to.

If you met him on the other side of the net, you’d wonder how in the hell a man that nice could want to take you down so badly.

And then you’d shake his hand after the match, win or lose, and understand it in that very moment.

At a time when college coaches are leaving the business because of the way things are changing so drastically, with NIL, the transfer portal and more reshaping the future of college athletics, it’s cool to see a coach like Bechard leaving because he’s reached the end of the ride.

And what a ride it was. Every day. For 27 years.

The program will move on, and, thanks in large part because of the way he built it and the timing of his departure, Kansas volleyball is poised to move into the post-Bechard era striving for just as much success and even brighter days.

And Bechard will move on, too. To retirement. To being a full-time grandfather. To being a devoted fan and supporter of all things volleyball, with a special appreciation for Kansas volleyball – the memories he made and those still yet to come.

But no matter what happens from here — good, bad or otherwise — we can all agree that it’ll never quite be the same.

Just hop on Twitter and read what so many who played for him have to say today in response to his retirement news. It’s words that every coach should strive to one day here and they’re all from the most genuine places.

So, yeah, KU will hire another coach and the program will continue to charge forward, most likely to a bunch more wins and continued success.

But you’ll have to view the new leader as a new hire and not a Ray Bechard replacement.

Because, as cheesy as it may sound, there truly is no replacing a man like Bechard.