BasehorInfo.com

Bonner Springs High School has hired a new volleyball coach for the 2008 school year. Her name may be familiar to those around the community.

Kerri Jennings will become the varsity squad's coach for the first time in her long career in volleyball.

Jennings was a member of the 1985 state championship team at BSHS and hopes to bring her brand of play to the court this fall.

"I am passionate about the community and the school. I love working with kids and watching them grow," she said. "I like teaching about athletics as well as life skills."

Jennings will replace Jo Wiseman. Jennings said she is pretty familiar with the returning players due to good communication with the former coach. Also, she has been a physical education teacher, as well as teaching aerobics and weight training at BSHS for 11 years so she knows a lot about the program.

"We have to be smart, we aren't going to out-hit many teams in this league," Jennings said. "We are going to have to try to quicken up the pace of our style of play, and that all starts with passing. We will also need smart placing of the ball and good defense to improve."

After graduating from BSHS, where she was a four-sport participant, Jennings went on to play volleyball and softball at the community college level. After college she has coached various levels of volleyball at St. Thomas Aquinas and Bonner Springs.

"I am looking forward to the challenge that lies ahead," she said.

The first day of fall practice is Monday, Aug. 18.