Kate (Lange) Sterns returns to the UMD coaching staff as a full-time assistant coach in 2026, having previously served in the role from 2015-2023.
Sterns is one of the most decorated players in UMD history and is set to be inducted into the UMD Athletic Hall of Fame in September 2026. She was the 2013 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) and Daktronics Division National Player of the Year and a three-time AVCA First Team All-American selection and four-year All-NSIC selection. A 2013 Daktronics First Team All-American, 2012 Daktronics Third Team All-American, and 2011 Daktronics Second Team All-American, Sterns did a number on the Bulldog record books, placing herself atop the charts in kills (2,078) and attacks (4,058). She positioned herself in a club of her own for her all-around versatility, attaining the plateau of 2,000 kills, 1,000 digs, 100 solo blocks and 100 service aces.
A four-year starter as an outside attacker at UMD, which made an appearance in the NCAA Division II Tournament all four of those seasons, Sterns made a brief appearance in the pro circuit playing overseas for one season with the Terville Florange Olympic Club, which is a member of France's top pro league. She racked up 166 kills on 471 attacks with 225 digs in 66 sets (2.83 points per set) in 22 matches in her lone season making her the only Bulldog to ever sign a pro contract and play professionally.
A native of Hibbing, Minnesota, Sterns earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from UMD in 2014. She also holds a Master’s degree in education (2020). She resides in Superior, Wisconsin with her husband, Mike, and their two dogs, Bruce and Mizuno.
